He picked up on her acquiescence the second all the tension left her body as she relaxed into the moment and let him take the reins. Grinning like a demented fool, Nick pushed open the car door to an awaiting Mr. Allen, who stood by patiently while his passengers got their act together.
“Let’s do this then!” Nick joyfully exclaimed, bringing a broad smile to his trusty driver’s face. Extending a hand to Shannon, Mr. Allen briefly nodded to Nick before carefully guiding his boss’s most precious from the back of the limo.
“Congratulation, Ms. Reynolds,” he intoned respectfully as he pulled her gently forward. When Shannon arrived upright and smoothed down in front of the older, smiling man, she squeezed the driver’s hand briefly before letting go. She wasn’t exactly surprised when he leaned in a bit to whisper something quietly just for her hearing.
Mr. Allen and his wonderful wife were clearly hugely fond and protective of Nick. Of course they had an opinion about Shannon’s sudden appearance in his life and the quick chain of events that had brought them to this moment in time. She fully expected everyone to have something to say, from Jules and Ned to Nick’s mom and the people who made up his everyday world.
To say Shannon was moved and pleased by Mr. Allen’s quiet assessment of her relationship was an understatement when he simply said, “He deserves a good woman like you, Ms. Shannon. He’s been alone for a long time. I’ve never seen him smile or be as relaxed and happy as he has been with you. Don’t you worry about a thing. When it comes to being determined, nobody does it better than Nicholas Barrett. He’ll make you a wonderful husband.”
“Thank you, Mr. Allen,” Shannon said as Nick rounded the rear of the car to come to her side. “I’ll feel less anxious and nervous knowing you and your lovely wife are there to lend your support.” She smiled gratefully, adding, “That’s a man-woman thing, you know. What men call determination, women generally see as being bossy!”
Mr. Allen laughed, grinning, and said, “Touché, Ms. Reynolds. Touché. Now I know why my Anna likes you!”
“Hey, go flirt with your own lady, Mr. Allen, and leave mine alone or I’ll start sending flowers to your wife!” Nick good-naturedly teased as he took Shannon’s hand in his, gently tugging her along toward the entrance to the exclusive store.
The wink he threw her way was as charming and unforgettable as those damn sexy dimples that seemed to be on full display all the time now. Shannon thought back to that first encounter and their visit to the emergency room. She recalled her assessment of him at the time had been that he looked colder, shrewder, and not very approachable, and most of all that his dimples were a thing of the past. It warmed her to think that his happiness had returned and that she was the source of his joy. Those dimples were her reward, she supposed. Sighing heavily, Shannon could only smile and think, life is good.
* * *
The entire experience inside the jewelry store was surreal. As if the time at Barrett Global hadn’t been an eye-opening introduction to the sort of high-powered life he led, this was something else entirely. Deference of the kind she wasn’t accustomed to was on full display immediately upon their arrival, with a good deal of bowing and scraping going on as they were led to a private room that screamed high-end.
Framed museum-quality art hung on the walls of a comfortable space complete with leather wingback chairs, a loveseat, and a small sofa. There was a round table with upholstered seating and a full-length, scrolled antique stand cheval mirror in the corner.
The serious young man who had escorted them to the room pointed out the elaborate wet bar available while they waited and let them know that the head jeweler would be with them shortly before he evaporated from the room.
Nick led Shannon to one of the high wingbacks as he stood sentry at her side, asking if she needed anything to drink. When she shook her head no and reached for his hand, he gave it readily and the two held onto each other as they stared silently into the other’s eyes for the longest time, no words necessary.
From there, things went into overdrive when the diamond expert, a quirky gentleman with a slight French accent, appeared in their midst. He introduced himself and then immediately began asking questions as he drew up a chair and sat next to Shannon.
What were her favorite colors? Did she have a setting or a stone she preferred? Did she work with her hands? The questions came at her in rapid-fire delivery while the odd little man seemed to be assessing her hands and checking out how Shannon and Nick interacted with one another. When Nick started answering some of the questions for her as if they were of one mind, the jeweler nodded and took note.
