Atlas sipped the coffee that wasn’t half bad—now that he woke up in time to make it every morning at the inn. A cool breeze blew in from the screen door as Jasmine busied herself with cleaning up breakfast in between packing her daughter’s lunch. She was quieter than usual today, focusing intently on her tasks. She didn’t even make small talk with Zoey like she usually did in the mornings unless the little girl spoke to her directly.
Was it because of how he’d left last night? She’d joked about blackmailing her sisters-in-law, and it had triggered something in him. Veronica was the queen of blackmail, as were several others in their social circle. Secrets were ammunition where he was from. But after he’d cooled down, he’d realized that wasn’t what Jasmine had meant. She wasn’t like the socialites back home.
A few other guests milled about, planning their days or finishing up the simple pancake, sausage, and egg breakfast. A man he didn’t recognize walked into the room, dressed in a military uniform—Navy maybe? He approached Jasmine who stood at the stove with her back to him and put his hands over her eyes.
“Guess who?” he said.
Atlas tensed. Who was this guy?
Jasmine’s stoic expression morphed into the biggest smile he’d had the pleasure of seeing yet. His stomach sank like a rock that this guy was the one who’d pulled it from her.
“I’d know that voice and those hands anywhere. Turner! You’re back?” She spun around and looped her arms around his neck.
Atlas’s teeth ground together.
Turner’s hands traveled down her back before slapping her playfully on her ass. It took every bit of Atlas’s self-control not to tackle the man. He clenched his fists, every muscle in his body rigid.
“When did you get home? It’s been years!” Jasmine asked, giving him a tight squeeze as he picked her up and spun her around. She laughed, light and free.
Atlas’s gaze traveled from the blond-haired, blue-eyed man to Zoey. This guy seemed to be about Jasmine’s age—young. Was he the father? Zoey looked up, her gaze fixed on her mother, eyes full of questions.
You and me both, kid.
Turner set her down, holding her hands as his gaze raked over her body. “Damn, girl, you look good enough to eat.”
Jasmine blushed and swatted his chest. “You haven’t changed one bit. I thought the Navy was supposed to make you respectable.”
He waggled his eyebrows up and down. “I’m respectable everywhere it counts, and—” He leaned in and whispered in her ear. Jasmine’s cheeks reddened even more as she giggled. He had never seen this woman giggle—not that he’d known her that long.
“Mommy?” Zoey asked.
Jasmine’s attention darted to her daughter, a flicker of apprehension crossing her face. “Turner, this is my daughter, Zoey.”
Turner walked over to the dining table and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Zoey. You look just as beautiful as your mama. I bet you’re a little troublemaker too.”
The little girl reached out and shook his hand hesitantly. Turner pulled a lollipop from his pocket and offered it to her. “Do you like sweets? I always carry a few of these with me just in case I find a fellow sugar-lover.”
Zoey grinned as she looked to her mother for permission. Jasmine rolled her eyes and nodded. “Just this once.”
“Fank you.” She grasped the lollipop.
Turner straightened. His eyes flicked to Atlas and the other guests before offering a nod and focusing his attention back on Jasmine.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your morning. I just know today isn’t an easy one for you,” Turner said.
What does he mean?
Jasmine’s face dropped, her smile gone. “Oh, yeah. I appreciate it.”
Turner pulled her into another hug.
His chest burned. Atlas wanted to be the one to know Jasmine’s secrets.
“Do you like lollipops, Mr. Atlas?” Zoey asked.
For the first time, that name grated on his nerves. Why was he introduced as mister and Turner got to be just Turner? Who was this man to Jasmine? And why did he have to care so fucking much?
“No,” he answered a little more gruffly than he’d intended.
Zoey’s eyes widened and her mouth opened into an O. “I thought everybody liked candy.”
“I prefer chocolate.” He winked. It wasn’t her fault he was rabid with jealousy over the man who couldn’t keep his filthy hands off her mother.
“I noticed the grass needed mowing. I’ll be back tomorrow to take care of it,” Turner said, letting Jasmine go.
Hot anger wrapped around him and squeezed. He wanted to be the one to help Jasmine if she needed it, not this pretty-boy sailor.
“Oh, no. I got it covered,” Jasmine argued.
“Already got the mower loaded into the truck and on the agenda for tomorrow. I’ll be working with Dad’s landscaping company for the rest of my leave. It’s not a problem. Besides, I still owe you one.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Turner, I can’t—”
“I insist,” he ordered.
She nodded, conceding. “Okay. But then we’re even.”
He grinned. “Whatever you say, Trouble.”
She smiled, and shook her head. “Don’t ever change, Turner.”
“I won’t.” He pulled her in again and kissed her cheek.
Pain radiated through Atlas’s jaw as he clamped his teeth harder. He forced his eyes to his white knuckles. She isn’t mine. His chest tightened, his lungs cinching together and cutting off his oxygen supply.
I’m just a guest. Temporary. But it didn’t do anything to calm the riot raging inside him at seeing Jasmine in another man’s arms.
“See ya later,” Turner said before giving Zoey a wave and a wink as he left.
Jasmine walked over to clear the table, her eyes landing on his. Her brows drew together. “Are you okay?”
“Fucking fantastic.”
Jasmine’s mouth dropped open as her face flushed. Her eyes flicked to Zoey who was seemingly too focused on her candy to have heard his slip.
Atlas shot to his feet and darted out the back screen door towards the ocean. He needed some air. And a long walk to get this monster inside him under control.
