Page 31 of The Past

She laughed.“Ye do now.”

The whole damn pub cheered as she placed my hands where they needed to be on her waist and started calling out steps.I stumbled at first, but she was patient, guiding me, laughing when I stepped wrong, squeezing my hands when I got it right.

It was ridiculous, and I felt like an idiot, and in the end, I didn’t fucking care.

Not when she was looking at me like that.

Not when her hands were on me, her laughter in my ears, her body so damn close.

The song ended, and we were both breathless, grinning like fools.The locals clapped us on the back, offered more drinks, but Fiona just grabbed my hand, tugging me toward our table.

“Not bad, Yank,” she said, taking a sip of her beer.

I smirked.“I’ll add it to my list of new skills.”

♦

Mr.O’Shea himselfgave us a ride back to Glenhaven in the back of his Morris Marina pickup, a common truck manufactured in England that seemed to be popular in these parts.It was downright cold sitting in the open air, but I didn’t mind.Fiona naturally cuddled into me and I held her tight.

When we reached the long driveway leading to Conlan Manor, Fiona banged on the rear window and Mr.O’Shea stopped.His head popped out the side.

“We’ll walk from here,” Fiona said as we stood up.

I hopped over the edge and then she let me lift her out with my hands at her waist.She was as light as a feather to me and I was reluctant to let her go.Mr.O’Shea leveled us with a lopsided smirk and drove off with a jaunty wave after Fiona promised him another dance soon.

We watched his truck lights disappear and then Fiona turned to look at the manor house through the darkened distance.

She sighed, crossing her arms over her stomach.“Back to reality.”

I frowned, moving to stand in her line of sight to block out the imposing view of what waited inside that house for her.“Are you going to be in trouble?I thought Rory told your dad where you were.”

“Aye, he did,” she said lightly, her gaze lifting to meet mine.“But to my da, that was probably wasted time when I could be sinkin’ my claws into Brian Kavanagh.”

I stepped closer, reaching out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and her breath hitched.“You’re much too good for the likes of Brian Kavanagh.”

She shook her head with a soft laugh, more curls bouncing around her face.“That would be true.”She glanced down for a moment, then looked up at me with what looked to be sadness.“I better be going.”

“I’ll stay here and watch until you get inside.”I looked over my shoulder at her home, then back to her.“Worth it?Spending time with me?”

Her breath caught, stopping to focus on my mouth.“Aye.”

My body tightened as I waited for her to break her stare, but it stayed pinned on my lips, and I knew what she wanted.

I cupped her jaw, my thumb brushing her cheek.“Promise me we’ll do something tomorrow.”

She hesitated, glancing toward the house.“I don’t know if I can.”

I leaned in, my lips just brushing hers.“Try.”

She closed the gap, kissing me slow and deep, a promise of something more, something neither of us was ready admit, and it lit me on fire.

She pulled away, cheeks flushed, and it took everything in my power not to grab her back to me.“I’ll try,” she whispered.

I grinned.“I’ll hold you to that.”

With one last lingering look, she stepped back and spread her hands wide.“Sure ye want to get mixed up in my crazy?”

“I’m sure,” I promised her.

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