All of a sudden, he stood and said, “I will return with some suggestions for you, Ms. Reynolds, Mr. Barrett. If you would like to make yourselves comfortable at the table…” and then quickly disappeared through a door in the paneling Shannon had not previously noticed.
“He forgot to ask me my shoe size,” Shannon muttered in mock irritation while Nick snorted a laugh as he led her to the table area.
The next twenty minutes went by in a blur as she viewed a dozen different rings and settings, all impressive but nothing that even remotely struck her fancy. Apparently Nick wasn’t seeing anything he liked either. He was speaking quietly to the Frenchman as they walked toward the door while Shannon sipped sparkling water in a perfectly chilled crystal goblet. She thought of a commercial she’d often seen on TV for a mall-based jewelry store where all the women gushed and spoke dumb lines like, “Only the best from Delwest.” Looking around at the situation she found herself in caused no end of amusement. There was no way she was going to end up with anything less than something spectacular, even if it meant he had a diamond specially mined just for her. Such was the power of the Barrett name and wealth.
She wasn’t trying to be picky, Shannon thought a bit uncomfortably and briefly felt bad that she’d dismissed the entire tray of exquisite jewels she’d been shown. She’d never worn a ring before, not like this. The bauble they chose today would be with her the rest of her life and would tell a story all on its own. Maybe someday it would become a family heirloom, who knew? But what Shannon did know was that, for her, their love story was unique and special and she felt a need to honor those qualities with her choice.
Nick came back to her side as the Frenchman left and playfully chided her for being choosey. “Just like a woman,” he sighed in that long-suffering way men have when they poke fun at their women. “Remind me never to go shoe shopping with you,” he joked, nudging her shoulder with his as he sat in the chair next to hers.
Nick took the hand closest to him, lifted it to his lips while he held her eyes, and kissed her knuckles, saying, “Let’s see what he brings out next, hmmm?”
Shannon smiled and nodded as Nick sat back and laughed. “Damn Europeans!” he chuckled. “I don’t know if it’s his accent or what, but I swear just now it felt like an out-of-body experience when he told me that the right ring will appear for the wearer at the proper moment. Isn’t that a bit like ‘the wand chooses the wizard’?” And just like that, they both broke up laughing at the pop-culture reference.
The walls were still ringing with their gleeful chuckles when the jeweler returned with what looked like an elaborately carved chest on a blue-velvet-lined tray. Setting the tray down in the center of the table, he looked as if he’d just dropped the Holy Grail in their laps. His demeanor, both serious and slightly awestruck, got their attention as three pairs of eyes turned with expectation to the small container in front of them.
With a decided flourish, the Frenchman dramatically cracked open the hinged lid on the beautiful box, revealing another, smaller black-velvet jewelry case tucked inside. Gesturing with a nod of his head, he prompted Nick to reach for the velvet box, which he did with much gravity.
Looking expectantly at Shannon and then back at the box in his huge hands, they both held their breath while Nick slowly raised the lid to reveal the most beautiful ring ever created—at least that’s how she would tell the
story in later years.
Nestled in the soft black velvet was a beautiful marquis-cut diamond flanked by intense sapphires and accent diamonds in an unusual raised setting. Elegant and feminine at the same time, Shannon gasped at the sight of the flashing stones and knew this was the ring. It was obviously something special, and the look of approval on Nick’s face sealed the deal in her mind.
The diamond was lovely, yes, but it was the two colored sapphires flanking the main stone that spoke to her heart. Just like the symbol of the twin birds that helped them find their way back to each other, the ring’s setting reminded her of that long-ago promise. That the two sat on either side of the glorious shining center stone symbolized their new union. She thought, from two there shall be one, and all but burst into joyful tears.
Nick removed the magnificent ring from its box and, with slightly trembling hands, held her much smaller left hand in his. It wasn’t necessary to say the words—they’d already done that part—but with all the gravitas and seriousness he could muster at such an overwhelmingly emotional moment, he looked Shannon straight in the eyes and asked, “Will you do me the exquisite honor of being my wife, Shannon Reynolds?” as he slowly and deliberately slid the stunning ring onto her finger.
