Jasmine turned the key for the second time before the car sputtered to life. Meeting with the administrator had been as encouraging as her conversation with Miss Stevens. Jasmine was not confident in the school, but what other choice did she have?
She drove out of the parking lot, towards the inn, her mind on everything else she had to do that day before picking up Zoey. Anything to try not to think of the fact that the anniversary of her mother’s suicide was tomorrow.
The car lurched forward and stalled. “Damn it!” she screamed, slapping her palm on the steering wheel. She tried to restart it, and it made a horrible grinding sound before it choked to life once more.
“Just get me home and I promise I’ll be forever grateful,” she pleaded with the pile of junk that had lasted her far longer than it should have.
She made it home and parked. Letting go of the breath she’d been holding the whole trip, Jasmine got out. After picking up her phone, she texted Link.
Jasmine: Find me a car that is cheap but will last. I’m ready to retire this one.
Forced more like it. It didn’t matter; she’d do whatever she had to do in order to make the payments. She had no other option. Maybe I can pick up a few shifts at the bar with Charli on the weekends.
She dialed Bently as she headed towards the kitchen.
“What’s up?” Bently asked.
“Well, I need your help.” She choked the words out. Anything for Zoey.
“You want that background check?”
“No. Not with that.”
“Oh.” He sounded disappointed. “What, then?”
She explained the situation with Zoey’s school.
“I can talk to them if you want. Women’s and children’s safety are no joke. And I’m sure with a little pressure from the police department the school board will make the necessary changes,” he said.
She smiled. As much as he was a pain in her ass, he’d always had her back. The only one who’d never abandoned her. But now he was building a life with Belle. It wasn’t fair of her to push her problems on him anymore.
“Thank you, Bently.”
“Anything for you, brat.”
“Asshole,” she retorted.
“You wound me.” He chuckled.
She laughed. “Glad to know there are some chinks in your infallible armor.”
He grew somber. “No one is perfect. Especially me.”
“Belle has really done a number on that ego of yours.” She brushed it off.
His deep laugh reverberated through the phone. “She’s something else.” His voice had a far-off quality to it.
“Okay, lover boy, enjoy your day. And thanks again.”
“Sure thing. You too.”
She hung up and tucked the phone into her back pocket. After brushing the hair from her face, she opened the kitchen drawer and found a hair tie. She braided her dark hair out of the way. Making her way to the linen closet, she then collected the items she needed to clean the rooms, as well as a fresh set of linens before adding it all to her cart.
She passed the window and stopped. Atlas was on the phone down below, shaking his head, his shoulders tense. He fisted his hands and slipped the cell into his pocket before dropping defeatedly to the sand, forehead bowed, posture slumped. What’s wrong, Atlas?
Hours later, she pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and a T-shirt with the least amount of stains from little fingers.
Knock. Knock.
She headed over to her door and opened it. Atlas stood towering over her, his eyes a troubled stormy grey. His hair was tousled like he’d been running his fingers through it. He smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.
“I wondered if you’d be up for dinner together?” His attention darted past her to her bedroom. “You and Zoey of course.”
“I’m sorry. Tonight is book club with the girls. Zoey’s at my brother’s.”
“Oh. Okay.” Disappointment flitted across his features, his smile fading at the edges.
Her heart squeezed. The pull inside her—an overpowering need to comfort him—overrode her better judgement. She placed her hand on his arm as she asked, “Are you okay?”
He stiffened. What the hell am I doing? She loosened her hold, but his arms wrapped around her, locking her there. She held on in silence, his chest rising and falling with her own. The tension in the air was thick between them, anticipation zinging through her every molecule. Her skin broke out in gooseflesh. She shivered.
“Are you cold?” He let her go, holding her arms and looking at her more closely. His eyes roamed over her face.
“A little,” she lied.
Atlas’s eyes darted to her mouth before his arms dropped to his sides.
“I’d better go. Belle will be here soon.”
He nodded, but didn’t move. “So, what exactly happens at this secret book club?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be much of a secret. And that’s the key to blackmail.” She winked playfully.
His jaw ticced, his face hardening. “I guess if you like that sort of thing.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, confused.
“Forget it.” He stepped back and left the room, the mood between them broken. Seconds later, his door shut with a little more force than necessary. She blinked, stunned. What just happened?
Later that evening, she was curled into a ball on Belle’s couch.
“Pass the wine,” Mia said before plopping on the cushion next to her.
Belle handed her the bottle. “I got this from a little vineyard in Vermont when we went a couple weeks ago.”
“Oh, is that where the hard cider was from that Dre has in the fridge?” Mia asked.
Belle nodded. “Yeah. We stayed at this really cute place in the mountains. The Orchard Inn, I believe.”
Jasmine’s ears perked up. “I’ve heard of that place. One of my recent guests said her daughter helps run it.”
“The couple who owns it was really cool. They had the cutest little girl running around and the woman looked close to popping with her second.” Belle took a sip of her drink.
“Speaking of kids, how are the classes for foster care going?” Remy asked Belle.
“Good. We have a few weeks left. We could have a child placed with us in the next six months.”
“You guys are going to be the best parents.” Mia placed her hand on Belle’s.
Belle’s smile faltered for a moment. “I hope so.”
“How about you, Mia? When are you and my brother going to give me another niece or nephew?” Remy asked, pulling a worn romance novel onto her lap from the coffee table.
Mia smiled mischievously. “We have our hands full with little Matteo. But I’ll be more than happy to keep practicing for now.”
“Eww. Sorry I asked.” Remy covered her cheeks with her hands.
They all laughed.
“Speaking of sex, what did everyone think of chapter ten?” Belle asked.
“Oh, damn. That was a fun one to reenact.” Belle fanned herself with her copy.
“Thanks for that mental image. I don’t know why I bother coming here. You’re all married to my brothers.” Jasmine pretended to gag.
“I forget sometimes,” Belle said.
Because I look different.
“We need to get you a man and then you won’t complain so much,” Remy teased.
Jasmine’s stomach dropped. She took a sip of wine.
“How is that whole baby-daddy thing going? Have you and him . . .” Mia raised her eyebrows up and down. “You know, reenacted your own scenes?”
“No.” Jasmine sat straighter. “He’s her father and he doesn’t even know. I can’t complicate things with sex.”
“She’s right,” Belle agreed. “I think that’s smart.”
“He seemed like a good guy. Andre really liked him,” Mia added.
“Mikel did too,” Remy said.
“He is a good guy. He’s caring and patient, considerate and thoughtful,” Jasmine admitted.
The girls exchanged a knowing look.
“Well, this sounds like a positive development,” Remy said.
“You really like him.” Mia pointed out the obvious.
Yes, she liked him. She genuinely cared for the father of her child. But that was the problem. She needed to make sure it didn’t get any more complicated, for Zoey’s sake. If only her heart would get the memo.