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Chapter 8
Atlas
Atlas blinked as the room came back into focus. Jasmine’s face flushed and she avoided his gaze.
Zoey clapped. “Bavo, Mommy. You dance so pretty.”
Damn. He’d forgotten they weren’t alone. Hell, he’d forgotten anything else existed the moment Jasmine’s tiny body pressed against his. What had he been thinking?
He hadn’t been. That was the problem. At least not with his upstairs brain.
“Say goodnight to Mr. Atlas. It’s time for bed,” Jasmine said, her voice shaky and breathy.
“But, Mommy, I want to play.”
Jasmine bent and picked up the few feathers that had fallen loose from the little girl’s dress-up ensemble. “You can play tomorrow. It’s time for your bath and then bed.”
Zoey crossed her arms across her chest, her bottom lip sticking out. It was adorable. He bit back a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Atlas, and goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he said.
“Don’t let the bedbuggies bite.” Zoey smiled.
Jasmine laughed. “That’s probably not something we should say to a guest at our inn.” Her eyes flicked to his, the remnants of the heated moment shared between them still burning like an ember in her gaze. “I promise this establishment is free of bedbugs.”
He chuckled. “I’ll take your word for it.”
She picked Zoey up. The little girl looked so big in her arms. His instinct was to reach out and offer to help carry her, but he fisted his hands at his sides. This wasn’t his family. This was temporary. He was temporary. He wanted to escape from their presence and clear his head.
He turned, rushing out the front door to his car. He needed a drink.
* * *
Atlas found himself at a club named The Shipwreck. He took an empty seat at the bar and waved the bartender over.
“What can I get you tonight?” she asked.
“I’ll take over here,” a man said, wrapping his brown sun-kissed arm around her belly, drawing Atlas’s attention to the slight bump there. “You go up to rest while you still can. I can handle tonight.”
“Finn, I’m perfectly capable—”
He kissed her, silencing her protest.
Atlas couldn’t hold back the smile. These two were just as in love as his brother and Christina.
“Charli, baby, that was never in question. Let me do this for you while I have the chance before I leave on my trip.”
She nodded and smiled. “Alright. Give this guy a drink on the house for having to witness your over-the-top PDA though.” Charli winked at Atlas.
“Yes, ma’am.” Finn saluted her. “Let me get his poison and I’ll walk you to the car.”
“Okay.” Charli smiled.
“What can I get ya, bud?” Finn focused his attention on Atlas finally.
“Vodka on the rocks.”
“Damn. Been a day, then, huh?” Finn grabbed a glass and filled it halfway with ice.
