Craving Shannon (18 page)

“Oh, dear Lord,” Kenny blurted out, cutting him off. “Ivy league graduate? Seriously? I just turned fifty this past May. Again, do the math!”

Chad shrugged, ready to make his next argument. “But back in those days—”

“It was the 1960’s, Chad,” Kenny butted in, “not the 1800’s. It was quite the scandal at the time.”

“Really?” Chad asked.

Kenny nodded. “My mother had just turned eighteen when they got together; my father was thirty-three. They lived in a small town, and back in those days, people in small towns all knew each other. The place had only one pub and everyone socialized there. The first time my father brought my mother there, the first time he placed her on his lap and kissed her in front of everyone, they were the talk of the town, gave all the old bitties something juicy to gossip about.”

Chad leaned forward, hanging on the man’s very word.

“You know what happened the second time my father brought her there and kissed her in front of everyone?” Kenny asked.

Chad shook his head.

“Absolutely nothing!” Kenny replied. “It was already old news. The old bitties were on to something else. You see, Chad, things like that are only shocking for about five minutes. My father knew this. There was no way he was going to let something as stupid as other people’s judgments keep him from the woman he loved. You want to know what my parents are doing right now?” He looked at his watch and shook his head. “Well, not right now due to the time difference, but what they do every evening?”

Chad nodded and noticed that Alex and Derek were behind him, listening intently.

“Every evening after my mother cleans up from dinner, she and dad go into the living room and watch their shows together. Then after an hour or so, my mother heads into the kitchen to make my father a cup of tea. She brings it out to him along with a plate of his favorite chocolate cookies. Every single evening my father takes the tea and the plate from her and says
‘thanks, love’,
and looks at her as though she is the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. He has worshipped the ground she walked on his whole life. The man doesn’t have too many years left, but he’s happy, he’s had a great life, and he knows he’ll never have to deal with the pain of living without her. When he goes, my mother will still have my three sisters that live nearby for company, plus her own sisters. She’ll be fine until it’s her time to join him.”

“That’s so nice,” Chad said sincerely.

“It’s the very best of what life has to offer,” Kenny replied. “Don’t miss out on the possibility of that over something as stupid as Shannon’s age. Plus, you live in a huge city were strange things happen all the time. I really can’t imagine anyone batting an eyelid over the two of you together.”

Derek punched the back of Chad’s right shoulder. “See!” he said. “Listen to the man!”

“And there’s one other thing,” Alex piped in.

“What’s that?” Chad questioned suspiciously.

“She’s already best friend approved,” Alex replied, grinning.

Buoyed by his new found feelings of love, Chad played a few games of pool with the guys, unable to wipe the smile off his face.

Looking at his watch, he cursed inwardly. He had been in the bar for hours and hadn’t eaten all day except for one bite of a sandwich. He walked outside and hailed a cab. His plan was to go home, grab Shannon and head out for a late dinner.

When he arrived home, Shannon was sitting on the edge of the couch. Chad knew by the look on her face that something was very wrong. He noticed a bulging bag at her feet. He walked toward her cautiously, the dark look in her eyes causing dread to well up inside him.

“Hi,” he said warily.

“Hi,” she replied then bit down on her lip.

“Is…is everything okay?” he questioned.

She cleared her throat. “I was just waiting to thank you,” she said in a soft voice. “I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“I don’t understand,” he responded.

“I’m…leaving,” she uttered, her voice breaking.

“What?” he asked. “What do you mean?”

“I’m going back to my apartment—”

“Oh, hell no!” he interrupted. “You are not going near that place.”

“I am,” she said, raising her voice. “You have no authority to stop me.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he probed.

“Why do you care?” she shot back. “You told me you were going to Donna’s to break up with her. Not that it’s any of my business, but—”

“I wasn’t there this whole time,” he butted in defensively, realizing how his delay must look to her. “I was at the bar with Alex and Derek.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’m going to call Alex and put you on to him—”

“It doesn’t matter,” she broke in. “It’s really none of my business where you were. I just need to leave…I can’t stay here any longer…” She stopped speaking, picked up the bag and flung it over her shoulder. She walked past him toward the door.

