Page 13 of The Duke's Hellion

“You have stars in your eyes,” he observed in a monotone voice.

And as monotone as his tone was, hers was inversely enthused. Excitement bubbled over at the possibilities for how the two of them could compete. “I do!”

“How would you be able to confirm that fact?”

“I can feel it.” And she could feel her eyes beaming.

“I’m concerned.”

“You needn’t be.” She wasn’t sure the reassuring statement held the assurance he was looking for, so she ensured to expand. “We’ll find a competition that we both agree upon. No one shall have the upper hand.” She continued despite his raised brows. “Perhaps it shall be a bet of some kind.”

“I’ll win,” he interjected.

“You can’t possibly know that.”

“I can. I don’t take bets I won’t win.” The way he was suppressing his emotions was irritating. Wasn’t he excited at the prospect of more competitions?

“That’s no fun. Where’s the risk in that? The uncertainty? The adventure? The thrill of the unknown?”

“I find that elsewhere,” he answered calmly.

“Well, we shall simply find a different activity. Horseback riding—”

“I’d beat you in that, too.”

“God, you’re insufferable. I don’t even want to ask how you can say that.”

“I choose the best horses.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“Yet I supplied. I’m a very generous man.”

Ugh. This man. There was no winning with him. Well, not on this ridiculous topic. Her stomach growled. Of course…it was the perfect time. Perhaps her body was intervening where her mind wouldn’t let go of the silly competition about finding a competition for the two of them to compete in.

“Was that—”

She didn’t let him finish. He just would be the type to address something so personal and what some might consider embarrassing. Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of even trying to humiliate her. She would speak for herself.

“This matter is to be discussed at a later time. I’m hungry now.”

“Fine.”

“I need my hand back.”

With a small startled look, he released her hand with the same speed he had let go of the bow earlier when taking his shots.

It had been a morning full of releasing. Full of winnings and releases. Yet, something within her was wound very tightly.

Chapter Five

Had he honestlyjust arm wrestled a woman? What in the world had made him think that was a good idea? There was no winning against a lady in an arm wrestle. He either won, because, well, really, he was a man and was significantly stronger than her. Or he lost and she would know it was because he let her win. Because, again, his biceps. He shouldn’t have to explain it to himself, yet he needed the reminder.

Why, of all the activities that she could have picked, had she chosen an arm wrestle? And why couldn’t he just say no? In the moment, it had felt ridiculous, but something about her was hard to resist. Not in any one particular way…just in general. There was something about her that caused him to react, and apparently that included agreeing to arm wrestles.

Maybe he was too irked from losing against her in archery. His mind was a mess. But he had done what he needed to in order to put rest to the worries about his cousin. His most important possessions were locked up safely at Chris’s estate. No one knew about that, and even if they did, no one knew what he had or where he was stashing it. So, even though having his maleficent cousin at his own house was unnerving, it wasn’t really worrisome. And it wouldn’t be until he returned home. At most, it should feel like a problem for another day. He was even hoping that by the time he returned home, his cousin would have left. Of course, that was probably too hopeful.

For all intents and purposes, he should not have such a scrambled mind. But even though Sam wanted to blame his loss and subsequent poor decision-making on external factors, it was a weak connection at best.

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