Page 128 of His Addiction
“You don’t need to back off, Mitch. I enjoy the competition. Bring it on.” Shannon smiled.
He nodded, tilting the peak of his velvet helmet as the horse sauntered past them.
“I’ll drink to that,” he said. “Speaking of which…”
He angled himself in the saddle, and the horse looped back around.
“You guys should join me at The Curragh Racetrack. It’s Champions Weekend. I’ve got a few VIP tickets in the van.”
Before Shannon could decline, Harry jumped in.
“Great idea, Mitch. She could use a day out,” he said with a silly grin, nodding toward her.
“Brilliant.” Mitchell threw his leg over the back of the horse and dismounted. “It’ll be a fun day, Shannon. I’ll grab the tickets once I’ve loaded Minstrel in the lorry.”
Shannon groaned, her shoulders slumping. She’d have to fake a smile and pretend to be social, not to mention the problem of finding an outfit to hide her bruises.
Over time, they’d faded, but they were still visible…still reminding her of the threat.
The afternoon before race day, Shannon asked Jess to help her shop for an outfit. An overcast sky mirrored her mood, darkening the streets of Belfast.
Drizzle clung to her lashes, dampened her jacket, and her already worn-out energy.
Every step fell heavier than the last, and her thoughts got lost in the fog in her mind.
Even the simplest of tasks had become a chore.Shopping in a high-end boutique with Jess was the last thing she wanted to do.
Jess breezed through the racks, the screech of metal against metal making Shannon cringe.
“What are you thinking?” she asked. “Long or short? Sexy or modest?”
Shannon tucked an unbrushed strand of hair behind her ear, letting out a half-hearted laugh.
“Long, I guess.” She shrugged. “You pick. Something young and sexy, without showing too much. I’m going VIP, so I need to look the part.”
Jess flashed a knowing grin.
“And what’s the budget? Are we talking big bucks, or should we move on to the next shop?” she whispered, leaning in close, minty gum on her breath.
“Harry gave me his credit card.” Shannon’s smile tightened. “I didn’t want to take it, but he insisted.”
Harry had never handed over his credit card to anyone. That man’s frugality was extreme, yet his generosity knew no bounds.
He’d shoved the card into her hand and told her she represented Meadow Dawn and to pick something classy.
“Got yourself a sugar daddy there, Shannon?” Jess shot her a teasing glance, eyebrows wiggling.
Shannon rolled her eyes and scowled. “Wise up. It’s not like that.”
Jess skimmed her fingers over the glamorous dresses hanging on the rack, enjoyingthe moment.
“Oh, right, I forgot. You were shagging his son, weren’t you?”
The words hit Shannon like a slap.
“Yeah,” was all she could muster. She didn’t want to go there, not now.
Jess’s light chuckle didn’t reach her. Shannon was already back in that dark space, her thoughts drifting to Niall’s threats, the sting of the blade against her throat. The memory pulled her under.
