Page 49 of The Past

When we reached my cottage, Rory shifted into park but didn’t kill the engine.Instead, he turned in his seat.

“Ye know what ye’re doin’?”he asked, voice even.

I met his gaze.“Yeah.”

His jaw ticked, but after a moment, he nodded.“Just be careful with her, lad.”

“I will,” I promised.

I meant it more than I’d ever meant anything in my life.

CHAPTER 16

Fiona

Iknocked once,then twice, my knuckles barely making a sound against the wood.My breath was coming too fast, my hands trembling as I clenched them in front of me.It was late—too late—and I had no business being here.And yet, here I was, standing on Tommy’s doorstep with my bike abandoned behind me, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The door swung open and my breath caught as I took him in.Tommy stood there, barefoot, in nothing but a pair of sweatpants that hung low on his hips.His dark hair was mussed, his chest bare, all golden skin and hard muscle.

His surprise was evident when he saw me.“Fi?”

“It’s late… I know.”

His voice was hushed, rough with surprise.He stepped out onto the stoop, glancing past me toward the empty yard.“What are you doing here?Christ, it’s the middle of the night.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly unable to form words.Now that I was here, I felt foolish, reckless.I should have thought this through more.I was a good girl with a sense of propriety.It would be a scandal to be found here at Tommy’s place in the middle of the night and him half-naked.

My voice was barely above a whisper.“I had to see ye.”

His brow furrowed, concern flickering across his face.“Are you all right?Did your dad do something?”

My feet shifted nervously.“Yes.No.”Tommy reached out, put a palm to my cheek as I stammered.“I mean… yes, I’m all right.No, my da didn’t do anything.I just…” I took a breath, lifted my chin.“Can I come in?”

Tommy hesitated, then stepped aside, holding the door open for me.The cottage was dimly lit by a single lamp in the corner, the air warm and thick with the scent of him—soap, leather… man.

I turned to face him as he shut the door, and suddenly, everything inside me felt too big, too urgent.I had practiced what I wanted to say in my head the entire ride over, but now, standing in front of him, all the words jumbled together.

Tommy watched me carefully, arms crossed, which caused his muscles to bulge and become quite distracting.“Fi,” he said slowly, and I blinked to focus on his face.“What’s this about?”

I licked my lips and took a shaky step toward him.“I…” My hands fisted at my sides, the nervous energy vibrating through me.“I need to be with ye.”

His eyes darkened, but he didn’t move.“You are with me.”

I shook my head.“No.I mean… I want tobewith ye.”I let the words settle between us, let the meaning sink in.

Tommy sucked in a slow breath.His body tensed, his hands going to the back of his neck where he gripped tight with a bowed head.“Fiona,” he murmured, refusing to look at me.“You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

He studied my face as his arms slowly lowered.I noticed that his hands were closed into fists, as if he was trying to restrain himself, and God help me… that turned me on in a way I didn’t understand.

“You’re talking about something that can’t be undone.”

“I know.”

His jaw tightened.“Fi…”

“My heart is sure,” I pressed, my voice trembling.“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”

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