Chapter 27
Jack crackeda grin as I walked into the shop. “You and Ethan seemed pretty close last night.”
What was he even talking about?
I narrowed my eyes. “That’s what happens when you sit next to each other.”
Lily appeared and stood beside him. Her curls were extra bouncy today as she looked between us.
“Jack wasn’t talking about you sitting next to each other.” The lilt in her voice matched her curls.
“Hell no. You two were in your own little world.”
“Speaking to each other,” I said.
“Getting lost in each other’s eyes.” Jack pretended to stare dreamily into Lily’s.
I shook my head. “Have you been swapping your thriller books for Lily’s romances?”
“Don’t need a romance book to see what’s going on between the two of you.”
“We sat next to each other and had a conversation. Nothing unusual there.”
“She doth protest too much,” Jack said, and Lily nodded.
“Whatever. I’m here to collect the mail.”
“It’s Sunday, love,” Jack said.
Shit. My brain was not functioning.
“She’s distracted by love.” Jack held a hand to his heart.
Lily giggled, actually giggled.
“Lucky that house next door isn’t finished, huh?” Jack said. The suggestiveness in his voice insinuated I thought it was more than convenient.
I rolled my eyes and walked out. Their laughter followed me down the stairs. I was distracted, but it had nothing to do with Ethan or the way he’d looked at me last night. I told myself that all the way to the office. We were finishing a couple of things off before the Sunday tour. The kids were with Jay and Ross.
Ethan and I worked in silence. He stared at his screen, shook his head and then typed, his fingers tapping keys quickly. I studied him as he hit backspace over and over.
“What’s got you so worked up?” I asked.
“A review.”
“A review about what?”
“Our tour.”
I stood up and made my way over to him. “What about our tour?”
He let out a harsh breath. “We are disorganised, we share dull facts, we?—”
“Bullshit,” I said as I reached his side and read the review over his shoulder. It was worse than that. According to the reviewer, we had no personality and paid more attention to each other than we did the guests.
“That’s crap. Who is the review from?”
“I can’t tell. Mr R is all it says.”
“Does it say what date he toured?”
Ethan shook his head. He clicked on the reviewer’s name. There were no other reviews. And he had no posts about other places he visited.
“Are you responding?”
“I thought about it, but I wouldn’t want to antagonise Mr R.” Ethan took hold of my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry about it. Every other review is glowing.”
I nodded. It was disappointing but what could we do? Apologise online for something that wasn’t true?
“Jasmine.” His voice was commanding yet soft.
I made eye contact with him, and my stomach lifted as if a buoy in the ocean. Gosh, his hazel eyes were beautiful. More green than brown. Jack’s conversation reeled around my brain. I broke eye contact. I was not lost in Ethan’s eyes.
He squeezed my arm again. “A low review gives legitimacy to all the others.”
“How do you figure?”
“No one’s perfect.”
“Yeah, but?—”
Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs before the screen door opened, and Max stepped inside. The buoy was punctured, and my stomach plummeted. His eyes narrowed as he glanced between us. I stood up straight.
“Hi, Jasmine. Ethan.” His voice hardened on Ethan’s name.
“Max,” I said, not moving.
What was he doing here? How did he know we were in the office? I glanced out the window, trying not to make it obvious. The kids weren’t on the beach. Hopefully, Jay was entertaining them inside.
Ethan stayed seated.
“I’ve brought gifts for Bailey and Rose. Can I see them?”
I glanced at his hands. A teddy and fishing rod.
I clenched my hands. “I told you that my solicitor would contact you. She sent a letter last week.”
His jaw stiffened. “It’s been five years. Surely they’re ready by now.”
“Surely, you want to do it the right way.” My voice was tinged with sarcasm. “After all, it’s been five years.”
There went the tic in his jaw.
Ethan touched my leg. It was subtle, but I got the hint loud.
I took a deep breath. What would Ethan say? Then I did my best Ethan impression. “I’m sorry you drove all this way, Max. I think it’s important for the children that we go through the correct processes.”
“Important for the children or for you?”
“Both, actually. It’s my job to keep them safe.”
He took a step forward. Ethan shifted in his seat but didn’t get up.
“I’m their father.” Max glanced at Ethan. Although his face was placid, his message was clear.
I didn’t care. I knew which one I’d rather be their father.
“Max, the last time the children saw you, you were taken away by the police. How do you think that made them feel?”
“How do you think it made me feel?”
It always turned back around to him. He was insinuating it was my fault. He didn’t need to say the words.
“Bailey and Rose were traumatised by that night. It will take time to rebuild a relationship.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
I took a deep breath. How I ever married him was beyond me. I must have been pretty bloody stupid.
Ethan’s feet moved. Heels raised and placed back down again. The muscles in his legs tensed. But his upper body stayed relaxed. “Jasmine has given you her answer.” His voice was calm, light.
“Can I at least give them the gifts?”
“You can leave the gifts here. I will give them to them when I think it’s appropriate,” I said.
“In other words, never.”
“When it’s appropriate.”
Max’s fingers tightened around the teddy’s arm, crushing it. They wouldn’t want his gifts. Rose had her trauma bear who could never be replaced. And Bailey didn’t like fishing.
Ethan stood. “Is there anything else you’d like today, Max?”
Max retrained his face. His jaw relaxed. His eyes calmed. “Other than seeing my children, no.”
Ethan moved closer to me so that our arms were touching, tethering us to each other.
“I’m sorry we can’t make that happen today. I think the best thing to do would be to answer the solicitor’s letter.”
Max glanced between us. Whether he saw a formidable team or something else was unclear.
“OK. I’ll leave these here with you for when you think it’s appropriate.” He placed them on my desk and walked out.
Ethan went to the door and watched him. My legs were shaking as I sat down in Ethan’s chair with a sigh. He’d let me handle Max. Just that alone made me feel capable and strong. Ethan stayed by the door but faced me. I took a breath in and closed my eyes. The strength I’d shown moments ago seeped from my body.
“You did good,” Ethan said.
I opened my eyes and gave him a weary smile. “I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here.”
“I didn’t do anything. You were standing your ground.”
I blew out a breath. “He wasn’t going to give up.”
Ethan smiled. “Neither were you. I only said something because it was obvious it was going nowhere.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t want him to ruin the good vibes in our office.”
I laughed. “The good vibes from a crappy review.”
“You haven’t made it until you receive at least one of those.”
I studied him. “How many crappy reviews have you received?”
“Enough. Not everyone shares my passion for sea lions. One student review said I drone on and on about them.”
I grinned. “Well, you sorta do.”
Ethan shook his head. “I think it’s best you go back to your own desk now. I’ve got sea lion work to do.”
“Only if you promise to do it quietly.” I giggled and vacated his chair.
Who would have thought I’d be laughing after another visit from Max? Max’s appearance may have ignited fear in me, but Ethan’s words had dispelled it enough to make me laugh. He said I was strong, and with him by my side, I felt that way.