Chapter 5
Shannon
“Alright, that’s me finished up, Jess.” Shannon shrugged into her coat. “See ya tomorrow.”
“Byeeee.” Jess waved. “I hope your night goes better than what you could have had with Mr Suit-and-Tie from earlier.”
Shannon shot her a dry smile. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure my night will be far less complicated than anything he’d offer.”
“I’d rather have a man between my legs than a horse, any day.”
Shannon raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Well, I’ll stick to my horses, thanks. They don’t talk shit, and at least they know how to stay away when I need space.”
During the last few hours of her shift, Shannon’s mind kept drifting back to the guy from earlier.
How his dark gaze had lingered, intense and unrelenting, making her uneasy in a way she wasn’t used to .
The confidence he exuded had unsettled her, leaving her restless and off balance.
Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten. She fumbled through her bag, pulling out a packet of salty crisps and checking for a bottle of water.
Glancing at her phone, she saw a message from Harry.
The farrier is here. No need to rush back.
She pocketed the phone and stepped outside, the chill of the air biting at her skin. As the door shut behind her, a shadow fell, the familiar sensation sending a shiver down her spine.
Only this time, butterflies burst inside her chest, rather than anxiety.
There he was again.
The guy from earlier wore the same tailored suit, no tie and the top button of his shirt was still undone, revealing golden skin beneath.
His dark amber eyes caught hers, gleaming with a confidence that was almost predatory while his mouth curved into an effortless, dimpled grin.
“Hey,” he said, his voice deep, almost disarming her. "We're starting over. I’m Jamie.”
Shannon took a step closer, her feet betraying her need to keep her distance. Her eyes dropped to his outstretched hand.
There was something about him, something unsettling yet deeply magnetic. It made her veins buzz and her heart race .
“Now that your shift’s over, how about we grab something to eat?” he asked.
With a deep breath, she let her palm meet his, letting his firm grip wrap around her hand.
The instant their skin met, a jolt of electricity shot up her arm, searing through her veins and spreading warmth throughout her body.
Holy shit.
The mix of his intoxicating woodsy scent and the intimate contact sent her mind spiralling, filling it with dark, indecent images, as if his very soul bled into hers.
Her heart pounded like Trixie’s hooves at a full gallop, the beat thumping against her ribcage.
Walk away. Say no.
She lifted her gaze, her front teeth catching the corner of her mouth as she fought to steady her breath. The grip on her crisp packet tightened and her pulse went wild.
“Shannon Colter.” She smiled. “Have you been lingering outside Coffee Kicks long, Jamie?”
The warmth of his hand slipped away, and the absence of contact sent a shiver prickling at her scalp.
He slid his hands into his trouser pockets, his posture loosening as he chuckled in a deep, sexy rumble.
“Just got here, love. You ready to grab some food together? My treat. I promise it’ll be more substantial than a few crisps.”
His gaze dropped to the packet in her hand.
“There are a million ways I’d like to thank you. However, a meal seems like a good place to start. ”
She eyed the crisps, then him. “Well, these are technically a meal, if you’re not picky about nutritional value. But I am starving.”
“So that’s a yes?” he asked.
“Just food.” She nodded, her chest fluttering with erratic palpitations.
He pulled his hand from his pocket and slipped it around her waist, tugging her closer. “I knew you’d agree sooner or later.”
“Are you serious?” She shot him a disbelieving look. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”
He chuckled, his smirk never fading. “I think you like it. Or you wouldn’t be standing this close to me, would you?”
She couldn’t help rolling her eyes. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to have lunch with him. But damn, the cockiness radiating off him was enough to make her grit her teeth.
He was trouble in a designer suit, bad news tucked beneath tailored fabric.
“Let’s get you fed, Shannon. I know a decent spot.”
Jamie guided her across the road and toward the revolving door of The Fitz Hotel, his hand pressed to the curve of her spine.
The lavish lobby loomed ahead, and for a second, she wondered just how deep this rabbit hole would go.
“Do you work at Coffee Kicks every day?” he asked, his raspy voice making her veins run hotter.
“Not every day. I work rotational shifts. I have two jobs. ”
His hand snaked around her waist, anchoring her to his side as they moved through the hotel.
He tipped his chin, lowering his gaze to meet hers, making her chest tighten with a breath she hadn’t meant to take.
The light from the lobby chandeliers flickered in his eyes, setting them aglow like slow-burning embers—dangerous and impossible to ignore.