There may have been music playing, birds twittering, and a holy choir singing at that moment, but neither would have noticed. All she knew was that her eyes were swimming with tears while Nick looked like he was going to cry, too, as he swallowed deeply several times.
Unable to speak, Shannon nodded a wobbly yes, seconds before the tears started flowing in earnest. She looked at their joined hands and the gorgeous stones twinkling from her ring finger and felt a surge of happiness like none she’d ever known. Instinct, pure and simple, had her reaching for him and framing his wonderful face with her delicate hands as she placed her tingling lips on his.
Joy, and a sense of contentment that Nick had never dreamt possible, settled over him at the touch of Shannon’s lips. He forgot all about the hovering Frenchman and would have happily stayed like he was with Shannon pressing soft, wet, tear-soaked kisses to his mouth for the rest of time if the feelings of perfect peace and serenity he was experiencing would never cease.
Shannon, on the other hand, was running on pure emotion as she kissed Nick, whispering incoherent words of love against his mouth. So wrapped up in the moment was she that it came as a surprise several sensually charged minutes later when they finally came up for air to find that the quirky French jeweler had discreetly vanished from the room, leaving them to their privacy.
Eventually he reappeared to speak briefly with Nick, most likely finalizing their choice, while Shannon did what any female in her right mind would do at that moment. She held her hand this way and that, letting the magnificent stones twinkle and shoot tiny sparks of light around the room as she admired the beauty and symbolism of her perfect engagement ring.
She overheard Nick asking about a matching wedding band and was shocked when he asked to see several men’s bands as well. Was it wrong that she smiled at his desire for a symbol of their union to wear every day? Nowadays men didn’t seem to want to be bothered with such traditions and viewed the whole fancy ring accessory as a women’s thing. That Nick was a traditionalist gladdened her already-overflowing heart.
After leaving the store, Shannon giggled like a teenager when Mr. Allen expressed the appropriate oohing and ahhing over her beautiful ring. The ride back to his home took place with a grinning Nick and an excited Shannon, who continued to preen and flash her hand at every chance, clearly enjoying the moment immensely.
Nick had planned on taking her out to dinner, something exclusive and swanky one would expect in New York City, but after the sweet kissing and Shannon’s bubbly after the jewelry store, he decided against taking them any place public and opted for a romantic fireside dinner at home. A few carefully placed comments as they returned to the limo ensured that Mr. Allen would alert his wife to the change in plans, leaving Nick the opportunity to bask in Shannon’s joy.
They had tonight all to themselves, and he planned to make the most of it before they got back on the road tomorrow for the trek to Connecticut and the visit with his mother. He was sure Alanna would be charmed by his choice for a wife and secretly wished just for the briefest of moments that his father had lived to see this day. He would have liked Shannon’s spunk and the way she made everyone around her feel special.
He hoped Shannon felt the same way about him meeting her parents, which would happen all too soon, he remembered, since the last leg of their travels would find them in Boston by the weekend. He just wanted her to be happy, god dammit, he thought with determination. If she wanted him to don a garish yuppified sweater and play chess with her professor dad, he would. Whatever it took, he vowed before turning his full attention to the sexy little woman at his side while she cooed and bubbled with delight over the sparkling diamond he’d just placed on her finger.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Dinner had been fabulous, with Mrs. A going all out to provide the perfect romantic accompaniment to their already-memorable day. She’d set a small, intimate table for two near the huge stone fireplace and placed flickering candles of all sizes and shapes along the wide wood mantel. The effect was seductive and dreamy, setting the perfect scene for a long night of incredible loving.
Shannon had been too excited to eat very much, but she’d been absolute perfection in her dealings with the Allens when they arrived back at the brownstone. Her wide smile of happiness when Mrs. A lavished flowery congratulations on their engagement and the way she giggled with the older woman over the magnificent ring made Nick feel a hundred feet tall. She was going to make him a wonderful wife and life partner, and he decided right then to bestow a loving on her this night that would make time stand still.
