Atlas dove to the ground, extending his arms upwards as far as they would reach. He made contact. Oof! Gritty sand sliced over the bare skin of his chest.
“Good save!” Mikel said.
“Out of bounds,” Bently grumbled.
Atlas got to his feet and shrugged it off. It had been too long since he’d played volleyball.
“It’s nice to finally be able to have two on two,” Andre said.
His eyes flicked to the window next to his at the inn. Is she okay? He didn’t know the first thing about kids, but anyone could see she had kept her cool under fire as long as possible. The way her eyes had flashed with regret before she’d taken off inside made his chest squeeze.
“Game point,” Bently said, as he served.
Atlas snapped his gaze back to the sky, the white and blue ball coming towards his side. He hit it, knocking it over the net. Andre volleyed it back. Mikel jumped up to set it. Atlas spiked it down. Bently dove, barely recovering it. Andre swung his arm, sending it over both Mikel’s and his head, scoring the final point.
“Ahhhh. Too bad.” Mikel lifted his fist. Atlas knocked his against Mikel’s.
“Sucker! You owe me fifty bucks,” Andre teased.
“Best of three?” Mikel challenged.
“Can I play, Daddy?” Lyra asked Mikel.
He picked her up and put her on his shoulders. “Sure thing, princess. You can be on the winning team.”
“Ha! You know you have to actually win to be the winning team, right?” Andre teased.
“Uncle Dre is jealous I’m faster than him,” Mikel said.
“You’re a comedian now too? Keep your day job.” Andre snickered.
“Lyra, who’s the best uncle ever?” Andre smiled.
“Uncle Bently!” Lyra yelled.
Andre’s smile dropped. Bently burst out laughing. It was the first time all afternoon his expression had broken from a scowl—other than when he looked at his wife.
“That’s right, and don’t you forget it.” Bently chuckled.
“Traitor,” Andre growled at Lyra, who giggled.
He liked these guys. No one was talking about which million-dollar deal they’d just closed or which new car they’d bought their mistress. These were wholesome, fun-loving, dedicated family men. They stared awestruck at their wives, like these women had hung the moon. Was there something in the water in Shattered Cove? In his thirty-five years, he’d never seen anyone gaze at their spouse that way except Oliver and Christina. And the kids were all welcomed and included in conversation and events—not pushed off to the side with nannies and ignored.
“What work do you do?” Bently asked.
Atlas shifted on his feet. “Real estate.”
Bently’s eyes narrowed. “That sounds like a non-answer to me. What exactly is it you do?”
“My company acquires land and buildings. We work as a brokerage between companies who wish to expand.”
“Like chain restaurants?” Mikel asked.
Atlas nodded. “Yeah, and companies like the online retailers who need shipping plants or manufacturing companies.” And hotels or resorts.
A flash of movement caught his attention. Jasmine walked out the back door with Remy. The other women approached her and gave her a hug before she waved and headed down the steps. Her gaze locked with his before she turned and continued the other way down the beach, her hands wrapping around herself. She looked like she was drowning, and he wanted to be the one to pull her to safety. But that was in no way a part of the plan. Impossible didn’t begin to explain the situation.
Someone cleared their throat. He whipped around. All three men were staring at him. It was clear from the overprotective-big-brother vibes Bently had going on that he thought Atlas was after their sister. Which he wasn’t. But he couldn’t keep his eyes off her either. Although I did kiss her.
“Tuesday we’re heading to the ropes course. You should come,” Mikel invited him.
Hanging out with these guys was great, but that wasn’t why he was here. “I don’t know.”
“He probably couldn’t cut it.” Bently smirked.
The challenge burned his veins with determination. If there was one thing he’d like more than to wipe that smirk off Bently’s face, he couldn’t think of it at that moment. Besides, how many deals were made over the golf course? Time with her family would give him more insight into her, and how he could figure out what she wanted. So he could have the inn and get what he wanted: CEO position at Remington Empire. Along with the respect he finally deserved. Only one week left to make it happen.
“I’m game.”
Bently nodded.
“Another round?” Andre asked, tossing the volleyball in the air.
Atlas’s eyes flicked back to the beach. “Actually, I’m gonna go for a walk.” He turned around, not needing to see the men’s reactions. Something tugged inside him, leading him to the small woman in the distance. I just want to check on her and make sure she is okay.
