Page 20 of The Duke's Hellion

“What are you smirking about?” he gritted out.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Not sure why I asked,” he mumbled, looking around the room. “I need a drink.”

“I suppose you really think you could play God in this situation, don’t you?”

Another scoff. This time followed by an explanation. “If I wanted to play God and match you with Roger, IknowI could. There is no doubt in my mind I could help you secure him as a husband.” A drink tray passed by and he grabbed a glass. Takinga sip, she watched him drain the fluid. And for some inexplicable reason, she clenched her thighs together while she studied the liquid pouring down his throat.

“But not only wouldn’t I advise you if you were the last—”

“Yes, yes. We all heard.”

He chuckled. “Well, I also wouldn’t advise you because he’s completely wrong for you.”

Wrong for her? Bah! Of all the nerve. The man really did have no clue what he was talking about. And her only response was a giggle.

“You find that funny?”

“You’re already playing God, thinking you know best.”

“Perhaps. But the man isn’t interested in you.”

“Of all the nerve—”

“Oh.” With a slightly shocked look in his eye, he stared at her. “You don’t know…” A flash of pity crossed his face and then something else took over.

“I don’t need your pity.” She tossed a few loose strands of hair behind her head. “You have your opinion and I have mine.”

“Your opinion is wrong if you think Roger is interested in you.”

Blasted man. Couldn’t he just drop the conversation? He had no right telling her how to live her life. Discouraging her. Deterring her from her destiny. But she wasn’t going to say that. She wasn’t going to encourage his solicitedness. He could keep his advice to himself. She didn’t need it. Didn’t want it. She knew her destiny. Fate had spoken to her. When Roger and she had reached for the same quiver, she knew—with absolute certainty—that he was part of her destiny. And she would keep that secret to herself. She was the only one who appreciated its depth anyway. It was a secret she could share with Nobi, but otherwise she would take it to her grave. There was no way on earth shewould share that piece of information with Sam. Not if he was the last man on—in the galaxy!

“It’s fate.” It slipped out. She couldn’t have stopped it if she had clamped her hand over her mouth. She still would have said it.

“Pardon me?”

She shrugged her shoulders carelessly. Fine. She had said it, but she didn’t need to say it again. If he heard, he heard, and if he hadn’t—

“Fate?”

Damn him.

“Yes.” Well, there was no turning back now. “It’s fate. Roger and I are meant to be together.”

Sam cleared his throat. “And what, pray tell, has led you to believe that your destinies are entwined?”

And she could have kept her silence. That would have been for the better. There was no point in explaining something so profound to someone who hardly understood the basics of life and love.

“A quiver.”

He choked. A few sputters and a cough followed. People were staring. She patted him none too gently between the shoulders, but he backed away. “I’m fine,” he glared at her.

“You didn’t seem fine.”

He took another sip while staring her dead in the eye, proving his competencies, as if to say,see?

“I need more of an explanation than a single word.” He returned to the conversation at hand about fate.

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