Chapter 7
"Morning," Tommy says gruffly, walking into Charlie's yard, ever present cigarette hanging from his lips.
"Good morning," Rosie greets back brightly. "Back to talking to me again?"
"Rosie, I'm sorry. I've been busy and pre-occupied." He admits, truth be told, Tommy had too been thinking of how to approach the topic of the kiss with Rosie, not finding the appropriate time or place to broach the subject.
"It's fine." She says with a shake of her head. "We could talk now, maybe?" Tommy nods at this, taking a seat on a bale of hay, watching Rosie as she finished off her examinations of the horse, something she did to all the Shelby Company horses once a week. Before she had chance to put away the brushes she had been using and join Tommy, Finn bursts through the doors to the stable.
"Tommy!" He shouts, coming to a halt in front of the pair, Rosie's hand immediately reaching out to hold the young boy, his body coming to curl up under her arm. "Billy Kimber's here!" He says breathlessly, resting his head on Rosie's stomach. The two adults share a look, Tommy storming out of the stable ahead of Rosie who hangs back, muttering a curse at the ceiling before ushering Finn out after his brother.
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Rosie stands back, watching everyone cheer and congratulate the boys on their success on gaining a legal betting license. Tommy meets her eye over their heads and nods towards the back door, Rosie gives him a smile and nods back, working her way through the crowd of men to meet him outside.
"Congratulations Mr Shelby, you're becoming a very successful man." She says with a smile, joining him leaning up against the wall of the house.
"Huh, becoming?" He chuckles in reply, passing her a lit cigarette. "Rosie, I wanted to talk to you..."
"It's fine Tommy..."
"No, it's not." He cuts her off, holding up his hand. "I shouldn't have done what I did...acted how I have been."
"Mmm." Rosie hums, throwing him a confused look.
"I shouldn't have kissed you..."
"Ok!" She cuts him off this time with a laugh, throwing her hands up in the air and pushing away from the wall.
"No. Rosie, wait."
"Nah. You've made it very clear Tommy." She states, turning to head back through the door.
"Rosie, for god sake if you'd just let me finish. For once in your life just stay still and shut up will you?" He snaps, throwing his cigarette end on the floor. She stares back at him, dumbfounded at his response, mouth hanging open. He raises his eyebrows at her earning a nod in response, indicating he should continue.
"What I was going to say was.."
"Oi! You two, get a move on, we're going to the Garrison!" John shouts out of the window next to them.
"For fuck sake." Tommy groans, turning away from Rosie and his brother.
"Yeah, ok. Go on ahead John, we'll meet you there." Rosie says softly, giving John a smile as he nods and shuts the window again. "Tommy?" He turns quickly on his heel, once again taking her by surprise and pushing his lips against hers. She responds quicker this time, moaning into the kiss which deepens as she snakes her arms around his neck.
"I shouldn't have stormed off, I shouldn't have ignored you and I shouldn't have lost my head." He says quietly, resting his forehead on hers as they pull apart.
"Tommy.." she sighs, shaking her head gently.
"No Rose, I was wrong, you had every right to be angry, but I'm going to make it up to you. Ok?"
"Ok." She copies, smiling up at him again. "How?" She asks cheekily, biting the inside of her cheek as he lets out a chuckle and drops his head to her shoulder.
"How about this?" He murmurs, lifting his head to kiss her again.
"Mmmm," she sighs into the kiss, letting out a soft giggle against his lips. "I think that will work."
"About bloody time!" Comes a call from behind them, interrupting them for a second time as the back door swings open and Polly comes into view over Rosie's shoulder. "But if you two don't hurry up your brothers are going to empty the bar." She says, pointing at Tommy who nods and presses one last kiss to Rosie's mouth as Polly turns away.
"Better get going." Rosie whispers
"Yep," he replies with a sigh, taking her hand in his. "Can't let those boys drink us under the table." Rosie chuckles and intertwines their fingers as he pulls her gently along through the shop behind him.
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"How are you Tommy?" Grace asks as she grabs the bottle of whiskey Tommy had asked for. She passes it through the hatch, resting her hand lightly on his arm. "Any more trouble with Mr Kimber?"
"None." Tommy replies, stepping back from the window. "All sorted. Thanks for this." He waves the bottle at her, before turning back to the table. Rosie had sat silently, watching the exchange with a scowl, now that everyone knew of her feelings for Tommy, including him, she didn't feel the need to hide her jealousy of other women flirting with him, or her caution about the new barmaid.
"I'm going out for a smoke." She announces, rising from the table, Polly's hand catches hers in one tight squeeze as she passes.
"You know you can smoke inside, right?" Tommy teases, leaning against the wall beside Rosie who smiles up at him around her cigarette, rolling her eyes.
"I do, thank you very much." She replies, scooting over towards him, their shoulders touching.
"What's wrong?" He asks, tucking a hand inside hers that she'd pushed into her pocket.
"Hmm, nothing." She murmurs, smiling to herself at his actions.
"Don't believe you." Tommy says, plucking her cigarette from her finger and placing it between his lips. Rosie scoffs, bumping his hip with hers as she throws him a mock glare.
"I don't trust her." She states, eyes forward, staring into the distance.
"Trust who?"
"Grace." She replies, still not looking at him, despite feeling his stare.
"Why?" He asks, gently turning her face to look at him.
"Hmm," she hums, looking him in the eyes. "bad feeling."
"Really?" Tommy questions with a frown, knowing that if Rosie had a bad feeling, something was likely to happen.
"Yes." She says with a nod
"Should probably listen to that bad feeling then." Her comments, brushing the backs of his fingers across her cheek.
"Probably." Rosie replies, turning to face him properly, her shoulder resting against the wall. "Also, I don't like that she thinks she can touch my man."
"Your man, huh?" Tommy asks with a smirk
"Yup." She says, popping the 'p'.
"Interesting." He hums, now cupping her face in his hands.
"Is it?"
"It is." Tommy says quietly, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers.
"No one," Rosie whispers, pecking a kiss to Tommy's lips between each word. "Gets to touch my man, but me." Tommy laughs into the kiss, at this new found jealousy, as Rosie's arms snake around his neck. "Just. Me."
