Authors: Jennifer Labelle
“
Well then let’s fix that.”Moving closer, she dominated him, taking control as they started to make love. She needed to have him, especially then, feeling wanted and attractive for the first time in a long time, but then he began to fade away with the annoying beeping sound in the distance.
“No.” She groaned shutting off the alarm clock, still half asleep. It felt like she’d just closed her eyes, and she was at such a good part in the dream.
Closing her eyes in a stubborn attempt to go back to sleep, it finally dawned on her what day it was.
Oh, my God, this is it,
and she gasped as she sat up, with a sudden overwhelming burst of energy.
Jumping out of bed, she headed straight into the shower. She got herself dressed and did her hair and makeup. She was sure that she wouldn’t look as good when she finally got there, but if the vision was correct, she was due to see him the first time at the airport and had to do what she could to at least look decent.
She rolled her luggage downstairs and decided to call Sam before making some coffee.
“
Just making sure you’re up, and I’m making a fresh pot of coffee if you want some before we leave.”
Sam laughed. “Sounds good. Just give me five minutes and I’ll be there.”
She let herself in while Jenna sat at the kitchen table anxious to leave.
“
Oh, my God,” Sam said and laughed at her. “How much coffee did you have?”
It was only her first cup. “Very funny,” Jenna mocked, giving her a smile. “I’m just a big bundle of excitement over here. That’s all.”
“
Are you ready?” Sam asked.
This trip was a new beginning, a time to move on and they both looked forward to the fun ahead.
“
In more ways than one Sam, in more ways than one. There’s the cab.”
The cab ride there was refreshing, that much closer to their destination, but the wait at the airport was excruciating. Having to be there hours before they were actually due to board sucked, but it was either twiddling her thumbs there or at home. At least she knew they weren’t going to be late for anything.
Finally it came time to board. She received her first international stamp in her passport and couldn’t stop staring at it. As pathetic as that sounds, it just made everything official.
It’d been a long journey to get where she was, and she worked on calming her nerves with alcoholic beverages aboard, so the flight wasn’t so bad. She relaxed with the effects of the drinks and slept dreamless for the first time in a long time.
* * * *
“
Um, if I forget to say this later, thanks, Sam.”
They finally arrived.
“You’re thanking me in the airport,” Sam said with a laugh. “That’s very sweet, Jenna, but just wait until we get out there.” She gestured to the beautiful scenery of Dublin visible through the doors, “I’m really hoping that you can have a good time. Start out fresh in new surroundings, have an adventure, live a little, let loose, and have fun. Now that’s the vacation I’m hoping to have.”
Putting an arm around her, she stopped. “Speaking of beautiful scenery, what have we here?” Sam played innocent as she turned Jenna to see what she was talking about.
Two men stood only a few feet away from them, just staring. There was an instant attraction when her eyes met with one that scared the hell out of her, and she panicked. “Sam, I don’t think I’m ready for this,” she whispered, wide-eyed. Now that she was there she was getting cold feet.
“Relax, Jenna. It’s okay if you’re not ready today, but honestly, hun, how long has it been?” Sam asked.
Jenna was clueless. “How long has what been?”
“
My guess, in fact I know, it’s been over a year now.”
She looked Jenna straight in the eye and nodded because it was true.
“
But I’m just not sure that I’m ready to take the leap, Sam.” Sighing in defeat, Jenna felt bad for Sam. She was obviously interested in hooking her up. The problem was sex and men were two subjects she wanted, but she just wasn’t sure of anymore, hoping to get there someday.
“
They’re really great guys, Jenna you’ll see. They’re also our ride to the hotel. Just let me introduce you, and see how it goes.” Sam flagged Brady and another guy over.
Jenna recognized him right away as he neared. Sam had shown her several pictures from her last trip, and it was hard to forget someone you had fantasies about. He was gorgeous.
Given no other choice Jenna sighed and tried not to fidget nervously.
“
Hi,” Sam laughed giving both men a hug. “I missed you guys. It’s so great to be back again.” Sam lingered, putting her arm around the lighter haired one, and then turned to face Jenna again.
“
Jenna this here is my cousin Brady Connelly, and his delicious friend Caleb O’Donnell. Caleb, Brady, this is my lovely best friend, Jenna.”
“
Hi,” Jenna waved, and turned red with being put on the spot. Two gorgeous men were looking at her, and she’d been out of the game so long that she wasn’t sure what to do next. Caleb waved and engaged in a conversation with Sam, while Brady stared.
She was hypnotized.
He extended his hand, “Lovely, Jenna, it’s a pleasure to meet ye.”
Jenna gulped nervously, and tried to smile. “Brady.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Wow.” Jenna sighed, “This is amazing.”
They had settled in at the Westbury, perfectly located in the city’s shopping district. After spending most of the first day shopping, they dined in at Wilde, the restaurant located inside the five-star hotel.