Hours later, he wandered back to the inn. He owed Jasmine an apology for losing his temper and saying what he’d said in front of her daughter. But he also wanted to be put out of his misery and know who the fuck Turner was to her.
Was he an old boyfriend? Zoey’s father? Not that it should matter because he was leaving in four days. But it did. Technically he’d gotten his answer from her about the inn. She wouldn’t sell. The only trick left up his sleeve was to come out and tell her why he was here and offer her an embarrassing amount of money. Not many people could turn down the offer when they saw their name on a check with so many zeros. But he didn’t want to do that because it would mean his time here really would be up. Jasmine would look at him differently. And he wasn’t ready to let go just yet. He liked the Atlas he got to be here in Shattered Cove. No one had expectations of him. No one thought less of a man who had humble dreams. And she was here.
That little girl was worming her way into his heart too. He’d actually miss Zoey when he went back to New York. Since when did he give a child a second thought?
He pushed open the screen door and walked through the empty kitchen. Voices came from the other room.
“We planned this weeks ago. Come on. You can handle one afternoon out with everyone,” Remy said.
“I know what you all are doing. And I appreciate it, but I just want to be alone today,” Jasmine replied.
“It’s not only for you. They need this distraction. They need you.”
Jasmine huffed. “Fine.”
What is today? Atlas walked the rest of the way into the inn. Both women turned to look up at him. Remy smiled, but Jasmine’s gaze darted away.
“I’m gonna get Zoey’s overnight bag,” Jasmine said.
“Are you ready to go?” Remy turned to him.
Jasmine froze. Mikel and a herd of children came through the door with an older couple and a woman he recognized from the bar.
“Hey, man.” Mikel raised his fist to bump Atlas’s. “Ready to go?”
Oh, shit. I forgot.
Jasmine’s eyes darted to her brother’s. “What do you mean?”
“We invited him at the cookout. Come on. It will be fun.” Mikel turned back to Atlas.
“So, he got a few days’ notice, and you drop it on me today?” Jasmine snapped.
Mikel offered a sheepish smile. “I knew you’d run away if we told you.”
“Running away is your MO not mine,” Jasmine said, a flash of anger and then regret in her eyes.
Mikel’s jaw tightened.
“Jaz,” Remy warned.
What is going on?
Jasmine’s gaze clouded over, her face stoic as if a mask had been slipped on. “I’ll get Zoey’s stuff.” She turned and jogged up the stairs.
The couple exchanged glances before Remy gave Mikel a hug. “She’ll come around.”
The other woman stepped forward. “You must be Atlas. I think I recognize you from the bar, right? I’m Charli.”
He smiled. “Yes. That’s right.”
“Are you going to the ropes course too?” Atlas asked her.
She shook her head and ran a tattooed hand over her small baby bump. “Oh, no. I’ll be manning the inn while y’all go have fun.”
“Is Finn coming later?” Mikel asked.
“He’ll be picking me up.” Charli said with a smile.
“Isn’t he leaving soon?” Remy asked.
Charli nodded. “Yeah, he and a buddy of his from the Army are going fishing in Washington in a month or so. Still working out the dates.”
“Alright, kiddos, go to the bathroom and then we gotta get going. Papa Stone has got popsicles for you all in the freezer at home,” a woman who looked a lot like an older version of Remy said, moving her way over to Atlas.
Her kind eyes met his and her mouth dropped open. A man whom he presumed to be Papa Stone came up next to her. His eyes widened.
Why are they so shocked?
“Mom, Dad, this is Atlas. He’s a guest at the inn,” Remy said, sliding in front of him. Her father’s gaze darted to her and then he nodded.
Her mother smiled politely. “Nice to meet you, Atlas.”
“You too.”
After the awkward introductions, Atlas sat back as the kids ran around. Their parents ushered them out to one of the waiting SUVs.
“Come on. You can ride with us. We’re gonna take one car and meet up with everyone else at the course.” Mikel patted Atlas on the back.
“Maybe I shouldn’t go. I don’t think Jasmine—”
“Trust me on this. She needs it more than she knows,” Mikel said, giving him a gentle push towards the car.
He climbed into the back and buckled up as Remy turned the radio on from the passenger seat.
Atlas peeked out the window as Mikel got in and reached across the console to hold his wife’s hand as they waited. Jasmine left the inn, a pink bag over her shoulder. She entered the SUV with the kids, coming out a moment later without the luggage. Not looking up, she walked to their car and slid in. Jasmine sat as far away from him as she could after shutting the door.
Mikel pulled onto the road.
Atlas glanced over at her. Jasmine’s attention stayed glued out the window, her eyes empty and glassy. Like she wasn’t really there in the car with them. Who had been the one to cause her pain?
He was helpless. An awkward outsider. What could he do? It wasn’t rational, but he wanted to be the one to pull her close and hold her while she released whatever it was she was holding inside. To wipe the stubborn tears when they eventually fell. The man to make it all better and earn one of those wild and free smiles that felt like sunshine in the dark. But had he already missed his chance? Would Turner be that man for her?
Over my dead body.
He had no idea what this was between them, but it was time he did something about it. Their relationship was a storm he wasn’t prepared for, strong enough to drown him. It was time to jump into the deep end. She’d been the siren who’d drawn him to her. He’d just have to hold on tight and hope it wouldn’t wreck him—that she wouldn’t sink him.