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“Oh, and the cake is in the van. I need to get the guys to help me bring it in before it melts,” Remy said, darting towards the kitchen.
“Your Lighthouse suite is all set, and, Cory, you can use the Anchor suite for you and the guys to get ready. Rae has your keys.” Jasmine motioned towards the front desk—her heart sputtered. Two grey eyes stared back at her. Atlas.
Cory and Brittany walked past her towards the kitchen, oblivious to the whirlwind of panic, hope, and heartache that spun her up inside. Her knees trembled, knocking together. The man’s presence shook her like an earthquake.
He stepped forward until he was only inches from her. His clean, soapy smell triggered sensory memories. The way he’d felt when he’d rocked inside her. The taste of his kiss. The warmth of his body curled around hers as he’d held her.
She blinked, unsure and apprehensive.
“I missed you,” he said, his voice unsteady.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
His eyes crinkled at the edges. “I’m here for you.” He pulled out a bouquet of yellow sunflowers from behind his back and handed it to her.
She accepted it with a trembling hand. Her gaze took in the jeans and black shirt that fit him so well. “Atlas—”
“I did a lot of thinking. I know I haven’t given you a reason to trust me. I know I hurt you . . . deeply.” He ran a hand over the back of his head, a surprisingly self-conscious gesture. “But I was hoping you’d be willing to have dinner with me and give us a chance to talk.”
Her heart tugged at his words. She wanted to say yes, but this man had indeed caused her pain. He’d said he would be there for her and then run away at the first sign of trouble instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt. He’d lashed out at her. She had a lot of baggage, and she needed a man who could handle all of her, not just the pretty parts. Someone who’d be straight with her—honest about all aspects of his past, too.
“Is your fiancée joining us for this dinner?”
He winced. “I was never engaged. I never intended to marry her. I told you that my parents had expectations for every part of our lives. But I wouldn’t have gone through with it even if I’d never met you.”
She believed him. But all her emotions muddled together. How could she trust this man again? It wasn’t just her heart she would be risking, but Zoey’s.
“Just dinner. I’m not the type of man to beg, but if you need me to get on my knees and plead, I will. I’ll do anything for you, and that’s what I’m here to show you.” His eyes flashed with determination.
“My cousin is getting married today. I can’t get away.”
“Bently said he’d watch Zoey tonight. And everyone else said they could handle the cleanup so I could pick you up at eight?” Atlas asked.
She tilted her head. “You talked to my family? Bently said he’d watch Z so you could take me out?” Was she dreaming?
He stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “I came to talk to them first. I wanted them to know my intentions.”
Say what?“And what are they?” she asked, still trying to wrap her head around all of this.
His gaze locked on to hers, intense and full of promise. “To show you every day just how beautiful you are, inside and out. To be there for you through the good and the bad. And to be a part of your and Zoey’s life. I’m gonna make you mine, Jasmine. In every sense of the word. Because life without you isn’t truly living.”
She swallowed. “I’ll see you at eight.”