Chad grabbed her wrist and spun her around. “Don’t do this!” he said, his eyes pleading with her. “Please, Shannon, don’t leave like this.”

“I can’t…” She put her hand over her mouth and scrunched her face.

This was serious. Chad could tell she was on the verge of a major meltdown. “Whatever I’ve done, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you,” he blurted out desperately. He racked his brain for the right thing to say to make her stay.

She shook her head. Tears pooled in her pretty green eyes.

“Please,” he urged. He felt his heart rate speeding up. There was no way he could lose her now, not now when he’d finally realized how much he needed her.

“I can’t…” she said again. She shook her head frantically and let the tears spill.

Chad felt his own heart breaking. He spread both arms out to the side and fell onto his knees. “I’m begging you, Shannon,” he said. “I’m on my knees begging you not to leave.” He noticed a twinge of indecision in her eyes. “Please just talk to me. Please just let me know why you feel you have to leave.”

She sniffed loudly and wiped her eyes. “It’s too hard. After today, at the office, I realized it was…” She shook her head.

“It was what? Please tell me.”

“It’s so hard to say,” she cried.

He took her hand in his and looked up into her eyes. “Please try,” he whispered. He needed to know what had hurt her so badly so that he could attempt to fix it.

“I have these feelings and it’s just…it’s just…sex…” she stuttered.

Chad, not really understanding what she was trying to say, heard his mother’s voice in his head suddenly:
‘Trust me on this, Shannon is head-over-heels for you. You’re going to end up hurting her tremendously.’
The penny dropped. “No,” he replied, shaking his head. “It’s not just sex, Shannon.” She looked down at him and rolled her eyes. “Okay, at one point it may have been, but it’s different now. I promise that if you stay, from now on things will be different.”

“I don’t know…” This was hopeful—she was wavering.

“Please, Sweet Girl,” he urged. “Please let me make it up to you.” He held onto her hand, looking up into her eyes, begging her to see the sincerity in his.

“How?” she asked and sniffed again.

“I’ve been a fucking asshole,” he explained. “I’m so sorry for that, but I’m through being that way. If you’ll have me, if you would consider it, I’d like us to be…together.”

“In what way?” Shannon asked skeptically.

“In the way that I hold your hand in public, kiss you in front of my friends and family, tell everyone that you’re my girlfriend…”

“Really?” she asked, a flash of hope sparkling in her eye. “You would tell people that I’m your girlfriend?”

“I would be so proud to,” he answered, nodding. “I would brag about it to everyone I met. I would broadcast to the world that my girlfriend is the most beautiful woman ever born.”

Tears fell from her eyes again, but this time they were accompanied by a joyful smile. “Are you sure?” she asked.

Chad stood up and placed both hands on either side of her face. “I have never been more sure about anything,” he said, looking deep in her eyes. “Say yes, Sweet Girl. Say you’ll be mine.”

“Yes,” she replied. She put her hands up to her mouth and Chad couldn’t make out whether she was laughing or crying.

“Put those hands down,” he muttered, leaning his forehead against hers. “I need to kiss that mouth immediately.” He kissed her slow and steady, loving the feel of her lips against his, loving the happiness that it brought him, loving the way it made his heart flutter in his chest.

He pulled away before things went any further. He needed Shannon to know just how serious he was about them being officially a couple.

He took her wrist and led her into the guest bedroom. “Round up whatever else you have in here,” he demanded.

“Almost everything is in the bag,” she replied, wiping her eyes with the back of both hands.

He ran out into the living room and picked the duffle bag off the floor. He walked toward his bedroom, beckoning her to follow him.

“What are you doing?” she questioned.

“Moving you into my bedroom…our bedroom,” he responded. “Feel free to make any changes you want. This is your home now, understand?” Her face crumbled. Chad ran his knuckle down her cheek. “I don’t ever want to spend one night away from you,” he added in a soft voice.

“Okay,” Shannon mumbled then sniffed loudly.

“Okay,” he echoed, smiling. “Now stop the crying. We have work to do.”

Thankfully, due the Shannon’s limited wardrobe, it took them no time to hang her stuff in the closet.

Chad opened every single drawer in the bedroom, frowning. “Here’s the deal,” he said, turning to look at her. “I’ll have to buy you your own chest of drawers. I’ll do that tomorrow.”

