The Billionaire's Second Chance (34 page)

Nicholas was sure his extremely expensive designer trousers were about to spontaneously combust either from her intense heated gaze or from the fire
which
that gaze had started in his pants. 

The way she’d been staring or rather drooling
over what she saw in his lap, whether it was his muscular thighs, huge capable hands or the ever increasing bulge growing under his zipper
,
he wasn’t sure
,
but whatever it was had zapped right through his brain and landed straight in his genitals. 

His incredibly strong reaction to being near her again had startled him from that first second
of impact
.  Yes, he had dreamed of her often over the years.  He still burned with a need to be inside her that was shaking his core.  Last night he’d almost lost his mind having her so near.

Hell, right this second he wanted to transform some of the intensity she was displaying in her stare and just throw her back on the seat of the
airport
limo, push up her skirt, rip off her panties and lose himself inside her this very minute. 

Only a thrusting, grinding possession could slack his need for her in the most basic and primitive way.  He wanted to watch her while she
fell
apart in his arms, watch her eyes as he came inside her.  She was
all that he had ever dreamed of
.  Pure sex wrapped
,
oh so neatly
,
in total love. 
Shit
, he was in trouble.

Once they’d arrived at the airport where
the Barrett jet was being prepared for their journey, he quickly got Shannon on board before the manifestation of a huge private jetliner, completely at his disposal, rattled her already frazzled nerves.
He wasn’t completely stupid after all.

Inside the luxuriously appointed airplane Nick
introduced
Shannon to the
pilot who had been waiting near the entry steps for their arrival
. There was a flurry of back slapping comments and doubting the other’s manhood, the kind men who knew each other well liked to toss around in jest.

She was watching the odd banter between
Nick and his pilot
with her head tilted off to the side, a
bemused expression on her face. O
ne hand rested on a curvaceous hip while the
other
leg slightly cocked to the side.  He was instantly jealous of her hand as he stared at her long, lovely fingers curled into her softly rounded woman’s hips.  She looked utterly adorable in an off guarded moment.

Grinning like a loon he swept forward so quickly she blinked just once before he was towering over her.  Reaching for the hand which hung at her side, he was powerfully aware of the slight trembling he detected before his huge warm hand engulfed hers.  She tensed for a fraction and then relaxed into his touch bringing him a rush of gritty satisfaction from
the
acceptance that arced through him like a thunderbolt.  His mind briefly blanked while he blessed the saints above for that single moment of truth.

Before
settling
them
into
the luxurious front cab
in of the massive Barrett jet, N
ick took charge of the hand
he was still holding, pulling her into another section of the plane. They walked through a small work zone which looked like a flying office, past the forward galley to a rear cabin where several people were already seated.

Shannon was caught a bit off guard by the presence on his plane of what looked to be a small family and was more than slightly curious what was going on.  A
tiny
sigh of acceptance left her throat as she silently acknowledged that no one was full of more su
rpris
es and hidden depths than the man pulling her along behind him
down
the aisle of his private plane. A
s always,
he
just took command of whatever situation he found himself in.

What she assumed was the patriarch of this gathering leapt to his feet when he spied Nick moving purposely towards them and met t
hem in the aisle, hand extended,
a warm greeting ready.

“Mr. Barrett, I am Alejandro Reyes. There are no words to thank you for what you are doing for me and my Sophia
.
” he uttered with so much sincere emotion that it made Shannon’s eyes sparkle. She was awash with warmth as she picked up on the intense gratitude and good will which was swirling all around them the minute Nick’s hand connected with that of Mr. Reyes.

Nick looked a bit discomfited at the man’s words as
if thanks were
the very last thing he expected
or wanted
to hear. Still gripping Shannon’s hand in his, she felt a flare of connection flow between them, from the hand of the man looking at Nick with intense gratitude through Nick himself, and although she still had trouble reading him as clearly as she did everyone else, she could feel his satisfaction through their
clasped hands
.

Pulling her forward until she was at his
shoulder
,
he
introduced her to their guest with a sense of pleasure and pride he could not disguise.

“Mr. Reyes, let me introduce Shannon Reynolds to you. She will be accompanying us on our trip east. She’s probably wondering in her female mind why I didn’t tell her we’d have company today
.
” he ended with in a conspiratorially comical tone that men use in mixed company when they are making jests about themselves and how they handle their women. Especially if they suspect they might be in for a stern look or worse!

Laughing Mr. Reyes jumped in
,
“Ah, my Sophia would be taking me to task in such a situation but you must not be angry Miss Reynolds
.” he added as he shook her hand.
“Mr. Barrett is an angel to me and my family for allowing us to fly
east with him. You see our son
Anthony is a Marine!”
he
said with such obvious pride that
his
face all but glowed.

“He’s a good boy
,
” Mr. Reyes continued as he looked around at his wife before turning back to her “and a good soldier. But
…
he was wounded in Afghanistan and is in hospital near Washington. Mr. Barrett is so very kindly giving us a lift so we can bring Anthony’s family to him when he needs us
.”

