Chapter 11
Shannon
Wrapped in a mustard coat and a black knitted scarf, Shannon perched on a low-slung chair in the hotel lobby.
She was a simple girl, someone who liked simple things, and this was way out of her comfort zone.
Waiting for Jamie was like waiting for the rollercoaster to start its climb, anticipation buzzing through her as she braced for the wild ride.
“Shannon.”
She turned towards the sound of his deep voice, eyes drawn to the way he moved through the lobby, every confident step exuding power and control.
When he slotted a hand into his trouser pocket, the muscles of his chest and shoulders stretched the fabric of a green shirt.
His tanned skin seemed to glow under the soft lobby lighting, giving him a dark, dangerous edge.
Heads turned as he passed, drawn to the magnetic pull of his authority .
Ashamed of how she stared, Shannon lowered her gaze and licked her lips without thinking, her body reacting to him like it had a mind of its own.
Jamie killed the distance between them, his woodsy cologne hitting her in tingly waves. A cedarwood scent burned with desire, urging her to reach out and touch something that she’d never get to hold on to for long.
She stood to meet him, her sudden shyness catching her off guard.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her words rushed. “I should’ve checked if the offer was still open before showing up unannounced.”
Coming to Belfast had been one of those ‘you only live once’ moments, and before she could talk herself out of it, she’d jumped on a bus.
He stared at her for a heartbeat, his gaze intense, unreadable.
“I invited you, Shannon,” he said, his voice a sultry growl that made her pulse race. “For you, the offer is always open.”
A hum of excitement vibrated through her muscles as he reached for her with a hand large enough to make her heart stutter.
“Let me take your Eskimo outfit.” His mouth curved into a teasing smile.
Her cheeks, already flushed from the cold air outside, darkened in a mix of embarrassment and arousal. She managed a soft, nervous laugh, quick and high-pitched.
“Ever waited twenty minutes for a bus? It’s freezing outside. The wind would cut you in two. ”
His cheek dimpled as a lopsided smile tugged at his lips, raising the temperature in the room.
“I would’ve sent a car for you, love.”
“The bus is fine. I prefer it,” she replied, shaking her head.
He blinked, surprised. “The bus? Really?”
She peeled off the puffy coat, her eyes drifting to the shiny tiles underfoot.
“I like to pay my way and sort out my own lifts.” She draped her coat over the back of her chair. “Thanks anyway.”
What she didn’t say was that it was easier to leave when it suited her, without relying on anyone else.
Her skinny jeans were as dark as the night sky, and she wore a loose denim shirt with a few buttons undone, showing off her silver horseshoe necklace.
She drew in her lower lip, gathering a rush of bravery. Being here was a risk, because she’d placed blind faith in her attraction to Jamie.
She’d thought about him all day and his faint promise of his sexual desire. The guy had turned her concentration upside down. Even Harry had noticed how dreamy and distracted she’d been.
It had taken everything she had to push Jamie out of her mind to focus on the show jumping competition. The frustrating part was breaking her ‘no men’ rule for him.
“Wait here.” Jamie grabbed her coat and strolled up to the reception desk, placing it on the counter.
The sight of him was a visual gift. His charm was effortless and his grin lethal. She tried to hold back her giddy smile, hoping to mask the silly crush spreading faster than wildfire on a windy day.
“What can I get you to drink?” he asked, strolling back to join her at the comfy seats.
“Aren’t we going to the party?” Her brows pulled together. “Is it still on?”
“Yeah. Maybe later. The music up there is too loud. I’d like to chat with you first.” He nodded toward the seat next to her. “Sit for me, love.”
Almost before she registered the words, her body obeyed, sinking back into the seat like she’d been trained for it.
“What do you drink? Champagne or cocktails?”
She sat up straight with her knees pressed together. “Just an orange juice, please. Hangovers and early starts are a bad combination.”
He tilted his chin up, catching the eye of a young hotel staff member who trotted over with a pen tucked behind her ponytail and wide, eager eyes.
“What can I get you, sir?” she chirped, her voice flirtatious.
“It’s Jamie,” he replied, flashing her a wink without missing a beat.
“Oh, yeah, sorry, sir... I mean, Jamie. What can I get you?” Her neck turned a shade of pink.
“An orange juice, and the best liquor you’ve got,” he said, giving her a playful look.
“You got it! That’s the one thing we’ll never run out of.” She laughed, offering a grin like they were sharing some unspoken joke .
Shannon’s pulse raced.
Jamie dropped into the armchair opposite her, his eyes following the waitress as she scurried off. Shannon fidgeted in her chair, shoving a hand into her tight jeans pocket.
“Let me get this round,” she muttered, pulling out a crumpled mess of notes.