Atlas caught up to Jasmine within a few minutes. She was sitting on a piece of driftwood on top of a sand dune facing towards the ocean.
“Hey,” he said.
She wiped her face and turned around, her eyes red and puffy. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine.” She smiled, but it seemed forced. It didn’t reach her eyes.
He nodded and pointed towards the makeshift seat. “May I?”
“Sure.”
He took a seat and stared out at the ocean in silence for a few beats. “Your family seems pretty cool.”
She chuckled, and it warmed his chest. “Don’t tell them that. It’ll go to their heads.”
He smiled. “No one is that perfect, right? Tell me they have this dark, secret double life.”
Her eyes dimmed. Shit. What did I say?
“They’ve all been through hell and came out the other side. They know how to hang on to something good when they have it.”
And what hell have you known?
“Zoey’s a great little girl. You’re a good mom.” He bit his tongue. Was that too much?
Jasmine smiled, turning to face him. “She really is. I’m happy to hear you say that.”
“It can’t be easy doing it alone.” Where is Zoey’s dad in all this?
Her gaze wavered before she turned back to the ocean. “Zoey’s dad doesn’t know anything about her. He never knew I was pregnant.”
The air rushed from his lungs. Like all things with Jasmine, one answer led to more questions. How is that possible?
“How about your family? What are they like?” Jasmine asked.
He shrugged. He could give her the canned response, or he could share something real with her like she had. “My parents are . . . I’m always compared to my brother and I always come up short in his shadow. I can never seem to win their approval.”
“That sucks. But in the end, it’s your life to live, and you should do it according to your own rules. Do what makes you happy as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else.”
“What about your family? Did your mother support your dream to run an inn?”
Her body tensed before she wrapped her arms around herself again. “She died when I was seven.”
“I’m sorry.” His stomach knotted.
“It was a long time ago. How is your life in New York City?”
“It’s . . . uh . . . fine. I mean, it’s great. Nothing extra special or overly negative about it. New York is a lot faster paced than here.”
Jasmine tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded. Her brows furrowed as she dug the sand with her bare feet. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
He straightened. The insinuation burned. “You think I would have kissed you if I had someone waiting for me back home?”
She turned, pinning her eyes to him. “I don’t know you at all, Atlas.”
“That’s for damn sure.”
“What do you want from me?” Her voice wavered, vulnerability flashing in her green eyes.
I should tell her about the sale.
“Is it just sex? A fling while you’re on vacation? Because I can’t do that. I have to set a better example for my daughter. That’s not . . . me.” Her gaze clouded over, hesitation in her voice like she wanted to say more.
He wasn’t used to women being so blunt. Just one more thing he liked about Jasmine. She didn’t seem to hold much back. She made it so easy to trust her—too easy.
She seemed lost and fragile. Like a tiny kitten in a storm. But even cats had claws. He’d do better to walk away now. But every time he was with her, it felt like he could breathe finally. He could be himself for once. He could share parts of him those closest to him had no idea about.
His eyes flicked to her mouth. Her pink tongue darted out, licking her bottom lip. He knew what she tasted like. His cock stirred, body heating. Everything inside screamed at him to take her into his arms and hold on to her. That she was the answer to every question he’d never been brave enough to ask. But she didn’t fit in his life. She belonged with family cookouts, and love, not cold galas with fake smiles and rules of etiquette.
He reached out his hand, tracing the edge of her wrist. She inhaled shakily, her eyes boring into his. This growing attraction between them was something more. Something big. He had everything riding on this deal, but all he could think about was the feel of her mouth on his, and the way her legs had felt wrapped around him. Fuck it. He leaned in as she jolted to her feet. She tripped, losing her balance. Arms flailing in the sky, she fell forwards. He opened his arms, catching her against his chest. Her face stopped inches from his. She panted, eyes dropping to his mouth. The struggle creased her brows.
“We can’t.” Her voice was a pained whisper. Like it hurt her just as much to say as it did for him to hear.
“Jasmine?” Bently’s voice interrupted their moment.
She jerked out of Atlas’s embrace, clumsily getting to her feet. He gasped at the sudden empty feeling.
“Coming!” Jasmine said, jogging towards her brother, not looking back.
She sped away, something pulling him towards her. Why did it feel like they were tethered together somehow? Why did it have to be her? Atlas was going to figure this out. Whatever this was between them deserved to be explored even though he had everything on the line. It was worth the risk. She was worth the extra work.