Inhale. Exhale.

~ Jasmin ~

I walk into my parent's house to drop off my car. I'm leaving for my dad can look it over since it's making some weird noise. "MOM," I scream as I walk in the kitchen, not knowing where she is in the house.

"Hey, no need to shout." I jump and turn around when I hear the deep male voice behind me. To my surprise, it's Jackson one of the foremen who works for my dad.

"Shit Jackson, you scared the crap out of me," I tell him with my hand over my heart. It's beating so fast I'm afraid it might jump out of my chest. It's then I notice that he's only wearing a pair of basketball shorts. No shirt. It looks like he's got finished working out since he's all sweaty. I notice the broad shoulders and sculpted chest creating the need in me to reach out and touch him.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He say making his way to the kitchen.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Your parents are letting me stay here for a few weeks while I get a place to live."

"Ok???" I'm not sure I want to know what's going on there. Ever since I met Jackson I liked him well enough. Yet, I've never understood his relationship with the woman he's married too. They don't seemed a likely match. When it comes to love and relationships, I have very high expectations. My parent's marriage has set the bar very high.

For me, anything less is settling and in Jackson's marriage, someone is settling, but I haven't figured out who.

Your mom is upstairs," he says reaches into the fridge and grabbing a bottle water. I take a minute to admire his well-built body.

"Like what you see?" His say, breaking me out of my lust induce trance.

"You wish," I tell him as I turn walking away in search of my mother.

I find her in her room folding laundry. "Hey mom"

"Hey baby girl, you here to drop your car off?

"Yes, I am," I say laying down on my parent's bed. "Question before Stephen comes to get me."

"What's up?" she asks while she's folding.

"Why is Jackson staying here?"

"He's separated from his wife and looking for a place to rent. When he told your dad he was going to stay in a hotel until he finds a place to live, your dad wouldn't have it."

"Didn't they get married a little over a year ago?" I asks. I've always thought they wouldn't last, but I figured they would get at least to the five years mark.

"About 18 months," she says shrugging her shoulders. "It happens. I don't know the whole story, and it's none of my business".

"It is your business when he staying at your house." I tell her. Sometimes my parents are to nice.

"How long is he planning on staying?"

"It is not my business," she repeats adamantly. "He needs a place to stay and you know how your dad is. He treats all his employees like family."

"I don't want him to take advantage of you guys," I tell her.

"I know sweet girl, but he's a good man. He's offered to pay rent while he's here and your dad refuses to take his money. He's bought dinner several times this week, so I don't have to cook. Honestly, I don't even notice he's here half the time. He very neat and clean guy and very respectful. Always staying out of our way."

"I'm sure he's a model guess". I pull my phone out of the front pocket of my yoga tunic when I hear it beep. I see I have a text from Stephen, letting me know he's outside waiting on me.

"Stephen is here to give me a ride to the studio. Here are my car keys," I say as I get up from the bed and I hand her my keys and I give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Tell daddy to let me know when the car is ready and I'll come by to pick it up." I make my way out the bedroom door.

"You coming over for Sunday dinner?" She asks before I walk out of the room.

"Yes mom, I'll be here," I tell her as I walk out.

I make it down to the kitchen and Jackson is at the stove making what looks like breakfast.

"You staying for breakfast?" He asks.

"Nope, my ride is here. Thanks." I tell him. Not sure why he would even ask, we've never been friendly.

"Oh, the annoying guy beeping the horn in the jeep is your ride? I was wondering who he was looking for." He says turning back to flipping the omelet in the skillet.

"Yeah, that annoying guy is my friend picking me up at my parent's house." I emphasize 'my parents' to make it point that my friends can come and beep the horn all they want.

 "Have a nice day," he looking up at me, then goes back to what he's doing.

The never this guy. I need to have a conversation with Marc. Does he know what's going on here? And what does he thinks of this situation with Jackson?