The wife of a powerful tribal leader, Mama Jo had been the female equivalent of a medicine man. She was half French, having been born of a European businessman and a local woman, and had been heavily involved in the modernization projects affecting her tribal areas.
It was she who shared the story of the two birds, representing lovers united, which had led to the matching tattoos Nick and Shannon each carried. Learning that the kindly older woman with the wise eyes and bright spirit had declared them to be destined for one another made Shannon want to cry.
Finally finding her voice Shannon stepped forward and grabbed both of Obi’s hands in hers saying, “Please let Mama Jo know I send my warmest greetings to her and her husband, Obi. I’ve never forgotten her”.
“It would be my great honor to do so, Shannon.” Obi replied. “Perhaps next year when Mr. Nick visits the village you could come and see all the good work being done at the children’s center.”
Claire seemed to be nodding her head as though a handful of puzzle pieces suddenly fell into place. “Is that the trip to Nairobi?” she asked while punching keys on a hand-held device, probably checking her long-range calendar for details. “Ah, I see it here. You’re in Monte Carlo for Mr. Ben-Ari’s wedding and then continuing on to Africa.”
Shannon turned bright eyes rimmed with welling tears at Nick who stood by uncharacteristically silent. The big, bad, powerful, unfeeling business tycoon was a huge fraud she thought. He also did not like anyone acknowledging his altruistic actions and just like the discomfort she picked up on coming from him each time the privileges available to him got mentioned, he visibly squirmed at mention of his still vibrant connection to something Shannon thought he had scorned.
She wanted to hug him. No, she wanted to cover him with kisses and tell him in no uncertain terms how proud she was of the man he’d become and how sorry she was for not believing in him. Even though he had thrown her feelings away at the time, she now understood why and felt a measure of guilt at having judged him so harshly.
It took less than three minutes after that for Nick to wrap up their hallway conversation and send Obi and Claire on their way with Shannon promising to stay in touch with the young man. He wanted some alone time with the woman at his side and he didn’t want any outside eyes intruding on the conversation he knew they were about to have.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Ushering Shannon into his private office Nick steered her immediately to a grouping of comfortable sofas and chairs which made up a seating area clustered before a series of tall windows offering spectacular city views. The moment she plunked down on the wide, deep sofa Shannon kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet under her legs as she settled into the seating.
He saw the moment she noticed the crystal bowl of butterscotch candies sitting in the middle of a low coffee table also covered in magazines. Shannon sat there for the longest time seemingly lost in thought as she considered the beautiful Baccarat crystal and its contents. Nick waited in an agony of silence wondering what she would say next.
He was prepared to explain and would gladly tell her whatever she wanted to know. He’d never really given much thought to his on-going interest and involvement in the little village on another continent where they had first met. It was second nature to him; using his wealth to advance causes and concerns he felt connected to.
Obi was just one of several smart, driven young men and women from that area who he had lent a helping hand to. The Children’s Center was one of numerous charitable endeavors he’d been involved in as his thoughts drifted to the training classes and village clinic he’d spearheaded.
He expected Shannon to launch into a full on inquiry but instead she simply sat there, cute as can be with those long legs of hers tucked under her rear end while she thought god only knows what.
He held his breath when one of her small hands reached out and plucked a cellophane wrapped candy from the elegant bowl. Nick thought she meant to unwrap it and pop it into her mouth, but she just continued to sit there silently with the candy grasped in her hand. Normally he found it pretty easy to read her thoughts but at the moment his own wildly careening emotions were making that nearly impossible.
When she dropped the tiny candy on the table and leaned toward him, Nick’s startled face got even more so when she reached out grabbing the ends of his tie, pulling him towards her.
Shannon couldn’t wrap her mind around everything that had happened in the last hour much less the last week. She was back with the only man she ever loved, he wasn’t the prick she’d been imagining him as and pretty much every thought and regret she’d been nursing for the past eight years had been turned upside down and replaced by a feeling of peace and happiness.
When she reached for him he pulled her pert bottom onto his lap and let her cover his face and neck with kisses. He hadn’t expected a physical reaction but he’d take it, that’s for sure.
The kisses she gave him were sweet and simple. Expressions of the way she felt because words seemed to be inadequate at the moment.
They stayed like that with her on his lap for a long time. No words were spoken for none were necessary. It was a moment for remembrances and reunions as they used touch and lover’s sighs to communicate what language alone never could.
Some business intruded sometime along the way but Shannon didn’t care. She was happy to be here by his side and even happier to have all the ghosts from the past well and truly dispatched to the ether forever. There was still one lingering memory, the unhappiest and most painful of them all hovering around the edges, but now didn’t seem like the time to bring it up.
They ate lunch at a nearby restaurant where they had been swarmed by paparazzi looking for a story. Mr. Allen had stepped up when the camera flashes started going off and blocked most of their shots but Shannon knew by the end of the day the media would be trying to figure out who the woman on Nicholas Barrett’s arm was. Was she ready for that? Well, she’d better be she thought since nothing short of a court order was ever going to separate her from this unbelievably wonderful man ever again.
