Page 59 of The Heir's Bargain

"I mean, how could it not be?" Moris asked, still slurring his words despite drinking water instead of ale for the past half hour. "We're an absolute joy to be around."

Sylvia snorted. "What he said."

"I'll be right back," Dani said as I led her away from the table.

"Or not!" Sylvia said to our backs.

I chuckled, and Dani's nails bit into my arm even harder.

With Dani tucked against me, we weaved through the last of the drunken crowd. When we reached the door, I guided her in front of me and reached over her, pushing the door open. The crisp night air swept through Dani's hair, sending a spiral of cinnamon my way as the air kissed my cheek. Dani walked outside.

However, once the doors closed behind us, she spun toward me, glaring, the moon's rays slicing across her hazel eyes. She stumbled and pointed a finger at me. "Cut the crap, Fynn."

"Huh?"

Dani lifted her other hand—the hand I was still holding tightly within mine. "It's just you and me now."

She tried to snatch it back, but I leaned toward her instead.

Her back hit the wall, her boots slipping slightly on the pavement as she caught herself. I pressed a hand on the spot above her head, the red brick coarse against my palm.

Her brown curls flatted against the brick. "Fynn, what are you doing?"

"They're still watching," I mumbled, shifting to shield her from their view.

With the alcohol having worn off slightly, I could hear Sylvia and Moris' thoughts buzzing at the back of my mind. Dani might have done a decent job pretending inside the tavern, but the second we were outside, she had let go of the act. If our courtship were to work, we not only needed to convince our parents and friends that we were together, but we had to convince the entire kingdom as well. If one person thought we were faking—if one person didn't believe this was real—the charade was over.

And I was beginning to enjoy it.

So, even though I knew invading her space would annoy her, I stepped closer. The temptation to push her buttons was too enticing to ignore.

Dani's brows knitted together in the center of her forehead, deep creases marking her otherwise smooth, russet brown skin. Her hazel eyes bounced across my face, confusion sparkling within the gold flecks that swam among the forest of green. "But they can't?—"

"The window," I interrupted with a small tip of my head.

She peered beyond my shoulder, and her shoulders sagged, the only sign that she saw what I already knew.

I leaned down, my lips almost brushing her ear. To everyone else, it would seem like I was whispering sweet nothings into her ear. But this was not some woman I was courting. This was Dani, and I needed to make up for her inability to read the room.

"So, Ferrios, whatever you're about to yell at me about," I whispered, "you're going to need to put on your best smitten smile while you do it."

I pulled away as Dani cocked her head to the side, hip popped out. She tried to grimace, to push forth the annoyance brewing beneath her skin, but she failed to restrain the small, amused grin.

"My best smitten smile, huh?"

Chuckling, I shook my head. "Something Sylvia said."

"Ah, that explains it. Sylvia is always talking nonsense." The smile faded from Dani's lips too quickly, though. "Fynn, why'd you need me to walk you out?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"About?"

She blinked at me, her brows still drawn together. I suddenly had the urge to smooth the wrinkles from her face, but I didn't.

I shrugged. "Nothing."

Dani blinked. "You wanted to talk to me about. . .nothing?"

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