The next day Sam took Jenna to visit the National Photographic Archive where Jenna admired Sam in her element. Sam gave her the tour of hundreds of thousands of beautiful photographs. They strolled around Merrion Square to browse the sculptures and sat near some beautiful flowers while they had lunch. Finally, they made it back to get some much needed R&R before heading out that night.
“Well, how do I look?” Jenna bounced through Sam’s room, actually excited to be going out. “I haven’t had a girl’s night out in God only knows how long.”
Sam laughed, giving her a once over, “You look great. Sexy but comfortable, I like it. The jeans are your comfort, but the slim fitting shirt that goes off the shoulder like that, is the sexy.”
Jenna laughed. “Thanks, but, um, where are we going?” Jenna left it up to Sam because she’d been to Ireland before, but Sam shrugged.
“
Haven’t figured it out yet, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
* * * *
Whelan’s was just getting busy by the time they’d arrived. “I think we need a few drinks,” Sam announced, raising her voice to be heard above noise of the band.
Jenna held onto her hand as they made their way to the bar to order. They lucked out finding a table to sit at and enjoyed their surroundings and each other’s company.
“I’m not sure I’d be able to drink this stuff too often, but it’s not bad.” Jenna said after finishing off her Guinness. “Want another one?”
Just as Sam nodded more arrived, brought to them by one of the people working the bar.
“Wow, talk about service.” she teased.
“
They’re from a couple of admirers.” The older woman gestured towards the bar.
Sam laughed, in on the joke.
“
First the airport and now here? What are the odds?” Being sarcastic, Jenna smiled. “Did you know they were here the whole time? Oh wait, of course you did because you invited them didn’t you?”
Sam nodded. “You’re not mad are you? Brady’s a great guy and I’d like to spend more time getting to know Caleb better. Are you up to this? It’ll be kind of rude if we just leave, don’t you think? But we will if that’s what you need.”
Jenna shook her head and took a deep breath. “I’m fine, really. I mean it’s a free drink from two gorgeous guys, who could be upset with that?”
As a polite gesture, Jenna turned towards the bar, held up her drink and smiled at them before and took a sip. She rationalized her behavior by convincing herself that she was doing this for Sam, since she still felt like she had cold feet.
“Wow, Jenna, I’m impressed.” Sam gestured toward the two men approaching.
It made Jenna laugh.
She felt comfortable all of a sudden. Maybe it was the surroundings without the constant reminders of home anywhere near her or, then again, maybe it was just the drinks. Either way, she’d felt better about herself in that moment more than she had in a long time, and it felt really good for a change.
“Hi, there,” Sam purred, making room for Caleb beside her, leaving Brady the spot next to Jenna.
Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?
Jenna moved over as Brady’s thigh brushed against hers, sitting close, and tried to hide the blush that heated her face.
Good Lord, these men are beautiful.
Brady Connelly knew how to make a woman’s toes curl with just a look. Tall with thick black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a smile that could make your heart skip a beat, he oozed sex appeal. The complete opposite of Tyler, with his blond hair and brown eyes, but the attraction was there none the less. There was no denying it, no matter how hard she tried.
It didn’t take Caleb long to whisk Sam away with an excuse of getting refills at the bar.
“You guys are very good at what you do,” Jenna teased. She was nervous and had to take some of the pressure away.
“
What are we doin’?” he asked with mock innocence, and she could see that he’d tried to hold back a smile.
“
Well,” she said smiling, “if you wanted some alone time, you could’ve just asked.” Shrugging her shoulders, she looked toward Caleb and Sam to see them sitting at the bar.
He laughed, making her smile widen. “Next time, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“
Hmm,” she mumbled, “And you’re confident too. I like that—next time?”
“
Well, I was hopin’ there would be a next time, if that’s okay with ye?” he said, making her speechless as he reached across the table for her hand.
His touch felt as if a spark ignited within her. She could feel butterflies in her stomach with the excitement. Her response was a shock, and it freaked her out a little.
Sam interrupted. “Hey, Jenna, um, it’s getting late. Are you ready?”
Jenna nodded. “It was nice to see you again, Brady.” she said stroking her thumb across his fingers before pulling away from his hold on her hand.
“
Until next time?” he asked.
When he did, unintentionally her smile grew wider. “Wow,” she said out loud when she meant to only think it, and he laughed. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she became distracted when Caleb wrapped his arms around Sam as they walked out. It was so like Sam to be comfortable so quickly, they’d obviously hit it off.
“
It’s gettin’ late. How ‘bout a ride back to yer hotel?”
“
A ride?” she repeated, making him laugh again.
“
Aye, I just wanna make sure ye ladies get back safely.”
The ride back was pretty quiet. The only time anyone spoke in the beginning was to let Brady know where they were staying. Jenna could feel his eyes on her once in awhile, taking them off the road for a split second and then back again.
Feeling awkward with Sam’s make out session in the back seat, she began to laugh and fidget nervously. Hey, she’d been out of the game for so long being married to Tyler and then struggling with the changes it brought to her life, that she just wasn’t used to this kind of attention from a man. It took some time for a girl to get use to again.