JD’s eyes widened slightly as he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling in sheer exasperation.
No connections? No alliances?
In business, networking was everything. Deals weren’t always made on paper—most of them happened in the shadows of social circles, at galas, in whispered conversations over expensive drinks. She would have had a chance to join them and yet she had none of that?
Joanne could feel his unspoken judgnt, and frankly, she didn’t bla him. She had studied business; she knew how important networking was.
"I know," she admitted, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I should have focused on that, but... I’ve been too busy with the farm and... I just never had the ti."
JD let out another breath, shaking his head. Yeah, that was clear.
"Yeah, you barely have ti to drink," he said with a smirk, but beneath the teasing, he understood.
She was juggling too many responsibilities—managing Shamrock Logistics, running the farm, engaging in philanthropy, cooking daily for an entire town, riding out in the wilderness, hunting, ntoring teenagers, and caring for stray kids, among many other tasks.
Joking aside, those were the things she valued the most. She couldn’t be blad for that. She was stretching herself thin, trying to juggle everything on her own.
It wasn’t sustainable.
"I’ll take care of it," JD said decisively, standing up. His tone left no room for argunt. "But you need to work on the company’s PR first."
That was sothing she could handle. He’d take care of the rest.
Joanne watched him, sensing the shift in his posture—the way his mind had already moved ahead, mapping out strategies, preparing for battle. She could almost see the gears turning in his head, calculating every possible move, every potential threat.
And for the first ti in years, she felt relief wash over her.
She had built Shamrock Logistics from the ground up with sheer will and relentless effort, but she had always been fighting alone. JD, however, looked like he knew exactly how to navigate high-level business politics.
For soone who said he never worked in an office environnt, he looked more experienced. She couldn’t say how, but she had a feeling that he knew business.
Her gaze softened as she watched him. The way he walked away, deep in thought, exuding a quiet yet commanding power—it made sothing in her chest tighten. He looked like a man who could make his enemies scatter with just a look.
And he was on her side.
Perhaps it was ti to trust him more. She was considering discussing the possibility of him taking over the company’s administration entirely. She was tired of dealing with the educated snobs in the office and the other wealthy individuals she felt pressured to befriend. For the first ti in four years, she could finally breathe easily when it ca to Shamrock Logistics.
Because now, JD was playing for her team.
With a delighted heart, she retreated to her room, eager to prepare for the Junior League event. They wouldn’t be expecting her this year—she hadn’t made her usual donation—but she wanted to be there, to make her presence known. And, of course, Charlotte would be waiting for her.
She chose a flowing erald-green dress that elegantly draped over her fra, perfect for an evening filled with laughter. The dress shimred subtly, reminiscent of fresh spring leaves. She added silver accessories—a delicate necklace, glinting earrings, and a jangling bracelet. With a hint of floral perfu, she felt ready for the night.
Stepping out of her room, she walked down the hallway and knocked lightly on JD’s door. Today was a local holiday for the Junior League, and with the finals set for Sunday, she wanted him to enjoy the day as much as she did.
When JD opened the door, he clutched a pen, lost in thought. His notepad was filled with hurried scribbles, making her smile. Despite his Yale degree and modern conveniences, he preferred pen and paper, believing it helped clarify his thoughts better than a keyboard when he was thinking sothing deeply.
He truly cared for her company and it made her heart flutter with happiness.
"You’ve already started working?" She arched a brow, a teasing lilt in her voice. "Co on, let’s have fun today!"
Her smile was effortless, bright—until it wasn’t.
Because sothing changed in his eyes.
It wasn’t the usual warmth, the easy charm she had grown used to. Nor was it that quiet, magnetic mystique she had noticed before, when he calculated his moves like a general orchestrating a battle.
No.
This was different.
This was heat.
A slow burn that spread through her, curling around her spine, pooling low in her stomach. The air between them thickened, heavy with sothing unspoken, sothing charged.
"Fun?" Jeffrey echoed, his voice edged with exasperation, his brows lifting.
Of course, this would happen. He knew it the mont he heard her knock. It was precisely why he had locked himself in his room, drowning himself in thoughts that didn’t involve her.
And yet...
Here she was.
Standing in front of him, looking like this.
The deep green of her dress set her skin aglow, the silver shamrock pendant resting just above the curve of her cleavage, teasing yet entirely modest. But for him, it was more than enough—it provoked, stirred sothing restless inside him. His mind betrayed him, imagining what was hidden beneath, the softness, the warmth.
Then there were her lips, glossy and full, catching the light just so. And her eyes—those damn eyes—looking at him with sothing so tender, so inviting, it was almost too much. The sweet scent of her perfu drifted between them, floral and intoxicating.
His pulse pounded.
And then... she bit her lip.
Damn.
That did it.
Before he even realized it, his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, erasing the space between them. She had co to him—so why should he stop?
"Want to have fun?" His voice dropped, rich and husky, laced with sothing darker.
He leaned in, his cheek grazing hers.
Ah... so soft.
His heart thundered against his ribs, his senses drinking her in—the silk of her dress beneath his fingers, the delicate tremor in her breath, the warmth of her body pressing into his.
But then—
Sothing shifted.
The sweet floral scent faded, replaced by sothing deeper, earthier, woodier and the crisp bite of the evening air. The warmth of the sun seeped into his skin, the breeze whispering past him.
His breath hitched.
The world blurred.
And suddenly, he wasn’t standing in his room anymore.
He could hear it now, the rhythmic pounding of his own heartbeat, fast, insistent, echoing like a drum.
And in front of him—
A girl.
The girl who had haunted his dreams lately.
Red hair, wild and untad. Eyes that burned into his soul.
And a single thought crashed through him, fierce and possessive, as if it had always been there, waiting to be spoken aloud.
You’re mine.
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