Chapter 19
Shannon
Holy shit, that was unreal.
Every sensation had been intense, electric, each command amplifying her pulse. The kiss that followed, slow and lingering, carried a weight she hadn’t prepared for.
The kiss, incredible.
The sex, unforgettable.
Jamie, even more unforgettable.
However, her life didn’t have space for distractions, and Jamie would be gone soon, anyway, moving on to the next willing woman now he’d conquered her.
“I don’t need to ask if you enjoyed that,” he said, a slow grin tugging at his mouth as he brushed his thumb over the curve of her hip.
Jamie backed up, not too far, just enough to give her space. His thumb brushed along her jaw as he studied her flushed cheeks, her parted lips, the glow in her eyes.
“You good, love?” he asked, tipping her chin up. “You need anything? Water or a lie down? Taking care of you doesn’t stop when the fucking does.”
Shannon swallowed, the burning ache deep inside her unsettling.
He wasn’t boyfriend material, and she couldn’t afford to let her mind go down that road.
“Next, you’ll be asking if it was the best sex of my life,” she replied, forcing the words out as she tried to steady the rush of emotions still swirling inside her.
Her gaze lingered as he pulled on a pair of bright red boxer briefs, the fabric hugging the curve of his ass, accentuating the bulge of his dick. The waistband rose midway to his hips, settling on the taut muscles of his thighs.
He pulled on his jeans, covering the perfect lines of his body, and a sharp pang of regret shot through her. That was it. Their one-night stand, done. His curiosity had been satisfied, and now he’d move on.
Just like that.
He left his shirt unbuttoned, strolling to the kitchen, his strides confident.
“I think we both know it was the best sex of your life, love.”
She grabbed her scattered clothes, hurrying past him toward the bedroom door.
“I’ll be out in a sec,” she muttered, closing the door behind her, creating the space she needed to catch her breath.
Of course, it had been the best sex she’d ever had. That wasn’t up for debate. The way he moved, the way he owned her pleasure.
How could she even compare her ex to someone like Jamie?
Niall never asked if she was okay afterward. He never offered her water, never even spared her a thought once the heat cooled.
Jamie didn’t just take. No, he actually checked in, read her breath, her body, like it meant something. Like she meant something.
And that scared her.
Because this was casual. No promises. No strings. Just one wild moment with a man who didn’t owe her a damn thing…
Rummaging through her drawers, she picked out a pair of running shorts and slipped them on, leaving behind her old, comfy cotton knickers.
The idea of him rushing out while she was getting changed tugged at something in her chest.
She tried to convince herself it wouldn’t matter if he was gone by the time she made it back to the kitchen. But there was a flicker of hope, a quiet wish that maybe, just maybe, he’d still be there.
Why did she care?
The thought unnerved her, the idea of him leaving gave her a weird ache in her chest.
Pulling on a clean white tank top, she raked her fingers through her hair, took a deep breath and opened the door.
And there he stood, leaning against the counter, his toned chest on display, his hair tousled just the way she liked, eyes glinting with that mischievous spark.
“For a moment there, I thought you wanted me to find you on the bed wearing nothing but high heels,” he teased, his voice smooth. “Or you were hiding until I left.”
She took a steadying breath, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
He stayed. He actually stayed.
The tanned fantasy loitering in her kitchen stirred something deep in her, a rush of desire she needed to ignore. And the urge to kiss the irresistible dimple on his cheek was almost unbearable.
“If I offer lunch, I keep my word,” she replied, trying to hide the fluttering in her chest, aware of his gaze lingering on her tank top, probably noting she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“And I’m looking forward to it,” he said, casually sipping water from a coffee mug. “Haven’t had a proper bacon butty since I was a kid. I hope it’s worth the wait.”
“Believe me, it’ll blow your mind,” she said, crossing her fingers behind her back. “I might not be able to cook up a five-course meal, but I sure as hell can make a killer bacon sandwich.”
“You’ve already blown my mind, love,” he said, winking. “You’ve set the bar pretty high already.”
He set the mug on the counter, his movements easy and confident, and strolled toward her, the light catching in his amber brown eyes.
Flutters burst inside her chest again as he neared .
“I like the shorts.” His fingers brushed across her thighs, and Shannon twitched under the electrifying touch, the simple pressure sending a heat coursing through her.
“We’ll never eat at this rate.”
She pressed her palms to his chest, trying to put a little distance between them, though every cell in her body screamed for round two.
“You shouldn’t wear shorts like that when you’re in the kitchen,” he said, smirking.
Before she could respond, he leant in and grazed her earlobe with a playful tug of his teeth, sending a jolt straight through her.
“What can I do to help?” he added with a swift, casual slap on her ass.
She let out a startled yelp, somewhere between a whimper and a groan, as her body jolted from the unexpected slap.
Heat flared across her skin, but she recovered quickly, stepping forward to put a little space between them, chin lifted.
“I’ve got it covered,” she said breezily. “Just sit there and be decorative. That’s your only job now.”
“Decorative?” His brows drifted up. “I’m a man of many talents, love. But if you keep that smart mouth going, I’ll have to find a way to keep it busy.”
She batted her lashes with exaggerated sweetness. “Oh, okay… How about I read you the ingredients off a ce real box.”
His smirk deepened. “You really want to play innocent right now?”
She tossed him a look over her shoulder. “Just trying to keep my mouth occupied. I’m full of… useful skills.”
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest, the kind that said he hadn’t laughed like that in a while.
“Cheeky little madam, aren’t you?”
She wiggled her brows. “Only when I’m right. Which happens to be most of the time.”
He leaned back in the chair, that dimpled, pantie melting smile returning. “Christ, I might actually be in trouble with you.”
Shannon walked over to the fridge and reached inside for the bacon, then turned on the grill, and began arranging the strips of bacon on the tray.
