Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
ATLAS
I sadora Moretti is just as stunning as she was the day I left town to move in with my grandfather, assisting him with day-to-day activities, like overseeing his estate. In exchange, he paid me handsomely—and shaped me into a better man than I was when I departed our small town. My grandfather’s final gift was an investment into a passion project supporting the community back home. His final gift to me was an investment in a passion project supporting our hometown community. I built the puppy rescue in his honor as a way to remember him and every piece of unsolicited advice he provided me in our short time together. It’s not much, but it’s a step in the right direction to make up for some of my past choices. I didn’t plan on seeking Isadora’s forgiveness first, and I suspect it won’t not be a challenge I can overcome in just one afternoon.
I don’t bother to hide that I’ve been mesmerized since she stepped out of the big white catering van. It’s fifteen degrees outside, but I’m overheated in my gray long sleeve Henley from watching her. It’s impossible to resist drinking up every bit of Isadora’s curvy figure. My gaze travels over her hips and down her wondrously thick thighs. The way I wish those thighs were wrapped around my neck. Better yet, smothering me between them as I?—
“Hey, hello. Atlas. Earth to Atlas,” Isadora is waving at me from where she hangs halfway inside the door.
I snap out of my thoughts, wishing I didn’t have to. “Isadora,” her name rolls off my tongue like the taste of regret lingering on my lips, desperate. Fucking obsessed. Where the hell is my conscience when I need it? All I can think about is my selfish desire to be with her after all this time, and everything I put her through. In high school, I was insufferable. All those years, and I never apologized. I will never deserve her forgiveness.
“Izzy,” she snaps. “Just Izzy.”
There’s the attitude I was expecting. My lips turn up in a flashy smile.
“Are you going to help me get everything in and tell me where to set up, or just stand there smiling like a pompous prick?”
“I deserve that.” I tug my sleeves down and prepare to brave the cold to help her with the supplies.
We move all the supplies into the entryway first, working in an awkward silence. I don’t mind. We have all day to reconnect. I have all day to give her a glimpse of the new Atlas.
She’s uptight and all business. “Where should I set up? I have an extension cord and a power strip, but I’m going to need an outlet somewhere.”
“Right here. The puppies are in one of the kennel areas. Feel free to set up anywhere you want. There’s ten pens, so just leave me a decent amount of space and you probably won’t want to be by the door.” I point over my shoulder. “I’m going to grab everything and start prepping the puppy space.”
She nods at me then examines the room, looking for a spot. I check my watch. I’ve got a lot to do before the event opens at nine. Since it was a last-minute rescue, I had already told all the volunteers and my small team of employees they could have the week off for Christmas. It’s going to be me, Isadora, and ten puppies—all alone today. I’m fucking nervous as hell, since I figured it would be one of her cousins or uncles here with me. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the coffee shop to find Isadora behind the counter, just like old times.
I figured she’d be long gone—married and happy—but a small part of me hoped to find her there. Once her nonna confessed Izzy was still single, there was no doubt in my head about what I intended to do. I will make it all up to her and maybe even convince her to love me. This means admitting to Isadora exactly why I was so cruel to her in high school, forcing myself to come face-to-face with my own insecurities and secret desires.
The puppies bark at my footsteps, reminding me of the Christmas spirit and exactly why I’m here tormenting myself today. It was luck that saved these little guys and I couldn’t bring myself to deny them the opportunity of finding forever homes in time for the holidays. I grab a rolling cart and load it with all the supplies I need for the adoption set up. I’ll grab the puppies last. Maybe it will be a good way to melt the ice queen’s heart. She can’t stay angry when there are puppies involved—or can she? My heart pounds nervously in my chest as I return to the foyer to set up for the event.
I emerge to find Isadora bent over tinkering with an extension cord and power strip. My conscience is screaming at me to behave and act like a gentleman, but the part of me that’s spent years imagining a scene like this can’t do it. I stare. As if she can feel the longing caress of my gaze on her round little ass, she flips her long, sleek lavender-colored hair over her shoulder to glare at me, the color melting against her olive-tinted skin. I suck my breath in, mesmerized, as her angry green eyes narrow at me.
“See something you like, or just caught in the orbit of my giant ass?” She snaps.
Caught, yes, but that orbit’s entirely by choice. Damn. I’ve walked right into a doozy. “Um, look,” I stammer nervously. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to appear as if I was staring or make you uncomfortable, and I didn’t get sucked into an orbit.”
She crosses her arms across her chest as she stands, turning to face me. Her hip is cocked to one side with an attitude that says she will absolutely fuck me up and not think twice about it.
“Then why were you staring at my ass?” She demands, arching her brow at me.
“I didn’t mean to. I was coming back with the cart full of stuff and I was going to see if you wanted to come back to meet the puppies, and then I was thinking about how cute they were. My eyes kind of glazed over. Then you were yelling at me.” I lie, but I lie with confidence and all the wit and charm I can muster. Fantastic! We’re off to a great fresh start , my missing conscience chimes in with impeccable timing.
She stares me down, and it takes all my self-control not to squirm. Satisfied, she finally looks away. “Fine. I’ll believe you this time, but don’t let me catch you staring again.”
It almost sounds like she’s flirting with me. But she can’t be. She wouldn’t. Or would she? I blink my eyes in disbelief.
“You’re surprisingly grumpy for someone spending the day in the presence of puppies. I’ll come back once you’re all set up. A warm cup of cocoa might put you in a better mood.” I wink.
Isadora’s face twists into a sneer. She rolls her eyes, turning back around to resume what she was working on. As she does, I steal one last long look at her silhouette, taking an extra few seconds to imagine all the things I’d like to bend her perfect ass over.