Page 33 of The Past

I wanted his hands on me again, wanted that feeling I’d had in the barn when he kissed me—the reckless, breathless, limitless feeling of being free.

I grabbed my warmest coat, shrugging it over my thick knit sweater, then pulled on a scarf and gloves.My boots were by the door, and I picked them up, needing the stealth of my socks to get down the stairs.

I took just a moment to imagine what would happen if my father caught me sneaking out and it should have been terrifying enough to keep me indoors, but I was more afraid of missing out on something with Tommy than my da’s wrath.

Holding my breath, I cracked open my bedroom door and stepped into the darkened hallway.I had made it barely two steps when—

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph!”I gasped, nearly swallowing my own tongue.

Siobhan stood right in front of me, eyes wide with shock, her nightgown pooling around her ankles.I snatched her by the arm, dragging her back into my room and shutting the door quietly behind us.

She took me in… coat, scarf, boots in hand.“Where in feck’s name are ye goin’ at this hour?”

I pressed a finger to my lips.“Shhh.”

She looked me up and down, glaring at me with suspicion, then suddenly lit up like the feckin’ sunrise.“Oh my God,” she breathed, her voice rising with excitement.“Yer meetin’ Brian, aren’t ye?”

I clapped a hand over her mouth, muffling the delighted squeal that threatened to break the entire house’s slumber.“For the love of all things holy, be quiet.And no, I’m not meeting Brian.Now will ye calm down?”

She nodded rapidly beneath my palm, bouncing on her toes like an overexcited filly.

I sighed.“Ye have to keep this a secret.”

She pulled back, pressing a hand over her heart as if offended.“Fiona.I am the very soul of discretion.”

I rolled my eyes, but I decided to tell her the full truth.She might have been a couple years younger than me, but she would always have my back.“I’m meeting Tommy.”

Siobhan gasped and her mouth sagged open in shock before a twinkle started deep in her irises.Her lips curved into a wicked grin.“Yer not?”

“I am,” I said breathlessly, feeling the excitement creep back in.“Ye cannot tell anyone.”

“Soul of discretion,” she repeated earnestly and then motioned toward the door.“What are ye waitin’ for, then?Go.”

I exhaled deeply, bracing myself before slipping out the door once more.On impulse, I threw my arms around her and she squeezed me tight.“Be safe, but have fun,” she whispered.

I made it downstairs quietly and slipped out the side door before donning my boots.The night air bit at my cheeks as I walked around to the front of the house, the gravel crunching underfoot.A mist had settled over the farm, clinging to the ground like wisps of smoke that shimmered in the security lights on all the barns and outbuildings.

For a moment, I didn’t see him.Perhaps he didn’t wait, although it’s only about five minutes after midnight.My heart plummeted, but then—movement from the shadows.

Tommy emerged from the darkness, a thick wool blanket slung over one shoulder.His grin was slow and smug, giving me a once over as if he’d never doubted for a second that I’d come.

“You’re late,” he teased.

“Ye waited,” I replied primly.

He chuckled.“Was hopin’ you’d know a place to go.”

I bit my lip, glancing toward the rolling hills beyond the farm.“Aye,” I said softly.“I know just the place if yer up for a walk.”

His grin widened.“Then lead the way, darlin’.”

And I did.

I took his hand and led him into the night.

♦

The air wascrisp, the scent of damp earth and thick summer grass heavy in the air as Tommy and I made our way up the narrow path leading to the hilltop grove.He had brought an electric torch to pick his way across the field between his steading cottage and my house, and it helped shine the way to our destination.

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