Page 57 of Seal of Approval

“Does that mean a kiss is off the table too?” I turned her toward me. “It would make a great start to the morning.”

What the hell was I doing? I had no idea if Jasmine regretted the kiss or not. Maybe the coffee was her way of letting me down gently. She glanced in the direction of the kids’ bedroom. They were awake. I could hear Rose talking to Timmy.

Jasmine clasped the back of my neck and tilted her head up to mine. Our lips met for a moment, long enough for me to appreciate the softness of hers. She pulled away and ran her tongue across her lips just as Rose came running into the kitchen. So maybe the kiss wasn’t a once off.

This was madness. And I was embracing it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Jasmine

This morning’s kiss had my insides humming. I smiled as Ethan and I approached the meeting point and greeted our guests. The smile was less perfunctory than usual. I felt it on the inside, like my lips weren’t the only thing that was lifted.

I began telling them what their morning with the sea lions would be like. My gaze landed on a face I’d rather not see—Max. My smile died and I paused mid-sentence. Ethan stopped what he was doing and looked in Max’s direction, his jaw hardening.

I shook my head and continued. “The water temperature today is around twenty degrees Celsius. You can opt to swim with or without a wetsuit. Ethan will demonstrate how to put one on.”

Ethan went through his presentation without a hitch. My eyes darted between him and Max. There was no enjoying the view today. Max certainly wasn’t. His cold eyes said more than his rigid shoulders.

As the guests went to put on their wetsuits, I busied myself with packing the leftovers. Ethan stayed close, his eyes darting between me and Max. Max hadn’t moved.

Could the man not understand one simple fucking instruction? Contact the solicitor. But of course, he wouldn’t do that. Once family court mediation started and the kids needed to talk to a psychologist it would be revealed how shitty a person he was. Of course, they could possibly be swayed by his charm, but maybe not. That wasn’t a risk he’d want to take. He would think it easier to influence me than a trained professional. After all, he’d done it for ten years.

I guided the guests onto the boat. Ethan took up the rear. Max made sure he was right behind me and then sat as close as he could to the steering wheel. As I drove off, I rolled my shoulders, trying to relax them.

I concentrated on Ethan’s voice as he spoke about the sea lions and tried not to think of Max’s eyes boring into my back. What was he even doing here, anyway? Did he think stalking was going to get him anywhere?

It was the first day of the school holidays. He must have known that. And that was exactly why he was here. He would be trying to see the kids by accident, on purpose. The mobile phone was useless, so I couldn’t let Jack and Lily know he was here and to look out for him when we got back to shore. I could use the radio, but I didn’t want the guests to know there was some sort of problem. At least when he was on the boat, he was nowhere near them.

I stopped the boat and anchored it while Ethan gave the final instructions. Then the guests made their way into the water. Except for Max.

“Are you going in?” I asked.

Ethan stood at the stern, watching the swimmers.

“No. I prefer the company up here.” He sent a pointed look in Ethan’s direction.

“Fine, sit there then. I’ve got a job to do.”

I positioned myself so my back wasn’t to him, but I could still see the swimmers. Sea lions swam amongst them, getting closer, circling and diving.

“I can see what you like about him. He puts on a good show with the wetsuit.”

I ignored him. As did Ethan. He was tense though. I saw it in his stance.

Was it Max that had posted that review and signed it Mr R? R for Mr Reynard? It was something he would do. He liked to undermine people.

A swimmer was following a sea lion, getting further and further away from the boat. Ethan sounded the hand-held horn and ushered the swimmer back.

“He’s not much more than that though,” Max said loud enough just for me to hear.

For fuck’s sake, what was his problem? Why couldn’t he leave us alone? Ethan was more than just his body or an interest in sea lions. He was kind and thoughtful. Not only that, he had confidence in me. He always let me handle situations myself and stepped in only if needed.

“The kids are home today. Maybe we can see them when we go back.”

I watched the swimmers, sneaking a look at Ethan. He hadn’t changed his posture. I didn’t know what was worse—Max speaking or the long drawn-out silence in between.

“Have you spoken to them about me?”

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