Forrest, Dawn - Sweet Water Wedding: Sharing Shannon (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (3 page)

Shannon reasoned that what she really needed and, frankly, deserved was a break from work, a bit of fun, and some R&R—rest and relaxation. Rachael’s wedding would be the perfect opportunity to do just that. She definitely did not need another stressful relationship that involved the juggling skills of a circus clown. She had some money saved and she had made the time. Over the past month she had rescheduled projects and deferred work to fellow consultants.

Shannon had first met Rachael when she was a student, often getting into mischief like tying herself to railings and protesting outside the offices of big corporations who were reportedly damaging the environment through their practices. They’d been best friends since college and gone through that critical time of becoming relatively responsible adults with their friendship strong and still intact. Both women were independent souls through choice not necessity.

The more she thought about it the more she realized that the wedding couldn’t have come at a better time, although it served to demonstrate just how quickly circumstances can change. There was Rachael, a strong, independent, career woman, suddenly getting hitched to a cattle rancher and oilman to boot. From what Rachael had said about her fiancé, Joshua Ryden, he seemed to be an amazing guy. Shannon just hoped that her friend wasn’t only seeing things through the rose-colored spectacles of love. What if he turned out to be an ignorant, pesticide and petroleum polluting type of rancher? She couldn’t imagine Rachael getting involved with someone like that, but then this whole wedding was a big surprise. How the hell had that happened so fast? Well, she’d gleaned part of the reason from their recent conversation—sex. Yeah, that was always a clincher.

Shannon understood that there are some things best friends can only talk about with a bottle of wine and wearing pajamas, but she got the gist. It appeared that this Joshua Ryden fellow was the embodiment of Rachael’s fantasies. Whilst details were sketchy, Shannon had the impression there was some kinky business going on. In fact Meadow Ridge County sounded an altogether intriguing place. Rachael had explained that it was not uncommon to find one woman with two husbands. It was a throwback from the early settler days when times were hard and women were few. Apparently the relationships worked well and the practice hadn’t died out. Rachael had been quick to point out that, although Joshua came from such a family, he wasn’t inclined to share her with anyone and he was the only man for her.

The whole idea should be unsavory, but Shannon had felt a certain tension in her body when hearing Rachael’s words. She felt hot and bothered and, yes, damn it, more turned on than ever. In fact Mr. Tommy Tall, who resided on her right hand, had gone to work that night as she lay in bed thinking about all the possibilities. Masturbation had never worked so quickly. She mentally shook herself out of her fantasy.
Two men? Now that’s just double the trouble.
She started toward the garden shed with the air of a woman on a mission, but the shrill ring of her house phone diverted her from her task.

“I’ll get you later,” she muttered, critically eyeing the weeds as she jogged into the house.

She was surprised to hear the voice of Keith Armstrong, an ex-boyfriend from a few years ago, who was now an Environmental Sciences and Management lecturer at some university she couldn’t recall in America. Their paths had professionally crossed a few times since. After exchanging pleasantries he got to the point of the call.

“Shannon, the Texas Oil and Gas Association are hosting a conference in Houston and this year they have decided to include an environmental element. I got a phone call yesterday from a contact who asked me to suggest an environmental consultant with experience in oil and gas development. Apparently the speaker they had lined up had a nasty car accident and can’t make the presentation. I thought that your involvement in drawing up the International Impact Associations guidelines for decommissioning wells and land restoration would make you ideal. It’s quite a hot topic here at the moment as some oil and gas fields are nearing the end of their lives. It is a bit last minute, but would you be willing to give a talk?”

“You want to throw me to the sharks, Keith?” She snorted. “Actually I was planning on taking a break from work. When is the conference?”

“You, fish bait? Never. It’s a week-long event, but they only need you near the end, on Thursday, July tenth.”

“Flights and accommodation covered?” she queried, suddenly interested because Rachael’s wedding was taking place on Saturday, July twenty-sixth in Meadow Ridge County, Texas.

“Of course, are you interested?” He sounded eager.

She quickly assessed the pros and cons of going. If she gave a talk for the conference she could change her existing flight reservation and the trip to Texas would be covered. It was a moot point really because Rachael’s fiancée had offered to reimburse her for the trip, but she felt better about paying for it this way. She could surprise Rachael by turning up a few days earlier than planned. Their friendship was one of the few things that Shannon had made a conscious effort to sustain. It would be wonderful to have a little more time with her friend before the wedding and help out in the moral support department.

Despite her declaration to take a break, the conference appealed to her because she sometimes gave lectures at Dublin University and other institutions and businesses, so it wouldn’t take a lot of preparation. A little extra money wouldn’t hurt before beginning her vacation. Representatives of large, multinational companies would be attending, and the opportunity to increase the environmental awareness of these people was too important to miss. The fact that they wanted to include an environmental talk was a move in the right direction. She couldn’t think of any reasons not to go.

“Keith, you’re in luck, as it happens I have a prior engagement in Texas in July and I suppose I could go a bit earlier.”

“Great. I’ll also be attending and look forward to seeing you again, Shannon. I can’t thank you enough, although maybe you could think of a way?” He chuckled.

He sounded far too suggestive for her liking, so she sweetly replied, “Yes, and I’d love to meet your new wife, Keith, perhaps we could all have dinner?”

“Er, yes, that would be...great. I’ll e-mail the details to you. See you then.”

