Page 14 of Illicit Heir

"But ya said you could beat me," I taunt.

"No, I didn't."

"Ya did. Ya said it was a stupid bet," I insist.

"Yea, ya did make a stupid comment," she claims.

"So, is it a stupid bet or not a stupid bet?" I ask.

"What does it matter? I'm not betting money I can't afford to lose. Maybe you have tons in the bank, but we don't. This is my mum's pub, and I'm not going to do anything to risk hurting it further," she declares.

"I'm not asking ya to hurt your pub," I claim.

She huffs. "I'm not betting money."

"I don't want your money."

She squints, peering at me closer. She cautiously asks, "If ya don't want cash, what's in it for ya?"

My lips twitch, and my cock aches so much that I take an extra few seconds to answer. I point to the stairwell and announce, "If I win, I get an hour with ya upstairs."

Shock fills her expression. "What?"

"Alone," I add.

She seethes, "I am not a prostitute. I don't know what ya thought coming in here, but none of us"—she points to her cousins—"including myself, are prostitutes."

I hold my hands in the air. "Easy, lass. Did I say any of ya were?"

More anger fills her expression.

I quickly assert, "I didn't say we had to do anything. I just said an hour with ya alone. Now, if there's something that ya want to do with me, we can talk about your deepest desires." I grin at her.

She crosses her arms over her chest, still angry. I sit back in my seat and move my hand from her thigh. I point around. "Ten grand might come in handy. Seems more than a fair exchange. An hour of your time versus ten grand of my money."

"I'm not sleeping with ya," she claims.

Sure, you're not, I say in my mind. But I reply, "Then don't lose."

She scoffs. "It has nothing to do with sleeping with me, my arse. Ya just admitted it."

I put my hands in the air. "It's a joke. Come on. Really, relax a little bit." I push her pint closer.

She stares at it.

"Have a sip. Think about it."

She doesn't.

I pick up the pint and hold it toward her lips. "Take a drink and let go of your anger."

"You're annoying."

"Aye. Now have a yummy mouthful of stout."

She gives me another fiery glare but grabs the pint out of my hand. She takes several sips, then puts it on the table.

I continue, "One hour of your time alone with ya if you lose. But if I lose, I will give ya ten grand. Ya can fix this place and put some extra money in a rainy day fund. From where I'm sitting, it's a win-win. Lasses, what do you think?" I stare at her cousins.

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