Page 80 of Trip Me Up

I picked up her bra and held it out to her. “Suppertime and after-supper chores are nonnegotiable around here.”

She cocked her head as she slid on her bra straps. “That’s all it is? You’re not…disappointed?”

“No, sweetheart. I could never be disappointed in you.”

“Promise?” Those big, pleading eyes sucked me in.

Fuck! What had that asshole boyfriend done to her? I crashed my lips onto hers and kissed her, longer than I should have, longer than we had time for. I kissed her until we were both breathless. When we pulled apart, panting, I slid a piece of hay out of her tousled hair. “Promise.”

She gave me a half-smile. “Okay, then.”

We banged into the kitchen, too late, of course. Grandpa and Mom both smirked at us.

“Lost again, Niall?” Mom stood and stepped to the oven. She pulled out two foil-wrapped plates.

“Easy to lose things up there in that hayloft, eh, Niall?” Grandpa roared out a laugh.

“What he lost up there?” Sam snickered. “I don’t think he’s ever getting it back.”

While they laughed, I turned my back to all of them and washed my hands at the sink. She was joking, but it was true. Sam had my heart now. And I’d never get it back.

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