AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hello,” he said awkwardly.
Jasmine’s gaze darted to the floor as her cheeks flushed.
“You came into the café earlier. Atlas, right?” Remy said, her eyes widening.
He nodded and smiled. “And how do you all know each other?”
“Belle and I are married to Jasmine’s brothers.” Remy pointed between the woman with bright red lipstick and herself.
“And Mia is married to Remy’s brother, so she’s basically my honorary sister-in-law.” Belle winked at her friend who held a squirmy baby.
“Where are you from, Atlas?” Mia asked with a heavy Spanish accent. She adjusted the little boy on her hip.
“New York City.”
“That isn’t far,” Mia commented.
“No tan lejos,” Atlas answered in Spanish.
Mia’s eyes brightened. “Tu hablas español?”
He chuckled. “Si.”
“How many languages do you speak exactly?” Jasmine asked.
“Four, including English. It makes things easier in my line of work.” Anything to succeed.
“What exactly do you do?” Belle asked.
“I’m in real estate.” He shifted uncomfortably.
“Do you like Shattered Cove?” Remy asked.
“It’s a beautiful town.”
Jasmine’s sisters-in-law all cast a conspiratorial glance between him and Jasmine.
“Are you staying long?” Belle asked.
“Okay, enough of this inquisition,” Jasmine interrupted. The women all turned their heads to her.
Remy crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, come on, Jaz. We came here for answers, and if you won’t give them—”
“If you three don’t stop, I swear to God I will tell your husbands what really goes down on book-club night.”
Remy’s eyes narrowed on Jasmine as the other two decided to look anywhere else but him.
Jasmine grabbed a purse from the table, slipping it over her shoulder before walking over to him. “Was there something you needed?”
Three sets of eyes stared at them. He rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. “I was hoping I could take you out to dinner.”
Her eyes flicked to his chest. “That’s not a good idea.”
“I’d like it if we could talk.” He needed to clear this up.
“I have plans tonight that I can’t miss.” She turned around to face the other women. “Come on. You’re my ride.”
Belle nodded towards the door. Remy gave Jasmine one more not-so-subtle look before she and Belle exited the room.
“Mia will be here if you need anything from the inn until I get back. Have a good night,” Jasmine said, before walking out.
When had he ever been shut down by a woman? Never. Jasmine kept surprising him at every turn. She never did what he thought she would. Where was she going that was so important?
He pulled his keys out of his pocket and headed outside just as the taillights from the car trailed down the road. He’d go into town and stop for dinner. If he so happened to see where they went, it would be a bonus. It wasn’t stalking if he was traveling the same way. At least that’s what he’d keep telling himself.
He kept his distance, admiring the view as they wound around the road that bordered the ocean. The town was only a few miles from the inn. He pulled up behind them at a stoplight, just past the High Tide Diner. They turned right down a side street, stopping in an old church’s parking lot. There were a few other cars parked about the place. He slowed down as Belle and Jasmine got out of the car and headed inside.
Where were they going? Was she religious? Was this some type of AA meeting? As always, he seemed to have more questions than answers when it came to this woman. Why do I care so much? It was not like he trusted many people. Everyone in his life had used him in some form for his family connections, or his bank account. It was natural to be suspicious of others’ intentions. So why did seeking answers to Jasmine’s secrets seem more like betrayal?
