Page 4 of Robin and Marian
“I accept your wager,” Robin said.
Little John surprised her by releasing a bark of laughter. “Well,thatjust happened!” Glancing over at Marian, he asked, “What about you? What do you win from Robin if he misses?”
“Two kisses?” Robin guessed wickedly.
Midge erupted into chortles. “Ew, no!” He whacked his nephew on the arm, making Robin wince.
Goaded on by Robin’s teasing, she remembered what Guy had said before and lifted a shoulder. “If Robin misses then he can never call mehisMaid Marian again.”
“Oh?” Robin made a show of acting like he was wounded. “Should I call you my lady instead?”
“No! No more nicknames. We’re not children anymore.”
“Hmm, I’ve just upped the stakes.” Robin tested the tip of his arrow. “When I win,I’lltake two kisses.”
“You can’t do that!” Marian sputtered, but at Robin’s smug look, she steadied herself and gave in with a shrug. “Fine, when I win, then I’ll give you a nickname instead. I’ll call you Robert and I’ll shorten that to Bob and make you go into construction, just like the show. Maybe then we’ll leave this whole Maid Marian thing behind us.”
Robin’s eyes turned warm on hers so that she felt like he’d already pulled her in for a kiss. “Then I’ll call you my Wendy,” he whispered.
“Ilovethat show!” Midge jumped between them, tugging on both their arms. “Marian! He’s going to kiss you all over.”
Robin gave a sharp intake of breath, looking rueful as his young uncle innocently parroted his intentions. “Midge!”
Midge shrugged. “What? You don’t miss. You’ve already lost the wager, Marian! You’ll see.”
“What did I just hear?” Scarlett had entered the room with her high-maintenance friends. Little John’s eyes immediately sought her out, and she met his open look of adoration with a bright smile. He turned away too quickly, the line of his chiseled jaw tilting in embarrassment, and not before Marian caught the exchange. He’d always had a thing for Scarlett, but her friend had no idea. Her attention was entirely on other things. “What is this about a wager?”
“I don’t kiss and tell,” Robin said, darting a smirk Marian’s way.
Marian felt ready to die of embarrassment. Holly and Rachel giggled as they sat down at the poker table next to the pensive Little John and poured themselves a drink. They didn’t seem upset at all about being thrust into the company of these men to find Marian.
Neither did McKenzie. She squeezed into the room in a short mauve dress and high heels that made her legs look impossibly long. Spotting Robin, she went straight for him, easily picking up the thread of the conversation. “Are you sure you don’t kiss and tell?” she cooed. “I’ve read some of those articles on you. You’ve got quite the reputation.”
Now it was Robin’s turn to look uncomfortable, but he made a quick recovery. “I’m a changed man. Marian’s reformed me.”
Would it be socially acceptable to run and hide? This wasn’t Marian’s usual scene, and she definitely wasn’t used to being the one who looked stupid around men. Her life was orderly. She liked to be in control of everything, even love. Trust Robin to make her break character. But Scarlett didn’t seem to judge her for it, and she raged against Robin instead. “She’s too good for you! Do you know she works at theNew England Chroniclenow? She’s a real reporter.”
“So you’re breaking a story on self-absorbed billionaires?” Guy asked sardonically behind her.
Marian ducked her head with a laugh. Trust Guy to take her side—he always had. “I’m just a copywriter. Maybe later.”
“How about in three minutes?” Robin asked. “I’ll give you an exclusive interview.”
Her cheeks went hot. This was getting out of hand.
“Don’t tease my beloved Marian!” Scarlett shouted.
“She’s notyourMarian anymore,” Robin quipped.
His sister shrieked out a reprimand and Alan hugged her for her concern. Marian watched her one defender melt into a cuddly bear as the two whispered sweet nothings to each other in baby voices. John’s expression tightened as he turned his back on them to watch Robin raise his bow.
Maybe it hadn’t been wise to get into it with Robin. Still. There was no way that he’d make that target. Scarlett’s other bridesmaids drew forward in their seats while John drummed his fingers against the poker table as a background to the ridiculous moment.
Guy moved next to Marian. “I am so sorry for my cousin’s behavior,” he apologized in his lovely British accent.
“Does he often go to such lengths to get a kiss?” Marian asked.
“For yours?” Robin answered for his cousin, “Yes.” His eyes squinted and then he let fly the arrow. The ladies clutched tighter to their drinks and the rest of the company peered closer as the arrow crushed the center of the yellow plaster flower.
