Page 56 of The Promised Prince
“What does the winner get?”
“If I win, I get to dance with you once at the tournament festival.” Dancing was a normal thing. It would look bad if Trev didn’t dance with his fiancée’s stepsister.
She folded her arms across her chest. “You said I was a terrible dancer.”
“Well, someone has to teach you.”
“And if I win?” she asked, pursing her lips together.
“What do you want?”
Renna thought for a moment before deciding. “More chocolate.”
Trev laughed. “I should have known it would have something to do with food. Deal.”
They shook on it.
Trev turned and asked the young man behind the desk to move his target ten yards farther than Renna’s. Off-duty soldiers began to notice something exciting was happening, and it didn’t take long for word to spread through the training field that Prince Ezra had challenged Renna to a target shooting match. A crowd of men started to gather around to watch.
The bet was unfair, even if Trev did shoot with his left arm. He was one of the best gunmen in Albion, next to Drake. But that was the whole point. He counted on his skills to get him that dance with her. Never in his life had he been so grateful for all of the long days he had put in practicing.
She leaned in so only he could hear. “I feel nervous with all of these guys watching.”
He whispered back with a smile, “Youshouldfeel nervous. They’re not here to watch me.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll give them a show.” Renna stepped up to fire. The bullet landed low on the target but was well within the second ring. She grinned at the crowd of men applauding behind her.
Trev raised his left arm, releasing his first bullet. Shooting with his opposite arm felt awkward, but he managed to hit the target closer than Renna had. She shot another that landed even closer than her first. The soldiers cheered even louder for her. She looked at him with raised eyebrows, daring him to match her shot. He couldn’t back down from those green eyes. His bullet landed right next to hers.
“It looks like we’re even. Whoever has the best shot on this next one is the winner,” he said. “Don’t mess up.”
She pulled the trigger and was disappointed to see the mark in the upper right corner of the paper, not touching the actual target
It would be easy to finish her off now, and Trev wasn’t going to hold back. He raised his arm, but just as he released the bullet, Renna’s soft fingers tickled the back of his neck behind his ear, burning his skin with her simple touch. The bullet sailed through the air high, missing the paper target completely.
The men laughed and cheered as Renna raised her arms in victory.
Trev couldn’t believe he had lost. He never lost unless it was on purpose.
“Poor Prince Ezra. How embarrassing to lose to a woman, and in front of so many of your comrades!” Renna said, her voice full of sarcasm.
Trev lowered to one knee in front of her. “Renna Degray, I am your humble servant of chocolate.”
She threw her head back as a burst of contagious laughter bubbled out of her throat. Both her arms raised above her head in victory. He smiled, watching her until his stomach squeezed with frustration. She was not his, and she never could be.
As they strode back to the palace, Renna gloated about every detail of her win.
“Even though the gun was light, I worry my arm will be sore tomorrow from shooting so much,” she said.
“I could always rub it for you,” Trev joked, stepping toward her, impeding her way.
Renna’s eyes dropped, and she stepped around, continuing forward. “Instead of chocolate, I should’ve said that you couldn’t flirt with me anymore.”
He shook his head. “I wasn’t flirting with you.”
She dipped her chin, giving him a pointed look.
Was he flirting with her? He hadn’t meant to, but whenever he was around Renna, the line between friends andmore than friendsblurred.
