As he waited, she studied the fullness of his lips, and the way his dimple kept flashing after he spoke.
An unfamiliar twist in her gut left her wishing she could just let go. She longed to surrender, to lose herself in those eyes of his that seemed to strip her bare, leaving her dizzy and vulnerable.
Instead, she backed up and moved behind the counter.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” she said, her voice firm. “I have priorities outside of this place, and there’s no room for a social life.”
She turned away and focused on the coffee machine, wiping down the counter, trying to steady her shaking hands. A one-night stand with him…it could be just what she needed to blow off some steam.
The guy was gorgeous, confident, and interested in her. But then, he knew where she worked and that could turn awkward if he kept showing up.
No, she couldn’t do that. She had a plan, a life that didn’t revolve around getting swept up by a man who looked like he’d have a thousand other women chasing him.
She’d never be one of them.
But the heat in her veins… God, the temptation. The ache.
She took a deep breath and shoved the thought away, focusing back on the machine.
A few seconds later, the door chimed. She glancedover her shoulder. He was gone, the only sign of him was the empty cup left on the counter.
Her stomach dropped, an unsettling emptiness settling in.
It was for the best…wasn’t it?
5
Shannon
“Alright, that’s me finished up, Jess.” Shannon shrugged into her coat. “See ya tomorrow.”
“Byeeee.” Jess waved. “I hope your night goes better than what you could have had with Mr Suit-and-Tie from earlier.”
Shannon shot her a dry smile. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure my night will be far less complicated than anything he’d offer.”
“I’d rather have a man between my legs than a horse, any day.”
Shannon raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Well, I’ll stick to my horses, thanks. They don’t talk shit, and at least they know how to stay away when I need space.”
During the last few hours of her shift, Shannon’s mind kept drifting back to the guy from earlier.
How his dark gaze had lingered, intense and unrelenting, making her uneasy in a way she wasn’t used to.
The confidence he exuded had unsettled her, leaving her restless and off balance.
Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten. She fumbled through her bag, pulling out a packet of salty crisps and checking for a bottle of water.
Glancing at her phone, she saw a message from Harry.
The farrier is here. No need to rush back.
She pocketed the phone and stepped outside, the chill of the air biting at her skin. As the door shut behind her, a shadow fell, the familiar sensation sending a shiver down her spine.
Only this time, butterflies burst inside her chest, rather than anxiety.
There he was again.
The guy from earlier wore the same tailored suit, no tie and the top button of his shirt was still undone, revealing golden skin beneath.