“What’s the second job?”
“I help a friend.” She half-shrugged, offering him a tight smile, not giving anything away.
“With?” he pressed, his curiosity genuine but teasing.
“You ask a lot of questions.” She slanted sideways a little, putting a bit of distance between them.
He stopped at the entrance of the restaurant. A soft chuckle rumbled from his chest, and his fingers brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, sending a shiver over her scalp.
“Just making conversation,” he said. “Figured we should get to know each other.”
Peppermint laced his breath, and for a moment, she wondered what it would be like to kiss him. The light touch of his finger against her cheek sent a ripple of warmth through her, making her skin flame.
The restaurant hummed with a relaxed energy and low lighting, casting warmth over her makeup-free complexion. Conversations blended with the low hum of music in the background.
As they walked together, every member of the waiting staff nodded, as if Jamie were royalty .
Shannon wondered if they were victims of his magnetic pull, too.
He guided her toward a secluded booth at the farthest end of the room.
A pretty server with hungry green eyes hurried over. “I reserved that one for you, Mr McGrath, if you’d prefer it?”
She gestured to a table near the bar.
“This one is fine.” Jamie’s voice was smooth, but the undertone of authority was clear. “We’d like some privacy.”
Taking a step back, the server's freckled face flickered with a hint of disappointment.
“Of course, I’ll let you get settled before I take your order,” she said, her tone light, though her gaze lingered on him.
She moved to the side, lips parting when Jamie helped Shannon slip out of her puffy coat.
“The usual, Vicki,” he said, his gaze never leaving Shannon’s as she settled into the leather seat. “What do you want to drink, love?”
He flipped open the black drinks menu and set it down in front of her, his fingers brushing hers for just a second.
Shannon scanned the menu, eyeing the overpriced cocktails.
“Uhhh…” Her gaze lifted, catching Vicki’s blazing stare, still directed at Jamie.
“Sparkling water, please,” Shannon said, offering Vicki a half smile, attempting solidarity .
The girl clearly had a fascination with him, and deep down, Shannon couldn’t blame her.
“Of course.” Vicki nodded, though her attention cut back to Jamie.
She hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening around her pen as she forced a smile. Backing away, she gave Jamie a look that lingered, waiting for praise that never came.
“I’ll be right back to take your food order.”
Jamie flashed her an innocent dimpled grin, the kind that could melt panties without even trying. It wasn’t intentional flirting, but it still had the desired effect.
“Thanks.”
Vicki’s retreat was a little too quick, and she collided with an unoccupied chair behind her and turned with a groan.
What made it even worse was the fact that Jamie hadn’t even noticed.
While he shrugged off his suit jacket, Shannon’s eyes wandered, drawn to the way his shirt clung to his torso.
The cotton outlined every curve of muscle, and the thought of what lay beneath had her blood pumping faster.
Her fingers found their way to her mouth, nibbling the edge of her nail as the image escalated in her mind.
She noticed things about him that rarely fazed her, like the strength of his hands and the amazing scent of cologne.
He was a study in fluidity and power, wrapped up in one impossibly hot package .
“That’s better,” he said, dropping into the booth across from her. “I hate wearing suits, but it’s a necessary evil.”
He unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing a hefty gold Longines watch.
Damn, her favourite brand.
“Longines, huh?” she said, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity. “Pretty sure that’s a watch people wear when they want to make a statement.”
He glanced at her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Is it now? I guess I just like what I like.”
She raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on the watch. “Is it fake?”
He gave a small, easy shrug, a hint of mystery in his smile. “Nothing about me is fake, love. What you see is what you get.”
He repositioned the cutlery, his eyes glinting with mischief. “So, Shannon. I owe you a massive thanks.”
“Accepted.” She flashed him a triumphant smile. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
He rubbed his stubbled chin, chuckling. “It was semi-hard, but now it’s ready.”
She rolled her eyes, even as her cheeks flushed crimson, and goosebumps ran down her arms.
“Is this your usual line of conversation? Sexual innuendos over lunch? Real classy, Jamie,” she teased, trying to sound indifferent, though she couldn’t hide the little smile tugging at her lips.
“To be honest,” he said, his voice low and playful, “I don’t usually have to work this hard to impress. ”
Parts of her body that had been dormant for years, or maybe never really awake, tightened with unexpected heat.