Shock must have shown on Shannon’s face for he instantly added a heartfelt
,
“Don’t let this worry you Miss Reynolds. God has been good to Anthony and his injuries will heal, with a lot of
rehabilitation
. We go to help our son now thanks to this man here
.
” he finished as he looked at Nick with nothing short of worship, making the man in the spotlight of gratitude practically squirm in embarrassment.

Shannon’s eyes were huge and owl-like as she swung them at him. Her surprise at what he was doing vanished instantly when overcome by the deep, deep pleasure she found in this completely astonishing act of self-less kindness. The look he gave her and the
aw shucks
grin that followed was so cute and unpretentious
that it
melt
ed
more than just her heart.

“Please, let me introduce you to my Sophia
.
” Mr. Reyes interjected. “As you can see, the babe is asleep in her arms so she cannot get up
.”

Talking
to his wife in rapid Spanish, they spoke briefly before Mr. Reyes turned back.

“Sophia sends you the blessings of a grateful mother, Mr. Barrett. We will never be able to repay you for the kindness and help you are showing to our son
.
” he offered in translation of his wife’s words which she emphasized with a look of pure gratitude as she gazed at Nick.

“Mr. Reyes, sir….please call me Nick. And tell your wife it is she who is blessed with so wonderful a family and a son to be proud of who risks his life for his country
.
” Looking a tad uncomfortable with the open appreciation of the Reyes family, Nick was trying to deflect any praise
coming
his way
. Watching the
interplay Shannon was struck by the many
different
sides of this man which she had seen just
today.
Gentle lover-in-waiting,
Shannon liked that phrase because it made her feel
powerful
, take charge man, joshing buddy with a crew of men’s men, and now secret do-gooder. 

Remembering just where they were
,
she felt today’s puzzle pieces falling into precise order. Yes, he wielded his power and authority without apology and the obvious trappings of enormous wealth were evident everywhere in his life, but not all of what she was seeing was indulgent or abusive.  Her long-held bitterness
for
the life of money and power she’d assumed he’d chosen over her had been crashing down brick by brick as the wall of resentment she’d erected around her bruised heart lost its sway.

Realizing she’d been
deep
in thought, Shannon melted back into the moment
while
Nick was earnestly telling Mr. Reyes and his wife that he was honored to be of whatever service he could and went further by telling them that he tried to always include a military family with travel needs in his journeys when the room was available
. T
his reveal br
ought
a burst of pure joy to her awakening heart.

“I will call you Nick if you will please call me Alejandro
.
” Mr. Reyes said proudly before he turned in
Shannon’s
direction. “Miss Reynolds, my wife bids you hello and apologizes for not getting up.
The babe is Anthony’s son! M
y Sophia holds him close every chance he gets. Please both of
you
come meet my family
.
” Alejandro smiled
proudly
as he drew them forward.

Speaking in English, he introduced Shannon a
nd Nick to his son’s young wife
Melissa
,
who it turned out was a kindergarten teacher in San Diego. She and Anthony had married just as he started his first of three tours of duty in harm’s way. The baby, Jon
,
was only four months old and his daddy had still never met him. Their reunion would be sweet and she spoke with eloquent gratitude to Nick for making it possible.

Next was a young man, probably late teens, in a very proper button down shirt and khaki pants whose d
emeanor screamed private school
,
who
stood to shake their hands. This was Michael, Alejandro’s youngest son and adoring little brother to war-hero Anthony. He too was politely composed and deferential toward Nick in a way which reminded Shannon that he truly was a man amongst men. A stand-out in all ways which that term implied. He wasn’t at all like the spoiled playboy she’d been angry at all those wasted, empty years.

Then it was time to meet Alejandro’s wife, a lovely Latino woman with jet black hair and vibrant brown gold eyes whose quick smile and easy manner
drew Shannon
in. Reverting to Spanish, Alejandro made the formal introductions to his wife. Before anyone could say another word Shannon quickly stepped around both startled men and knelt down by Sophia’s seat.

Having picked up on Sophia and Alejandro’s fluent interaction, Shannon immediately began speaking in perfectly nuanced Spanish
,
completely in tune with the dialect and regional eccentricities they displayed in their speech.

Watching as Shannon spoke in rapid Spanish to an obviously delighted Sophia, Nick thought to himself,
this is what she does
. This is
what I remember so clearly; h
ow she could read a situation like nobody’s business. 

The two women chatted away like old friends as Nick watched contente
dly, proud of her abilities, the lady-like way she behaved and the intuitive way she had of
putting everyone around her at ease.

When one of her beautifully, delicate hands reached up to ruffle the dark b
rown
curls of the half-sleeping child, Nick’s heart flipped over in his chest watching
the
natural and loving
interaction
.  He was immediately assaulted by the visions of Shannon lovingly moving her fingers through the long blonde curls of a little girl who looked to have the cute as a button mouth of her mum and the adorable dimples of her daddy. Didn’t take a rocket scientist to guess where that vision came from since all of Nick’s thoughts and senses were specifically focused at all times on grabbing that longed for future with both hands and doing whatever it took to seal the deal and make her his forever.