Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“I wish I’d had stories like that growing up,” he said, his thumb rubbing over the back of my hand.
“They’re meant to be passed down the generations.”
Tommy’s head swiveled my way. “I can see you, sitting on the edge of your children’s beds, telling them… inspiring their imaginations.”
I stared at him, my mind spinning a little. The thought of children and marriage and adulthood had repetitively been something I’d avoided ever since my father had been trying to pawn me off on Brian. But with Tommy… he was the type of man I could see spending my life with.
Except… my father would never let that happen. And besides, Tommy would be leaving to go back to Kentucky.
“You didn’t get in trouble last night coming in late, did you?” he asked, the change in subject a welcome relief.
I shook my head. “Me da was already asleep.”
“Guess I don’t need to stage a rescue, then.” His voice was light, teasing, but I didn’t smile.
“No,” I whispered, voice tight. “But this morning, he wanted to know when I’d be goin’ out with Brian again.”
Tommy stiffened beside me.
I laugh bitterly, plucking at a stray thread on my coat sleeve. “Apparently, Brian called for me last night.”
The muscles in Tommy’s jaw jumped, but he stayed silent, waiting for me to continue.
“Da said Brian suggested we go to the summer festival in Fethard this weekend,” I went on, voice hollow. “And it wasn’t really a suggestion.”
Tommy sat up straighter, his entire posture shifting, as if he was ready to march straight to my father and start swinging.
“He ordered me to call Brian and invite him to go,” I finished, wrapping my arms tighter around myself. “I didn’t. I couldn’t. But the expectation is there.”
“Don’t do it.”
His voice was sharp, uncompromising, and I turned to him with an exasperated laugh. “Oh, just like that?”
“Yes.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ye don’t understand.”
“Then make me understand,” he shot back. “Because from where I’m sitting, you have two options—you either let your dad keep controlling you or you don’t.”
I shook my head, heat rising in my chest. “It’s easy for ye to say that, but I don’t have the luxury of choices. My da won’t just let me say no.”
Tommy leaned toward me, his frustration apparent. “Then what, Fiona? You just let them push you into this until one day you wake up married to a man you can’t stand?”
I flinched.
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it, I didn’t mean—”
“No,” I snapped, cutting him off. “Ye’re right. That’s exactly what will happen.” My throat tightened, and I hated the sting of tears, the way my voice wavered. “But what choice do I have? If I refuse, my father will kick me out, Tommy.”
“Good,” he bit out. “You don’t belong in that house anyway.”
My head jerked up, anger flashing hot through my veins. “And where the hell do ye expect me to go?”
His jaw clenched, but he had no answer.
I scoffed, shaking my head. “It must be nice, being so sure of everything,” I muttered. “Ye, with yer big farm and loving parents and a safety net under ye no matter what ye do. But I don’t have that. I don’t have anywhere to go. I don’t have a way to support myself. I’m not even eighteen.”
Tommy sighed, his expression softening as he reached for me, pulling me into his arms. “I know, darlin’,” he murmured. “I know.”
I closed my eyes, breathing him in, the scent of his leather jacket and spicy soap wrapped around me like a comforting shield against the cold. I let my forehead rest against his chest, let myself feel safe, just for a moment.
His voice rumbled against me. “We’ll figure it out.”
A hollow laugh escaped my lips. “And how do ye propose we do that?”
He hesitated, then half joked, “I could arrange for Brian to have an untimely accident.”
I snorted, lifting my head to look up at him. “Ye can’t kill him, Tommy.”
His lips curved into a slow, wicked grin. “No,” he said, “but I can make him scared enough to stay the hell away from you.”
I exhaled a laugh, some of the tension breaking in my chest. “And how exactly would ye do that?”
He leaned in, his breath warm against my lips. “I’ve got my ways.”
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering as I stared up at him. “Ye’re trouble.”
His grin widened. “The very best kind.”
And then, he kissed me.
Not the slow, teasing kiss from before.
This was deeper, hungrier, laced with something neither of us wanted to name yet. His hands slid up my back, fingers threading into my hair, tilting my head so he could kiss me properly. Heat coiled low in my stomach, my entire body awakening to the feel of him.
I pressed closer, my hands gripping the front of his coat, pulling him against me. I wanted more.