Chapter 25
Jamie
Jamie arrived in America after a smooth flight, crossing time zones without a second thought.
Business was on his mind, but something else dominated his thoughts, too.
Hopping off the private jet and onto the hot, neon-lit ground of the Vegas Strip, Jamie shot Shannon a quick text. A simple, teasing question.
Still naked? Or are you in my boxers?
It wasn’t the first time a woman had tempted him like this. He was no stranger to choice.
However, Shannon had hit like an atomic bomb, an explosion that wiped every other woman from the picture and that sudden realisation struck him hard.
And, damn it, it freaked him out, too.
He hoped a few days away from Northern Ireland would give him the clarity he needed. Clear his head, put some distance between him and that intense addiction.
Jamie walked through the hotel lobby, the buzz of activity and flashing lights a constant reminder that this was Vegas, where business and sex collided in a chaotic mix.
A woman with wavy dark hair caught his eye. Her gaze slid over his fitted t-shirt and grey sweatpants, while she drew the edge of her lip between her teeth.
He flashed a polite smile, but she didn’t miss a beat, stepping closer, her interest obvious.
“Enjoying the view?” she asked.
“Seen it all before.” Jamie winked, his tone cool and dismissive as he moved past her without another word.
Walking away, he couldn’t stop Shannon haunting him again with her sexy laugh, natural beauty, and the way her full package made his pulse go off the charts.
Glancing at his phone, he saw she hadn’t replied to his text. Maybe she was still sleeping.
He sighed, frustration building, and muttered a curse under his breath, his fingers tightening around the device.
After grabbing the key card for his usual suite from the cute receptionist, he rode the elevator to the top floor, shooting a message to Marcus to let him know he was on his way up.
As he strode inside, he froze, taking in the scene that greeted him.
“Holy fuck, mate. Last thing I need to see after a long flight is your ass.” Jamie groaned, pretending to cover his eyes in mock disgust.
Marcus glanced over his shoulder from the couch, using his body to shield Lana’s naked body under him.
“Jesus fuck, Jamie…” He panted, raking a hand through his messy hair. “I told you to give me a head’s up when Lana’s with me.”
Apparently, he hadn’t seen the incoming text a few seconds ago. Typical Marcus—lost in his own filthy world with Lana, oblivious to everything else.
“Sorry, Lan.” Jamie peeked through his fingers, then added, “Alright, guys, I’m here. Enough with the touching…and biting…and seriously, put on some clothes, mate.”
A soft, playful giggle floated across the room. “Hey, Jamie. I’ll get dressed and Facetime Freddy, so you can have him all to yourself.”
Jamie dropped his hands from his eyes just in time to see Lana slide out from under Marcus, unbothered by her nakedness.
Marcus shot up, throwing a protective arm around her, blocking Jamie’s view.
“Cover up, beautiful,” he ordered.
While Lana ducked to grab a nearby shirt, throwing it on with a playful grin, he swatted her ass.
“Fuck. That shouldn’t turn me on. But it did,” Jamie said, laughing.
“You owe me, dickhead,” Marcus growled when she pranced towards the bedroom. “Big fucking time.”
“When’s the meeting?” Jamie asked, leaning against the wall .
“Noon.” Marcus stepped into his jeans and dragged a t-shirt over his head. “You ready to take the lead on this?”
“You know I am.” Jamie didn’t hesitate.
He’d worked on the contract with Emilio Falcone, even though Marcus almost sabotaged it before they signed. In his eyes, Lana came first, even if it meant putting his own life at risk.
Jamie shivered, the memory of his brother lying in a pool of blood crashing back into his mind, drowning everything else out.
The thought of Marcus almost slipping through his fingers still left a bitter taste in Jamie’s mouth, like a scar that wouldn’t fade.
He’d done everything he could to keep his brother alive.
Then there was Shannon. A woman who’d appeared by chance in his life, faster than he could process.
Between Marcus’s near-death drama and their father’s mental decline, he wanted to live fast and unfiltered. And Shannon Colter had become the perfect distraction.
Adjusting himself in his jeans, Jamie strolled across the room and joined Marcus on the couch.
“You know I was talking to you, right?” Marcus nudged his elbow into him. “You zoned out.”
“You must’ve been talking shit.” Jamie shot back, brushing it off. “I tuned out. Turned the volume down on your Lana monologue.”
“I wasn’t talking about her, but I bet you were thinking about a certain ball crusher,” Marcus teased, sitting back.
“So what if I was? I’m man enough to admit when I like a girl.”
“You like her... like, enough to invite her over for Christmas turkey, or just a few casual hookups?” Marcus teased, his grin wide.
Jamie paused longer than usual, his gaze drifting for a moment.
“Christmas turkey, huh?” he said, forcing a chuckle. “You think I’m that kind of guy now? Anyway, what man talks about bringing a woman home for turkey? I could understand if you said something about a nice cut of rump steak... But turkey? What the fuck?”
He shot Marcus a dramatic look of disgust.
“Anyway, maybe I would bring her to a family dinner sometime,” he muttered under his breath.
Marcus chuckled, then winced, clutching his bullet wound. Jamie’s eyes flicked to his brother’s movements, concern hidden behind his sarcasm.
“Blame Lana. It’s her fault.” Marcus nodded toward the bedroom where Lana was dressing. “She’s been talking about a family Christmas. Don’t worry, I’ll spank that idea out of her.”
Jamie shook his head and chuckled.
“Christ, Marcus. She’s practically family now. Say shit like that again and I’ll need therapy, not a cold shower.”
Marcus’s scowl was instant .
“Don’t picture her like that.” He shoved Jamie’s shoulder. “Stay in your lane.”
Jamie stretched out on the sofa. “Seriously, though, how did you know Lana was the one?”
There it was—the question that had played on his mind during the long-haul flight from Dublin.
Marcus’s brow furrowed as he stared off into space, a goofy look spreading across his face. “The second my lips touched hers. It felt like…home.”
“Right. Home,” Jamie said, rolling his eyes but not able to hide his smirk. “Shannon made me a bacon butty. It reminded me of those summer mornings when Dad made us breakfast.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “So, you do like her.”
He sighed, the truth right there as plain as day. But could he admit it? Could he really say it out loud?
His chest tightened, and for a moment, he hesitated. He met his brother’s eyes, his jaw tightening.
“Yeah, I like her,” he said, his gut churned as he spoke, not ready to admit how much she’d drawn him in.
Jamie pulled his phone from his pocket. Still no reply, so he snapped a quick selfie with the Vegas lights flashing behind him. A mischievous grin tugged at his lips as he typed:
The view here’s nice, but I’d say the one from your bedroom beats it hands down. I’ll confirm that on Friday. ;)
He hit send and stared at the screen, waiting. Seconds ticked by. Then minutes. His thumb hovered over her name, ready to dial.
The longer the moment dragged on, the harder his knee bounced, each anxious movement a reminder of how out of his element he was.
It was just a message. Just a selfie. So why the hell was he getting so damn restless?
And why the fuck hadn’t she read it yet?