Shannon put the phone down then nabbed a Jelly Baby from a packet sitting on the table. Raising the little, soft sweet to her mouth, she said, “Bye bye, Keith,” and bit its head off, enjoying the taste as she stood at her kitchen back door looking at her garden. Realizing that she would be away for a while, she resigned herself to doing what she should have done months ago, and rang a cousin who owned a garden maintenance business.

Chapter 3

Two weeks later Shannon strolled into a large, plush hotel where the Oil and Gas Conference was being held. She had arrived a day early to check out the venue, speak to the organizers, and ensure that the equipment she intended to use for her talk actually worked.

She was checking in and collecting some information documents that had been left for her at the reception, when she heard a deep, smooth voice that caused a delightful shiver to caress its way down her spine. She paused and closed her eyes for a moment, listening to soft yet strong tones of a Texan drawl. God, that voice managed to make even a mundane inquiry sound sexy. Distracted, she opened her eyes and turned to sneak a peek at the owner of the seductive voice, but as she moved, her elbow knocked her documents, some of which were bound and some loose, to the floor. The papers scattered over a pair of black leather, expensive-looking shoes.

“Oh no,” she shrieked in panic. “I’m so sorry, but don’t move.”

She didn’t even have time to glance at the man before she dropped to her knees and frantically gathered the papers that were lying at and on his feet, desperately trying to keep them in order. When his feet were clear he shifted and squatted down next to her.

“Here, let me help,” he said calmly, and picked up a few remaining stray papers.

As he handed them to her she found herself looking into a pair of dark brown eyes with long black lashes. It seemed as if time slowed, the air thickened, and all noise and activity beyond the two of them grew muffled and distant. She was dimly aware of her heart thumping a strong beat in her chest, where very peculiar yet pleasant warmth began and permeated throughout her body. His gaze drew her deeper and, although she had never met this person before in her life, she experienced something akin to recognition.

She couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped her lips, and his eyes widened a fraction in surprise. They continued to stare, eyes locked in some subconscious, primal communication, leaning closer, parting lips and tasting breath.

“Are you okay, Ms. O’Reilly?” The loud, almost shrill, voice of the receptionist broke the spell as she leaned over the counter looking down at them.

Shannon jerked back. “I, er, yes, thank you.” Confused, she glanced up at the woman and then at the handsome stranger next to her. She gave herself a mental shakedown—
get a bloody grip
—and briskly said, “I’m sorry about that, thanks for your help.”

She began to stand up, but it was a struggle with her hands full. Suddenly she felt a strong hand at her elbow as the stranger assisted her. That warm feeling began again, and although he immediately stepped back once she was upright, her heart continued to pound.

“No problem, ma’am.” His voice sounded a little less smooth. “I’m Luke McKay.”

“Shannon O’Reilly. Oh no,” she yelped as the papers began to slide.

He came to the rescue, holding above and below the documents as she carried them to the nearest table and dumped them in a pile.

“These,” she said, gesturing to the papers and rolling her eyes, “are why I love my laptop. Thanks again, Mr. McKay.” She smiled and stuck out her hand.

“Please, call me Luke.”

His handshake was firm but gentle, and his large, warm hand snugly enveloped hers, evoking comfort and calming her whirlwind character. Whether it was intentional or not, the pad of his thumb briefly caressed her hand before they broke contact. The sensation and effect of his touch lingered, diffusing slowly over her skin and deep to her core.

She couldn’t help giving the guy an unobtrusive look over, hoping that her assessment and approval hadn’t been noticed. He was certainly very good-looking with a wide, generous smile that he wasn’t averse to using, and that more than anything was attractive to her. He had straight dark brown hair that was just long enough to reach the nape of his neck and it framed a strong, wide, expressive looking face. Right now it appeared friendly and possibly a little interested.

She had to crane her neck to look up at him. Given that she was only five feet four inches short that wasn’t unusual, but she reckoned he must be at least six foot four inches tall. He wore a fine tailored suit that comfortably hugged his large frame. He appeared muscular, but it was difficult to tell. As he looked down at her, his genuine smile reached his eyes, revealing slight creases. He was probably around twenty-eight to thirty years old.

“Let me give you a hand with those.” He nodded to the documents.

“Oh, that’s okay, I can manage thanks,” she breezed, even though she knew it was going to be a struggle.

“I’m sure that you can, but I think a little help would make it easier, please at least let me take this.” He leaned past her and grabbed her laptop case. “Is there anything else?”

His voice was low and polite yet somehow firm, and she simply couldn’t refuse—didn’t want to.

“A porter should be bringing the rest of my things. I’m in room”—she paused as she looked at the key the receptionist had given her—“five-zero-five.”

“Okay, this way I think.”

She piled up the documents and walked with him to an empty elevator. When the doors closed she became acutely aware of his presence, as if it wrapped around her, including her within his personal space. She couldn’t think clearly and didn’t know what to say or how to break the awkward silence. She had to stop herself from tunelessly humming. It was very odd because being Irish she never normally had a problem with light conversation.

“You’re from Ireland?” he suddenly asked, then grimaced and added, “That was a bit of a Captain Obvious statement wasn’t it?”

She laughed. “Yes, I’ve only just arrived in the US this morning, and I guess I’m feeling a little tired and uncoordinated. Unfortunately I have a bit of
light
reading to do before tomorrow.” She sighed and indicated to the documents in her arms. “I’m guessing from your accent that you’re a Texan, right?”