Page 10 of Seal of Approval

Jasmine stood. “I’m going to clean the campground, then I’ll collect the mail.”

I nodded and continued to work on my inductions. Jasmine stormed out of the office. Those long tanned legs sure could move fast.

Great. How was I supposed to work and live with her? Considering my words more than usual would be a good start.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jasmine

“That man is impossible,” I said to Lily and Jack. “When I told him he had an actual job to do and that his precious sea lions would have to wait, he was so fucking dismissive. He didn’t even bother to respond.”

I paced the floor in front of the counter while they shared a look. “And I have to live with him. He may look like sex on legs. But fuck me. He hardly says a word. I think he’s smiled once since I met him.”

Jack closed his newspaper, folded it and laid it flat on the counter. I wasn’t ready for him to be all reasonable.

I ploughed on. “Who would want to live with someone like that? The sooner his house is renovated, the better.”

Jack smoothed down the paper. “Now let’s back up a bit.”

Lily gave him a nudge. “To the sex on legs part?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Perhaps he didn’t respond to your putting him in his place because he didn’t want to have an argument,” Jack said. “You know, because you have to work and live together.”

Lily nodded. “Did you use your mum voice on him?”

“I used the voice that was necessary.”

Lily laughed. “And you seriously thought that poor man would be brave enough to speak against it?”

“Poor man, nothing.”

“Yes, poor man,” Jack said. “He’s moved halfway around the world to follow his passion to find out he needs to live with you, Bailey and Rose. Do you think that might have been a bit of a shock?”

I shrugged.

“Can we get back to the sex on legs part?” Lily asked, coming around the counter. “Did you get a good look at him, like maybe in a towel after a shower?”

I took a step back. “No.”

Lily shadowed my move. “But you wanted to.”

An image of Ethan in his wetsuit, torso bared, flashed through my mind. I blushed. “No.”

She followed me to the door. I waved at Jack before she could ask another question. “Thanks for the chat.”

“Put the poor man out of his misery and take him out to the sea lions,” he said as the door closed behind me.

I supposed I should. It was cruel to deny him something so simple. I didn’t even know why it had irked me so much. I don’t know why he irked me so much. He hadn’t been unpleasant to me or the children. And Rose could be full-on. Being quiet didn’t equate to being rude. Not everyone was talkative.

Maybe he reminded me a bit of Max and how he’d always shirked his responsibilities. He always wanted to do the fun stuff, but none of the hard work to get there. Everyone else had to do the work, mainly me. Now, I only had to look after myself and Bailey and Rose. I didn’t need to wait on someone else. I put our needs first.

That didn’t give me permission to be rude or lack empathy. My thoughts and emotions were swirling around like they were in a whirlpool. I needed to control them. I needed to think of him like any other co-worker and show him the respect he deserved.

And I needed the same from him. The workload was too much for one person; he needed to do his part, so it didn’t crush me.

As I made my way up the stairs, I could see Ethan through the door, bending down, picking up brochures. My eyes strayed to his butt. He looked much better in work shorts than Ken had. I drew a breath in. He was my co-worker. Those thoughts were not allowed.

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