She flattened the fivers, then reached back into her pocket for a few golden coins. Internally, she counted her stash, her lips moving with each number.
After a moment of mental math, she stacked the coins on top of the notes.
“That should cover it. Twenty-four pounds and a bit more.” Her tongue peeked out as she set the last coin on the heap, her head bobbing to her internal rhythm.
Jamie cleared his throat, a thick growl that made her belly flip. She looked up, drawn in by his amber eyes, which were locked on her tongue with a magnetic intensity.
The young waitress returned, setting their drinks down on the glass table. Shannon opened her mouth, about to call the girl back to pay, but Jamie beat her to it.
“It’s okay. I’ve got a tab running,” he said, his voice casual but firm. “Put your money away, love.”
“I said I’d get this round,” she insisted.
Jamie sighed, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Look, this is my hotel. My staff has a tab running for me. My guests don’t pay.”
She sat back, her gaze dropping to the small stack of cash on the table. “You own this place? ”
He swirled the whiskey in his tumbler before taking a slow sip. “My brother and I own it, actually.”
Her breath caught, and her spine snapped ramrod straight, his admission punching her in the gut. The guy had more money than she thought.
He owned the damn hotel they were sitting in.
No wonder everyone looked at him like he was the boss—because he was. She shut her eyes for a moment, letting the dread wash over her.
Fuck. What if he’s an entitled prick under all that charm?
Then again, owning a hotel didn’t mean he was super rich... right? He could be neck-deep in debt for all she knew.
Shannon lifted the tall glass of juice with one hand and slid the cash across the table with the other. “Well, there you go. Use that to pay your tab.”
“Sure, no problem. Thanks.” He raised his tumbler in a mock toast. “Cheers, love, thanks for the drink.”
Her toes curled inside her boots. For some freaky reason, her heart did a little flip every time he called her love.
“Cheers, Jamie.”
“So… I thought you had bigger and better plans tonight,” he said.
The cool glass against her lips was a welcome relief to the heat simmering in her veins. She took a sip of juice and shrugged.
“I finished earlier than expected.” Her fingers toyed with the tousled tips of her hair.
“Well, I’m glad you came.”
“Oh, yeah, and why’s that?” She raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Whiskey moistened his lips as he eyed her over the rim of his glass.
“I thought I was losing my touch.” His mouth quirked in that all-too-familiar confident grin. He never doubted his charm for a second.
“How could I not show up?” She offered him a saccharine-sweet smile. “The way you described spending time with you made it sound like fun. I had to see if you lived up to the hype.”
“What part excites you?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.
“Free food.” She grinned. “I’m a sucker for cocktail sausages. Those little buggers are addictive.”
He chuckled. “I promise to be better than a small sausage.”
Her eyes widened, a laugh escaping her lips before she could stop it. “Oh, you think so, huh?”
Jamie leaned in, a devil-may-care grin spreading across his face. “Absolutely. I’ll prove it to you, too. But I need to get you past those cocktail sausages first to appreciate it.”
She snorted, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”
“I’m not impossible,” he said. “Just…unpredictable.”
“Not sure that’s an improvement on a sausage, Jamie.”
“Trust me, love,” he said, his tone turning mock-serious. “I’m an upgrade you won’t regret. ”
She raised an eyebrow, letting the flirtation hang in the air. “We’ll see about that.”
Jamie leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint still in his eyes. “So, what were you up to today?”
She bit her lower lip, her excitement from earlier creeping back.
“Just an event. I won the—” She stopped herself, about to reveal more than she intended.
“What did you win?”
She waved her hand, trying to downplay it. “Just a silly competition. No big deal.”
“Beauty pageant?” He flashed her a sexy grin, his dimple winking at her.
“Nooooo,” she laughed, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. “I’m not that kinda girl.”
“Are you gonna leave me hangin’?” he demanded, lifting his whiskey and taking another slow sip. An ice cube clinked against the glass, punctuating the moment.
“You’ll think it’s totally boring and nerdy.”
“Try me.” He hummed low in his throat, the sound almost a growl. “Because the image of nerdy Shannon…makes me hard.”
“Such a charmer,” she said, trying to cover the heat creeping up her neck.
His focus fixed on her, and everything faded into the background. Not a single glance at the women passing by, who almost snapped their necks trying to get his attention.
“Shannon, even the sound of your voice makes my dick twitch. ”
“Ugh! Seriously, Jamie?” Her laugh caught in her throat.
“Nothing could change that, so tell me what you won, love.”
“Okay.” She took a steadying breath. “I won the finals in a show jumping league. Which means I’ve qualified for the European equine championships.”
When Jamie stared in silence, her stomach dropped.