Page 32 of The Past

She did nothing more than bring her hands clasped to rest over her heart and then turned to run down the drive, disappearing into the night.I could make her form out in the shadows and watched nervously as she got to the front door.She turned, threw a wave at me and I returned it, even though I doubted she could see me where I was.

Then she was gone inside.Back to a life she could barely call her own.It was a miserable feeling, not being able to help her in any way.

I was left standing there, wondering how in the hell I was going to walk away from this girl when summer ended.

CHAPTER 11

Fiona

Ipaced mybedroom, my socked feet soundless against the wooden floor, my arms crossed tight against my chest as I checked my watch for what had to be the hundredth time: 11:59 p.m.

My pulse hammered, a mix of excitement and nerves tangling in my stomach.The house was silent, the heavy stillness of the late hour pressing against the walls, broken only by the occasional creak of old wood settling in the night air.

I had promised Tommy I’d meet him tonight.It was clandestine, scary and the most exciting thing to ever happen to me.

It happened earlier in the day when I’d wandered over to the training center, knowing full well I had no reason to be there.I told myself I was just stretching my legs, going to check on Brannagh, but I wasn’t fooling anyone.

Least of all myself because I’d wanted to see him.Couldn’t stop thinking about the handsome Yank and besides, he made me promise last night that I’d try.

Tommy was mucking out stalls when I arrived, sleeves rolled up, forearms dusted with sweat and dirt, moving with the kind of ease that said he was used to hard labor despite coming from wealth.He worked without complaint, tossing straw and old bedding into a wheelbarrow, chatting occasionally with the other stable hands.

I took the moment and watched him, wondering why someone as beautiful as he was would even be interested in a wee Irish lass like me.

Even though I hadn’t moved a muscle, I think he sensed my presence.Tommy looked up, eyes locating and locking onto me.

“Hard at work?”I asked, forcing myself to sound casual, as if I’d barely noticed him.

He leaned against the stall door, wiping his forearm across his brow, his smirk lazy and knowing.“Something like that.”

I lingered longer than I should have, pretending to be interested in the horses, making idle conversation about the weather, the farm, anything but the real reason I was there.He didn’t call me on it, but I could feel it in the way he watched me.

And then, when no one else was paying attention, he set the muck rake aside and closed the space between us.

He didn’t touch me—he didn’t have to.

He leaned in, his voice low and teasing, his breath warm against my ear.“You came.”

I gave a slight shrug.“I didn’t have anything better to do.”

Tommy laughed and glanced around.“I can’t break away today.One of the hands called out sick.But let’s do something tonight.”

“I can’t—”

“I’m going to be outside your house at midnight.Come join me.”

Midnight?My da would resort to murder if he caught me.

I shivered, heat spreading down my spine, but I lifted my chin in defiance.“I can’t.”

His mouth twitched.“I bet you will.”

And then he turned away, went right back to shoveling straw as if the moment had never happened, as if he hadn’t just sent my heart into a tailspin.

That had been hours ago.

Now it was one minute after midnight and I was still pacing, trying to talk myself out of it, but my pulse was already quickening with anticipation.

I wanted to see him.

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