What the hell was I thinking? Atlas lay in his bed. His anger boiled over. How could he have been so stupid? Seeing her on that shaky ladder had made his heart lurch. Why would she do something so risky? Then that attitude, damn, had it ever got his engine revving. No one spoke back to him. Women bent to his will because they knew who he was. All in the hopes they’d become the next Mrs. Atlas Remington. But Jasmine was different. Fuck! He’d basically attacked her.
But she kissed me back. And what a kiss it had been. He’d never in his thirty-five years experienced anything like it. She’d removed his shirt. She’d wanted him too. Until she hadn’t.
What the fuck was he doing? He was supposed to be buying her inn, not getting into her pants. What kind of asshole got involved with a single mother with no intentions of sticking around? And all for a deal. His family would never approve of Jasmine—why was he even thinking about that?
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Atlas pulled his phone out of his pocket and swiped the answer button. “Olli.”
“Hey. How’s your vacation going? Getting into any trouble out there?” his brother asked.
As a matter of fact . . . “Making progress,” he lied. He’d probably just screwed up any chance he’d had.
“Bullshit. You and I both know it’s a lost cause.” Oliver chuckled.
Atlas gritted his teeth. “The more smack you talk, the more I know you’re just worried I’ll win the position.”
“Whatever you say.” Oliver sighed.
“Did you actually have a reason to call me, or did you just want to be a dick?”
“I’m checking on my little brother,” Oliver answered.
“How’s Christina?”
“At the spa for the day.”
“Tell her I said hello,” Atlas said.
“Will do. Oh—and, Atlas?”
“Yeah?”
“When I win the position, I’ll still make you my CFO.” Oliver laughed.
“Asshole.” Atlas ended the phone call.
Soft footsteps padded past the floor outside his room before the door across from his creaked open and shut. His cock twitched and he looked down and shook his head at it. “You’re my problem,” he said to himself. He wanted her, more than he’d wanted anyone else in his life. That was the biggest issue.
He squeezed the bridge of his nose as the pressure built in his chest. He’d worked too long and hard for this to be the end. He was more determined now than ever. One way or another, this inn was going to be his.
Closing his eyes, he relaxed into the pillow. The steady rhythm of the ocean forcing all other thoughts out of his mind as he slept.
Atlas opened his eyes to the hazy evening light, slowly bringing the room into focus. His stomach grumbled. He slipped his phone out of his pocket and checked the time. 6:30. Sitting up, he rubbed the remaining sleep away. He needed a new plan. But first, he had to apologize to Jasmine if he had any hopes of getting this deal done. Women liked to be wined and dined. He’d invite her to dinner. A business dinner. Not a date. One where he could inquire about her goals and figure out the offer she wouldn’t be able to refuse.
He washed his face and checked in the mirror that he looked presentable before heading downstairs. Women’s voices filtered out from the dining room.
“I told you guys, I can’t have this conversation tonight. I have my meeting, just like every other Wednesday night. That’s why Zoey’s at your house, Remy,” Jasmine said.
He recognized the woman from the café as she spoke. “But you go every week. Surely you can miss one. Tell her, Belle.”
“Her meeting is important.” Belle, assumedly, sided with Jasmine.
He stepped forward, the wooden floor creaking under his foot. Four sets of eyes all focused on him.
“Hello,” he said awkwardly.
Jasmine’s gaze darted to the floor as her cheeks flushed.
“You came into the café earlier. Atlas, right?” Remy said, her eyes widening.
He nodded and smiled. “And how do you all know each other?”
“Belle and I are married to Jasmine’s brothers.” Remy pointed between the woman with bright red lipstick and herself.
“And Mia is married to Remy’s brother, so she’s basically my honorary sister-in-law.” Belle winked at her friend who held a squirmy baby.
“Where are you from, Atlas?” Mia asked with a heavy Spanish accent. She adjusted the little boy on her hip.
“New York City.”
“That isn’t far,” Mia commented.
“No tan lejos,” Atlas answered in Spanish.
Mia’s eyes brightened. “Tu hablas español?”
He chuckled. “Si.”
“How many languages do you speak exactly?” Jasmine asked.
“Four, including English. It makes things easier in my line of work.” Anything to succeed.
“What exactly do you do?” Belle asked.
“I’m in real estate.” He shifted uncomfortably.
“Do you like Shattered Cove?” Remy asked.
“It’s a beautiful town.”
Jasmine’s sisters-in-law all cast a conspiratorial glance between him and Jasmine.
“Are you staying long?” Belle asked.
“Okay, enough of this inquisition,” Jasmine interrupted. The women all turned their heads to her.
Remy crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, come on, Jaz. We came here for answers, and if you won’t give them—”
“If you three don’t stop, I swear to God I will tell your husbands what really goes down on book-club night.”
Remy’s eyes narrowed on Jasmine as the other two decided to look anywhere else but him.
Jasmine grabbed a purse from the table, slipping it over her shoulder before walking over to him. “Was there something you needed?”
Three sets of eyes stared at them. He rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. “I was hoping I could take you out to dinner.”
Her eyes flicked to his chest. “That’s not a good idea.”
“I’d like it if we could talk.” He needed to clear this up.
“I have plans tonight that I can’t miss.” She turned around to face the other women. “Come on. You’re my ride.”
Belle nodded towards the door. Remy gave Jasmine one more not-so-subtle look before she and Belle exited the room.
“Mia will be here if you need anything from the inn until I get back. Have a good night,” Jasmine said, before walking out.
When had he ever been shut down by a woman? Never. Jasmine kept surprising him at every turn. She never did what he thought she would. Where was she going that was so important?
He pulled his keys out of his pocket and headed outside just as the taillights from the car trailed down the road. He’d go into town and stop for dinner. If he so happened to see where they went, it would be a bonus. It wasn’t stalking if he was traveling the same way. At least that’s what he’d keep telling himself.
He kept his distance, admiring the view as they wound around the road that bordered the ocean. The town was only a few miles from the inn. He pulled up behind them at a stoplight, just past the High Tide Diner. They turned right down a side street, stopping in an old church’s parking lot. There were a few other cars parked about the place. He slowed down as Belle and Jasmine got out of the car and headed inside.
Where were they going? Was she religious? Was this some type of AA meeting? As always, he seemed to have more questions than answers when it came to this woman. Why do I care so much? It was not like he trusted many people. Everyone in his life had used him in some form for his family connections, or his bank account. It was natural to be suspicious of others’ intentions. So why did seeking answers to Jasmine’s secrets seem more like betrayal?