Page 143 of His Addiction
“Is that so?”
He crouched before her, unbuckled her sandals and slipped them off with natural dominance. The temperature soared, and her belly flipped at the intimacy of the simple gesture.
“You’re going to take a hot shower before dinner,” he said, his voice deep and firm, yet laced with care. “I need to make a call first.”
He stood and jogged to the kitchen counter where he’d left his phone, swiped the screen, and tapped before pressing it to his ear. As he waited for the call to connect, he turned to her with a shrug.
“No answer. I was calling Harry to let him know I’ll have you back first thing tomorrow.”
Her chest tightened with an unexpected rush of warmth. Jamieunderstood—he had listened, paid attention, and respected what she needed.
“He gave me the day off tomorrow, but I still want to ride Trixie. I’ll shoot him a message and let him know I’ll take her out in the afternoon.”
As she spoke, a sudden wave of panic washed over her.
“Jamie… My purse. It fell at the racecourse,” she said, her palms flying up to her cheeks in a moment of panic. “My phone?—”
41
Shannon
“Don’t worry, love,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. “I’ll call my guys at the track and see if anyone handed it in.”
As he made the call, Shannon watched him take control with a growing sense of awe. He moved around the kitchen, the overhead lights shadowing his broad shoulders, giving him a magnetic energy.
His voice held authority as he asked questions, a contrast to the gentle way he always spoke to her. That effortless confidence of his always impressed her, and disarmed her at times, even now.
Jamie ended the call and tapped out a message. “I’ll have a new phone waiting for you in the morning, love.”
Shannon straightened.
“I really appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to sort my phone contract out myself, Jamie,” she said, her voice clear and resolute. “I’ll figure it out in the morning.”
Jamie’s gaze flicked to hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
“I’ll handle it, love,” he repeated, his voice full of authority.
Those simple four words had her heart skipping a beat. The way he took charge made her skin tingle.
She’d entered his world now, falling headfirst into it. And despite her fierce, independent nature, she secretly loved how he wanted to take care of her.
He turned the gas down under the pan and in a few brisk steps, he joined her again.
“Come on, love,” he said, holding out his hand, his expression soft but a little distant.
Whatever he was thinking, he didn’t say it. Instead, he took her hand, his grip firm as he pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go upstairs for that shower.”
He linked his fingers with hers and led her back into the reception hall, guiding her toward a set of bone-white concrete stairs that floated up the wall to the upper level.
Framed sketches of charcoal horses lined the wall, visible with each step she took, their powerful forms frozen in motion. The way the horses seemed to leap off the page, wild and untamed, stirred something deep inside her.
“You like black and white…and horses,” she said, the significance of their presence here, in Jamie’s home, a shock to her system.
“You like the pictures?” he asked. “I had them commissioned.”
“I do. They’re beautiful.”
He gave a small nod, as though appreciating the sentiment.