“It’s okay,” she answered. “I don’t really have that much stuff.”

“But you will as time goes on,” he responded. “One of the best benefits of having such a beautiful girlfriend is buying pretty things for her,” he added, winking. He sat on the edge of the bed and opened his arms wide. “Come here,” he requested. Shannon dashed over and climbed on his lap. He put his arms around her tightly. “Welcome home, Sweet Girl,” he purred into her ear.

Knowing that he had to eat, Chad had every intention of suggesting they head out for food, but Shannon had other ideas suddenly. Before long, he was lying on his back, naked, while Shannon kissed every inch of his body, sending him to paradise. He writhed under the sensual feel of her lips as she unselfishly worshiped him. When he could take it no more, he pushed her down on the mattress and made love to her slowly, marveling at how the love in his heart made their union that much better. Abruptly, all thoughts of food flew away.

Shannon expressed apprehension about returning to work. Thanks to Donna’s outburst, the whole office probably knew about their affair. She insisted that it would just be too humiliating for her. Chad pondered that long after she fell asleep and came up with the perfect plan. It was best just to face it head-on.

In the morning, he told Shannon to get dressed for work and explained his idea.

They went directly to Mort’s office first thing upon arriving at the building. They sat together and explained the nature of their relationship to Mort. Chad made it clear that if interoffice relationships were against company policy, Shannon would be more than willing to hand in her notice. As it turned out, Mort agreed that it was best if they worked apart, but promised to call a few contacts and felt confident that Shannon would have a new job by January. In the meantime, she was welcome to stay until that time arrived.

Afterward, Chad and Shannon rode the elevator back down one floor. She took a long, deep, nervous breath before having to face Sarah. Chad grabbed her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. “It’s going to be fine,” he assured her. He winked at her then placed a kiss on the back of her hand. Sarah looked up from the desk and noted the joint hands instantly. Her eyes bulged. “Morning, Sarah,” Chad said pleasantly, still holding Shannon’s hand. “So we have some news,” he added.

“Yeah?” Sarah replied, looking back and forth between the two, curiously.

“Unfortunately, Shannon is going to be leaving us after the holidays.”

“Really? Why?”

“Well, as you probably already know from my ex-girlfriend’s outburst yesterday, Shannon and I are together…we’re in a relationship. We just spoke to Mort and between the three of us, we agreed that if I intend to keep seeing her, which I do, it would be best if she worked elsewhere,” he answered.

“Oh, wow…that’s great…no, I mean…” Sarah stuttered, causing Shannon to giggle. “I didn’t mean that it’s great that you’re leaving, it’s—”

“It’s okay, I know what you mean,” Shannon said, letting Sarah off the hook.

“I have to get to work,” Chad announced, turning to face Shannon. “Bye, Sweet Girl.” He bent down and kissed her softly on the lips, causing her to blush. “God, I love that,” he mumbled, running a finger over her pink cheek.

Chad had a hard time containing his excitement all day. Like a lovesick teenager, he wanted to call everyone he knew and tell them about his new relationship status. He decided to hold off telling the guys until that evening. He sent them both a quick text asking them to meet him later.

After work, he took Shannon to dinner then headed for McDermott’s. He walked into the bar with her hand firmly in his.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Alex called out. “Have you come to take me up on my marriage proposal?”

Chad took her coat and threw it over a barstool along with his. He slipped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. “As it turns out, Shannon has a boyfriend,” he announced, “One that’s crazy about her. She won’t be accepting any proposals.”

“Look at you,” Alex said, nodding approvingly. “It’s good to hear it.”

“You guys look great together,” Derek piped in.

Chad pulled out his wallet, took out a card and handed it to Kenny. “My girlfriend’s driver’s license,” he announced.

“What?” Shannon questioned, looking confused. She held out her hand to Kenny. “Can I see that?”

Kenny handed the Utah license over to Shannon for examination. “This looks so real,” she commented. “When did you get this?”

“Today,” Chad replied. “I used a copy of your company ID picture. It cost a fortune, so it
should
look good,” he added. “If a cop ran it, he’d realize it was fake, but it’ll keep Kenny in the clear.”