After lunch, feeling stuffed and slightly exhausted Shannon was shocked when their limo pulled up to the private entrance to a seriously high-end jewelry store.
When Shannon’s curious gaze sought out Nick’s for explanation she was startled to find him looming over her with one of those cowboy pirate rakish grins complete with dimples that rendered her thought process to a melted puddle.
The best she could manage was something which sounded like, “Er, um…Ni..uh.” before his smiling eyes bored into her soul. He whispered so close to her mouth that she breathed in his words as he spoke, “This is where I get to throw around the Barrett name along with some serious cash and find you whatever ring you want Shannon. Anything.”
The gentle kiss that followed was so sweetly tender and romantic that Shannon closed her eyes and sighed with happiness, so perfect was the moment.
Oddly, she felt that in all honesty, she didn’t need the ring. Didn’t even need the ceremony. All Shannon wanted was Nick. She was an odd bird she supposed with this way of thinking. As long as she had his heart, as long as he wanted her, she was all in. Nothing else mattered next to that. After all, his love was all she’d ever wanted or needed. It was kind of funny and ironic that of the two of them it was Nick who was the most hung up on propriety and appearances.
He clearly wanted it all and had been exquisitely descriptive about what that meant. The ring was important to him, she thought. It wasn’t a wealthy man, trophy wife thing at all Shannon acknowledged; it was an expression of the commitment he was making to her and to them.
When the long, sweet kiss ended Nick peered deeply into Shannon’s eyes while the turquoise and hazel combination became charged with emotion. Lifting one of her shaking hands to his chest Nick said, “I want you to take a piece of my heart and turn it into a diamond that you and I will know means so much more than just the symbol of an engagement. Do you understand, li
ttle one? You are my heart; take all of it as it’s yours anyway.”
“Oh Nick.” Shannon sighed while she ran her fingers over his cheek and along his lips before ending up with her entire hand cupping the side of his face. His words had touched her heart more deeply than anything she’d ever heard before. Could it really get any better than this she wondered?
With a shy smile she told him what she was feeling, holding nothing back. “I’m nervous about this entire thing Nick, it almost seems too good to be true, you know what I mean?” as she nodded in earnest appeal for his agreement.
“In the space of a week our lives have been …...” she sighed in frustration. “You know what I’m getting at. This has been a lot for me to take on board.”
“Shannon….” Nick interrupted.
She stopped him by saying “No Nick, let me finish.” while moving her hand against his mouth. Nodding in agreement he then pursed those delectable lips and pressed a sweet kiss to her tingling fingers. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts after that.
“I will do all of this as you want it. The ring, a wedding, even the house in the suburbs,” she continued. “but all of it comes with one condition.”
Nick’s expression turned to widening eyes and a fleeting heartbeat of fear as he contemplated what her condition would be. He’d do anything he realized, absolutely anything to ensure they stayed together this time. That certainty and inevitability calmed his emotions as he turned a half smile at her serious face.
“I will do whatever is necessary for you to be happy Shannon. To me, nothing is more important than that. Whatever it takes; and you will be happy my love. I won’t have it any other way.”
That little touch of arrogant certainty at the end of his declaration of happiness brought an amused overcast to Shannon’s face that she tried to control. Lord, but the man was magnificent when he was being so sure of himself she wryly thought. All of her ‘I am woman hear me roar’ shtick went right out the window when he took control, although she certainly didn’t want him to know that. Besides he was completely adorably awesome and sexy when he was being earnest and bossy so why should she spoil the show?
“Nick, you say you want me to be happy. Well my darling, here’s the thing. I can’t be happy unless you are happy so we have a draw. I need to know that you want me, not just love me Nick. I can only do this if you’re with me; by my side every step of the way.”
Nick understood what she was saying and his heart swelled with joy and pride at how brave and straight-forward she was being. She could only do that if she truly trusted him; if she was completely invested.
“Done and done.” he answered quickly. “Want, need, love. Done. You will never regret this decision Shannon love. This is my vow to you. It’s forever, you and me. My first priority from here on out is us.”
She smiled then because what else could she possibly do? The idea of actually marrying Nick; of being Mrs. Nicholas Barrett was totally unique and so completely outside the realm of possibilities she had anticipated in her life that Shannon decided to just step back and let the power of the situation sweep her along. After all, how often does a girl get to say that a billionaire tycoon fell in love with her and then took her to an exclusive lux jeweler telling her to pick out anything?
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 which had brought them to this moment in time. She fully expected everyone to have something to say, from Jules & Ned to Nick’s mum and the people who make 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 which 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 as his happiness 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 had been 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 wing back chairs, a love seat 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 had led Shannon to one of the high wing backs 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 on to each other as they stared silently into the other’s eyes for the longest time. Emotions on both their parts were running so high that words were unnecessary.
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 which even remotely struck her fancy. Apparently Nick wasn’t seeing anything he liked either. He was speaking quietly to the French man 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 French man 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.
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