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He slowed down to a walk, gasping for breath as he picked up the call. “Hello?”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” his mother asked.
“Just out for a run. What’s up?”
“Seriously, Atlas, I raised you with better etiquette than that,” his mother snapped.
He rolled his eyes. “Sorry, Mother. What can I help you with?”
“For starters, you can come back to the office. Quit your fool’s errand at that inn and return to do some actual work.”
Right. The whole reason he was here. How had he let his goal fall by the wayside? Those green eyes of course, and the little grey ones that were never far behind.
“I’m working on it. I have three days left.”
“Just get it done or come home. We have plans to make. Veronica’s parents are going to stop by next week for dinner, and it would be a good time for us all to talk about the next steps for you two.”
He gritted his teeth. “Mother, that’s not—”
“You are so stubborn. Look at Oliver. He’s quite happy with our little arrangement. Christina is just who he needs on his arm. I sent something to the inn to make you remember why you need to get back here. Be on the lookout for it. Wouldn’t want it to get lost.”
“Moth—”
“I have to go now. See you soon, darling. Ciao.” The call ended.
He pulled his phone from his ear and stared at it. What the hell was he doing? Maybe this town had gotten to his head. This place was temporary. But that CEO position was forever. It was what he’d wanted more than anything . . . Wasn’t it? He shook his head, slipping the phone back into his pocket, and jogged back towards the inn.
I’ll ask her once and for all and then if she says no, I’ll stay my three more days and go back to reality. And then . . . what? Could he go back and forth? Yeah, right. That would never work with his schedule. It would be better if he left her alone. She deserved someone who could be there for her and her daughter. Maybe he should leave sooner.
Zoey’s giggle erupted from behind the beach grass. Atlas slowed to a walk, hands on his hips. Jasmine tickled the little girl. The smile on Jasmine’s face sucked the breath from his lungs. She was radiant.
“Stop, Mommy!” Zoey pleaded.
Jasmine immediately stopped. “Is that enough tickling?”
“Yes. I want to build a sandcastle now. Mr. Atlas!”
Jasmine’s head whipped up, her gaze meeting his. A slight pink colored her creamy cheeks.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Will you build a sandcastle with me?” Zoey asked, holding her hands out in front of her like a prayer.
He couldn’t say no to that little face. “Sure.”
She giggled and grinned. “Yay! Okay, you can sit here on our banket.”
For the next forty-five minutes, he took instructions from a very excited three-year-old, trudging buckets of water back and forth from the sea. They worked together to create whatever castle Zoey had constructed in her little mind.
“It’s perfwect!” She clapped.
They took a break for water and a picnic lunch of simple sandwiches under an umbrella on the beach. The waves and blue sky were the beautiful backdrop for the most perfect afternoon.
The low hum of a mower was the only sound out of place. Jasmine waved to Turner as he packed up the machine. Atlas felt a little better knowing the guy’s history with her. But a man could tell when another male wanted a woman. And Turner had his sights set on Jasmine.
“Do you want an extra sandwich?” Jasmine asked.
“No, thanks,” he said.