As they played a few rounds of pool with the guys, Chad had a hard time keeping his hands and lips off his new girlfriend.

When Shannon went to the ladies room, Derek turned to him with a smirk. “You go from zero to a thousand, like that,” he said, snapping his fingers.

“What do you mean?” Chad questioned.

“You go from
‘I don’t believe in love’
to flat-out, head-over-heels in a matter of twenty-four hours.”

“Not really,” Chad responded. “It’s been longer than a day. I’ve just been in denial for the past few weeks. Looking back now, I realize I loved her the second I laid eyes on her.”

“Does she know?” Derek pushed.

“I haven’t gotten around to telling her just yet,” he replied. “But she will soon.”

⃰     ⃰      ⃰

The following evening, they stood among the crowds of people in Rockefeller Center, listening to an American Idol runner-up sing
We Three Kings.
Chad released Shannon’s gloved hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. He looked down into her lovely face and noted the rosy glow on her cheeks. “You cold?” he asked.

“A little, but I’m fine. I’m so glad to be here,” she answered.

She was like a Christmas angel, beautiful in her new white coat and matching hat. Chad wondered if he’d ever tire of looking at her.

  When the giant tree finally sprung to life with thousands of twinkling lights, Shannon turned to him and smiled, her eyes swimming with tears. She looked forward and wiped a tear with her forefinger. Overwhelmed by her innocence and awe, he bent his head and put his mouth near her ear. “I love you,” he murmured.

Her head whipped around. “What?” she asked, shock evident on her features.

“I’m in love with you,” he said, louder.

“How?” she questioned loudly, over the sound of the crowd.

“Is there more than one way?” he asked, knitting his eyebrows in confusion.

“I mean, I thought you didn’t believe in that,” she accused.

“That was merely the mad ramblings of a foolish idiot,” he responded impishly. “I didn’t believe in love because I’d never met you before.”

She continued to stare into his face for a long moment as though dumbfounded by his revelation. “Oh,” she replied with a deadpan look. She turned back around and looked toward the tree. She shook her head and turned back to face Chad. “I love you, too,” she added, then turned to the tree once more. Slowly she turned back to Chad again. “And, the minute we get home, we’re having mad, crazy sex.” she added a split second after the music died, causing a moment of silence that lasted just long enough for the people in their vicinity to overhear Shannon’s declaration. She buried her face in her hands while Chad laughed uncontrollably. 

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her head. “I love you so much,” he chuckled, feeling as though his heart would burst from the weight of so much happiness.

⃰    ⃰    ⃰

The following days were the happiest of Chad’s life. His feet barely touched the ground once. He and Shannon were rarely apart, and when they were, she was front and center on his mind. He held her hand everywhere they went, relenting to the nagging compulsion to touch her constantly.

By the end of their first official week and a half as a couple, they had settled into a comfortable pattern. Every morning, he woke up thanking heaven to find her lying in his arms. He’d wake her by pushing her hair back and kissing her on the lips until her eyes opened, and then she would snuggle closer to him and return the kiss with enthusiasm. Before things got out of hand, Chad would jump up, rush to the bathroom and turn on the shower. Shannon caught on quickly that the only way she’d get more kisses in the morning was to get into the shower and under the water. Only when her hair was shampooed and conditioned, would he let his hands roam all over her while kissing her deeply. Then, for ten days in a row, he would turn her around, push her up against the wall and enter her from behind, sometimes slow and steady, sometimes hard and fast—the sound of the water drowning out her screams of pleasure.

The evenings were not so structured, but whether they ate in, went to a restaurant, hung out with the guys at McDermott’s for a while, one thing was a certainty, they ended the night naked and wrapped around one another somewhere in their apartment. The coffee table, the kitchen table, kneeling over the back of the couch, up against the refrigerator, no surface was off limits.

Chad could not believe that such happiness, such euphoria was even possible. He wanted nothing more than to spread it to the world, to embrace all of humanity.

He worshipped her utterly. He craved her constantly. He was sure no man had ever loved in such a manner. For her, there was nothing he wouldn’t do, no sacrifice he wouldn’t make. She was his entire life, his reason for living.

Life, love, happiness, it all boiled down to only one thing—Shannon.