The sizzling sound filled the kitchen, but that undeniable tension still hummed in the air.
She could almost sense his gaze wandering all over her.
“If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?” His voice slipped over her shoulder in a low rumble.
Shannon turned to face him as she mulled the question over in her mind.
“I can’t really afford to go anywhere right now.” She shrugged, trying to keep the mood light.
Jamie tilted his head, his smile widening. “Hypothetically, then. If money wasn’t an issue.”
She raised an eyebrow, considering it. “Well, somewhere with professional show jumping and cross-country events. Maybe... Germany. They have some of the best competitions over there.”
His eyes lit up at her answer. “Germany, huh? Good choice.”
Shannon angled towards the sink, pumped soap into her hands and washed them under the running water. “What about you? If you could go anywhere, where would it be?”
“I’ve been pretty much everywhere. I travelled worldwide, exploring different cities and meeting all sorts of people. But right now? Sitting here with you, in this kitchen? It trumps all that.”
He smiled. “Maybe the best places aren’t far from home.”
Shannon raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? So, all those exotic places you’ve been to and nothing quite beats the charm of my tiny kitchen?”
She turned to check the bacon under the grill. “I mean, I’m flattered, but it’s not like this place has ocean views or fancy cocktails.”
Jamie chuckled, leaning his elbows on the counter, his abs flexing.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of ocean views and tropical cocktails. But there’s something about this —” he gestured around the kitchen with a slight nod “—that beats all that. Maybe it’s the company.”
He leaned back, grinning. “The view from over here is fucking hot.”
Shannon fought the smirk dancing and turned her back to him, trying to play down the heat creeping up her neck.
“Well, I’m glad I’m providing such a scenic experience.”
As the bacon cooked, Shannon focused on buttering a few slices of crusty bread.
Yesterday, while she’d waited for the final times at the cross-country event, she wandered around the market stalls with only a twenty-pound note to do her weekly food shop. It didn’t stretch far, but she was happy to share what she had with Jamie.
“Are you a brown sauce or red sauce kind of guy?” she asked, looking over her shoulder to see him watching her with that lazy, captivating grin.
“Red,” he replied with no hesitation.
“Lucky, because that’s all I have.”
“My dad used to make these for my brother and me. I’d forgotten how good they smell.” His voice lowered as he inhaled the greasy scent of bacon.
“They’re my all-time faves.” Shannon threw him a sweet smile over her shoulder, trying to keep it light, but the warmth in her chest lingered.
In reality, butty’s were a low-cost meal that required little prep and covered two of the food groups. It was either that or a bag of salty potato crisps washed down with green tea.
“Mine too,” he said, his voice sounding sombre. “Reminds me of happier times.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“My dad made us breakfast when my ma worked the late shift at the bar… and then, after she died, Marcus cooked the bacon for me. Every Sunday. Still does, sometimes.”
Shannon’s heart skipped a beat at the story, catching the subtle dip beneath his charm, a quiet flicker of vulnerability that made him seem even more real
“How did she die?”
His chin dropped, and for a moment, his eyes darkened.
“Drunk driver. I was just a kid. My big brother, the guy you met at the party, raised me after that.”
Shannon’s heart softened. “Damn, that must’ve been tough being raised by your brother.”
He shrugged, a lopsided grin tugging at his mouth.
“Marcus can be a cocky shite, sure. But he’s also my best friend. Always has been.”
“I’m sure you were a handful.” She laughed. “How is your dad?”
“He’s with Rebecca,” Jamie said, the smile in his voice fading just a little. “I told her to keep him close. Don’t want the old man wandering off again.”
He ran a hand down the back of his neck. “The responsibility is rough on her. But I pay her a fortune. We’re working on a plan to safeguard him even more and take some of the pressure off.”
A strange, powerful connection settled between them, like an invisible thread tugging them closer. He was opening up about his past, still sitting in her kitchen, sharing bits of his life .
Most guys would’ve made a lame excuse to leave after getting what they wanted, but not Jamie.
Shannon stooped over to grab the sauce from the refrigerator. The hem of her jersey shorts hitched up, exposing the curve of her ass, and she heard him whistle behind her.
She rolled her eyes, suppressing a smile.
“Is that all you’re good for, Jamie?” she teased, but the heat of his attention made her cheeks flush.
“We’re back to the spectacular views again, love.” He chuckled. “So, tell me, what’s your setup? How’d you end up at Meadow Dawn?”
Tossing the tongs onto the counter, she leaned against it, crossing her arms.
“When I was fifteen, I begged my parents for a horse. They contacted Harry and arranged for me to work here instead. I think it was supposed to be a life lesson, or whatever. You know, show a girl hard work, and she’ll run for the hills.”
She rolled her eyes, then continued, “Harry agreed to let me work for the summer, mostly mucking out stables and grooming. At the end, he said I’d shown more dedication than any of his other stable hands, so he kept me on and taught me how to ride in his spare time.
Years later, and I’m competing on one of his top horses. ”
Jamie folded his arms across his chest, nodding. “Impressive. But why still work at Coffee Kicks if Harry’s paying you?”
“I’m saving to buy Trixie. She’s Harry’ s horse, even though he lets me train her. One day, I’ll own her. Sooner rather than later, I hope.”
“I’ll lend you the cash.” He shrugged, like it was nothing. “You could buy her tomorrow.”
Shannon’s head jerked up, her gaze locking onto his.
There it was again. That prickle over her scalp from the ease in his voice, the way he tossed money around like it could fix anything.
“I didn’t ask for your charity.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed and his jaw ticked.
“It’s not charity,” he said, straightening. “It’s convenience.”
The words hung between them, brittle and loaded.
And just like that, the air cooled.
A warning, maybe. Or a reminder of her past.