Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
12.
Shannon
It was all I could do not to yelp in surprise when Jace pressed his entire face into me and let out a quiet groan. My hands found their way to his hair, nails running through the smooth strands, and Jace gave a guttural rumble in response. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to push him away or drag him closer. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so worked up. I stared down at him. This was really happening, but it felt more surreal than my dream. How long had it been since I’d been set alight with desire like this?
Not since we were last together.
The only thing that could break us apart was the sound of Zara’s little feet coming down the stairs. In a flash, Jace was up and moving to sit down by the counter where he’d left his coffee.
“Mam, do I have time for breakfast?” Zara asked as she flew into the room and went to sit by her dad, who, by the way, had not stopped staring at me. I felt like a target in the line of a sniper’s scope.
“Of course, you do, d-darling,” I replied before carrying over her toast, peeled banana, and juice.
Zara happily dug into her food, all the while oblivious to the tension between her dad and me. Jace’s eyes were like liquid fire as they blazed into me. My entire body was encapsulated by goosebumps. His gaze contained a promise, one that said whatever the hell just transpired between us, it wasn’t over.
I was going to have to come up with some creative ways of avoiding him, and not because of what he would do. It was because of what I might do. I could’ve easily stopped the madness just now, but I hadn’t. Nor had I wanted to. No, I’d let Jace touch me and talk to me intimately because I wanted it, craved it, and that was a danger I needed to go out of my way to avoid.
“You better get going,” I said once Zara was finished eating.
“See you later,” she replied as Jace grabbed her schoolbag and coat, shooting me one last hot, simmering glance before he ushered her outside to his car.
I could barely focus all morning. In the end, I had to take myself out for a stroll and then lunch to clear my head. I texted Margie to see if she was free to grab food and was still awaiting her response when I reached the café. I paused outside, noticing Jace’s dad was in there speaking to another man who seemed familiar. He was tall with dark blond hair, probably mid to late thirties. He wore jeans and a dark jacket, and although his outfit was simple, it screamed luxury. Definitely a rich guy. I couldn’t pin down where I knew him from, and when I entered the café, they were already standing and saying goodbye. They shook hands, and the blond man left, moving past me with a confident stride.
“Shannon, what a nice surprise,” Jay stepped forward, pulling me into a hug before looking me over. “Everything okay? Is my son behaving himself?”
No, not at all. “I’m fine, just a bit of a hectic day. I was about to grab lunch if you’d like to join me.”
“I already ate. But come over to the house later. I’m going to throw some steaks on the barbecue.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “A barbecue in October?”
“Just had a hankering,” he said with a faint twinkle in his eye. I wanted to ask what he was up to, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. Besides, Jay’s secret machinations always ended up being for everyone’s benefit in the long run.
“Jack, Lille, and the boys are coming, plus Angus and Kami. You should join us, bring Zara.”
“Okay, I’ll see how I’m fixed.” He moved to leave when I asked curiously, “Jay, who was that man you were talking with?”
He smiled fondly. “That was Ollie. He’s the son of an old friend of my brother’s. I haven’t seen him in years, but he was in Dublin for business, so we arranged to meet up.”
“I feel like I know him from somewhere.”
“He has one of those faces, I guess. Anyway, I hope I’ll see you later.” Giving my shoulder a soft squeeze, he left, and I went to find a table. I wasn’t certain I believed Jay about Ollie having one of those faces, and I continued wracking my brains but just couldn’t seem to figure out how I knew him.
Margie managed to stop by, and we both ordered the turkey, cranberry, and brie toasty because it was the nicest thing on the menu. She inquired about the situation with my neighbours, but Viola and Gary had been surprisingly quiet since Jace had scandalised them. I couldn’t tell if they were backing down or retreating to plot their revenge, but I tried to put them to the back of my mind.