Page 75 of Billionaire Protector

The crowd tittered.

“But don’t worry! We’re the Plundering Pirates, and we have a great show for you. Who’s ready to play Truth or Dare, Renaissance style?”

The crowd clapped its approval, and the pirate kept talking, but Sarah was no longer listening.Truth or Dare + Her childhood nemesis/present colleague/future resident of Alcatraz = disaster.She shot up and grabbed Cole’s muscular bicep. “Why don’t we find something else? I hear there’s a fight to the death on the Swordplay Stage. It sounds very educational.”

Before Cole could ask how a fight to the death was educational, the pirate shouted out, “Thank you so much for volunteering, ma’am! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our contestants.”

No, no and no.This was not happening. No how, no way, was she going to play Truth or Dare with Cole. “He’s pointing at us,” she hissed. “Do something.”

“Of course,” Cole rumbled lowly. “We’d be honored,” he shouted louder to the pirate. Then he started walking toward the stage. Unfortunately, somehow her grip on him had changed to him holding her.

Yeah, she was going with him.

“What are you doing?” Sarah tried to dig in her heels, but the grassy dirt stymied her efforts. “You’re going the wrong way.”

“They picked us to be in the show,” Cole replied matter-of-factly. “What’s the matter? Are you scared to play Truth or Dare with me?”

Hell, yeah.“Hell, no.”

“Then let’s go. I want to hear all your truths.”

She didn’t have time to protest more as he led her to the stage where half a dozen authentic pirates waited, complete with gleaming swords and tattered clothing. She’d rather face a slew of pirates than Cole Carter in a single game of Truth or Dare. Only she didn’t have a choice.

“Welcome to our two victims… I mean contestants,” the pirate bellowed, clapping Cole on the back. Although the pirates were large, none were as massive as Cole. “Please introduce yourselves. You guys are a couple, right?”

“Absolutely not!” Sarah yelped.

The pirate looked taken aback for a second, then winked at Cole. “You know what it means when they protest too loudly, don’t you?”

Cole grinned.

Sarah growled.

And the audience smiled wider.

The pirate continued on happily, “Are you hoping to discover something juicy?”

Cole watched her. “Absolutely.”

Bolts of unease streaked lightning down her spine. She was being ridiculous – it was just a game. She didn’t have to say or do anything that made her uncomfortable. Yet Cole always managed to wring far more than she planned to give, and if she accidently slipped…

“Now for the rules.” The pirate juggled his sword from hand to hand. “It’s essentially the game of Truth or Dare, with a Renaissance twist. You take turns choosing truth or dare, and we’ll give an action or question for both contestants to answer. Understand?”

They nodded.

“Ladies first. Sarah, truth or dare?”

That was an easy choice. “I’ll take dare.”

“Okay, we’ll start simple. Sarah, you have to give a proper Renaissance curtsey and Cole, you have to give a bow.”

Piece of cake.Maybe this game wasn’t as difficult as she’d feared. Sarah relaxed as she gave a rather decent curtsey. Cole performed an elegant bow, and at least a dozen women in the audience sighed. Which was annoying. And annoying that it was annoying. And annoying that she recognized that it was annoying that it was annoying.

The crowd applauded. “Great job,” the pirate said. “Now it’s your turn, Cole. Truth or dare?”

Cole looked straight at her. “Truth.”

Her breath hitched.Remain calm.As long as she answered carefully, she would not give anything away.

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