By the time dinner was cleared away and they’d spent hours cuddled together by the fire sipping a heady brandy Mrs. Allen declared was only for special occasions, a sense of rightness had surrounded them. Nick had removed his suit jacket and tie, but Shannon had stayed in her chic copper-colored suit, much to Nick’s delight. The sight of her voluptuous figure accented by the nipped-in waist of the tailored jacket and the jut of her heart-shaped bottom in that sexy skirt were working on his testosterone-fueled libido in a big way.
A week ago he had been looking for ways to escape his empty, privileged life, never suspecting that a not-so-chance encounter with a costumed cowgirl would alter his future in ways he’d been afraid to dream about. Now that he had her at his side, wearing his ring and agreeing to explore a future that wished for everything and asked for nothing in return but her love, he was fulfilled in ways he didn’t think would ever have mattered in his previously emotionless life.
“You’re tired,” he suddenly declared, taking Shannon by complete surprise. She’d been snuggled up against him babbling about random nothingness in a semi-buzzed state powered by romantic endorphins and a liberal dose of expensive brandy when he’d switched gears so fast she felt momentarily off balance.
“I am?” she squeaked out in confusion.
“Yes, you are.” Standing swiftly he swept her up in his capable arms. “Time for bed, I think,” he added as, without so much as a by-your-leave, he strode with confidence from the room, heading to the wide wooden stairway to the second floor.
Ah, the cowboy pirate, Shannon snickered to herself. So he wanted to play he-man and take charge, she thought with a delicious sense of wicked approval. Well, two could play at that.
Feigning a dramatic yawn complete with outstretched arms and a staged hmmph at the end, Shannon slumped against him, cooing, “You may be right. I am tired. Maybe too tired to even stay awake another minute.” She made sure to end the statement with a slight wiggle to her bottom, which she knew hit home when she watched his jaw clench in response.
“Oh dear. You’ll have to put my jammies on for me, I’m afraid. That’s how bushed I am,” she added with pretend fragility.
> Wearing a self-satisfied smirk with a smoldering hint of something sensual and exciting lighting up his features, Nick’s sexy drawl wrapped itself around her nerves when he said, “Don’t you worry about a thing, little one. I promise to do all the work.”
Shannon shivered in awareness at his suggestive reply to her teasing behavior. Oh heck yeah, she would let him do all the work. Images of his warm, strong hands touching her all over while his ravenous mouth went on a sinfully erotic journey over every inch of her body set her senses to high as he strode on toward the master bedroom.
The wanton seductress inside her burst forth as she wriggled in his grasp some more and lowered her voice to an enticing whisper. “Mmmmm. I wouldn’t want you to take on too much, Nick. Are you sure you’re up to it?” she asked with specific emphasis on the word “up”.
Someone, the cowboy or the pirate, she wasn’t sure which, answered in a husky growl, “Oh, I’m up for it, believe me.”
“Well, that’s good to know. I really couldn’t lift a finger right now,” Shannon innocently added , setting her lips against his neck where the collar of his shirt was open.
His steps hesitated slightly at the first touch of her mouth on his skin, followed by a definite uptick in how fast he was moving. Apparently he wanted to gain access to the privacy of their bedroom pretty darn quick. She liked the fact that she thought of that room now as theirs.
Once inside the big room, Nick unceremoniously kicked the door shut with a heavy thud as he kept on walking with her in his arms toward the big bed. She was a little bummed when they arrived at the wide, deep mattress and he went to lower her from where she sat cradled in his arms.
She’d gotten used to him carrying her when she’d been unable to walk and eventually owned the fact that she’d come to rather enjoy the whole Me Tarzan, you Jane thing. When she finally started hobbling on her own, she was saddened by the loss of this particular mode of getting around. When he carried her, she felt deeply, blissfully female. He was just so overwhelmingly masculine and dominant in every way that each time he scooped her up in his more-than-capable arms, she was turned on beyond belief. Shannon wondered if he knew how vulnerable she was to him. His control of her senses was so complete that right now he could ask her to do almost anything and she’d gladly say yes.
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