AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ainslee leant towards Rosie, speaking in a faux whisper. “Weird how Tom is taking over the farm and yet is sleeping out here and living like an employee.”
Rosie’s mouth parted and then shut.
I unwrapped Ainslee’s arms from my waist. “I chose to be in the shearers’ quarters. It’s fine, Ainslee.”
She shrugged. “Ready for bed?” She pressed a hand to my chest, and I gently lifted it away.
“Why don’t you wait inside?”
The time had come to deal with Ainslee and my declaration of love. This couldn’t go on any further.
“Good night.” Rosie took the two steps into her room.
“Wait—”
“Okay, lover boy. We won’t make too much noise, I promise.” Ainslee giggled, and Rosie frowned in confusion.
I lost my calm. “Ainslee, enough. There will be no noise. At all.”
She sniffed and, with a toss of her ponytail, carried herself up the stairs to my quarters like a model.
“Rosie, there’s an electric blanket on the bed already. You’ll need it. I like to keep a low fire going in the fireplace. The brick chimney keeps the room warmer during the night. Takes the edge off waking at dawn.”
“Thanks.” Rosie glanced at my door, which was sitting left ajar.
“Sorry about—There will be no noise.” I looked down at my boots, cheeks burning. “I’ll let you go.”
When I looked up, our eyes met, and an ache burned under my sternum. From shame, awkwardness and desire all mixed into one.
“Night, Tom.”
“Night, Rosie.”
I waited until she was inside her room before entering my own to face the consequences of my life choices.
Ainslee was lying on my bed, but still fully clothed, thank God. She batted her eyelids as I shrugged out of my coat.
“Bummer about our flatmate. Guess we’ll just have to keep quiet.” She winked while reaching for my belt buckle.
I stepped away. “No.”
“Okay.” Ainslee sighed. “We can just snuggle or—”
“No, Ainslee. We need to talk.” I inhaled sharply. “You’re not staying here tonight.”
“Are we staying in the main house? That would be much nicer.”
I shook my head, sighing. “Ainslee, I’m not in love with you.”
She held herself still, her face neutral.
“I know I said—” I swallowed hard, unable to repeat those three words again. “Those words last night, before the party—”
“While we were making love.” Ainslee’s words were deliberate and clipped.
“It was never like that for me when we were together.”
Ainslee’s mouth fell open. My gut churned. This was just shitty. No one needed to be told this, ever. I’d made a terrible mistake.
