Page 56 of One Hot Deal

His shirt is soaked with sweat.He glances down at himself, shrugs, then whips his shirt off and tosses it to his wife.Kate sits on a regular lawn chair rather than a chaise, but at least eight other chairs lie between us and Kate.Still, Callum sent his shirt flying past all those other chaises and chairs, where it landed on Kate's calves.

Now that's talent.

Kate hugs the shirt to her chest and blows a kiss to her husband.

Callum grins and gives the thumbs-up sign to our little group."Best watch the game, lasses.It's about to get very exciting."

"You don't mind playing for the other side?"I say."Your own brother is playing against you."

"Hugh is my best mate, and this is his wedding week.I'll trounce every MacTaggart, even Magnus, to give Hugh the win."

Callum jogs back out onto the field.

Not only does he have impressive physical prowess, but Callum also has a quality that's too rare these days—loyalty.

Avery jerks upright, straddling her chaise, her eyes alight with excitement."Look, it's Derek's turn.He's the batsman."

"We'll leave you guys to watch the game," Serena says."We're maritally obligated to root for the Scots."

The two ladies walk away.

Avery clasps her hands, tucking them under her chin.

Derek stands behind the wicket, tapping his bat on the ground.Hugh steps up to the other wicket, clearly meaning to take his position as bowler.

"Oh, no," Avery says."Who do I root for now?Derek is my brother, but Hugh is my fiancé.What jerk pitted them against each other?Whoever it was, I'll give them a piece of my mind."

"I have a solution.Let me root for Derek, so you can cheer Hugh on.Derek will forgive you."

"No, I can't do that.I'll have to cheer for both of them, no sides."

Pippa races up from behind me and bends over between our chaises.She brings out a sheet of paper, offering it to Avery."Derek asked me to give this to you."

She unfolds the paper—and smiles."Derek says I have to cheer for Hugh, and if he catches me not rooting for Lord Sticky, he'll disown me."She shakes her head, still smiling."He's joking.But I know he honestly wants me to cheer for Hugh."

"Yes, Derek is right about that.He's a very intelligent man."

We both turn our attention to the lawn.Derek stands ready to hit the ball, waiting for Hugh to bowl.The men stare at each other without expression.Aidan MacTaggart has taken up a position at Hugh's end of the pitch, prepared to race over to the other side the moment Hugh throws that ball.

Everyone on the lawn has fallen silent.All eyes converge on the pitch as we all wait forthatmoment.

I watch Derek.My fingers dig into my thighs, and I swear my heart is beating faster.

Hugh throws the ball.It flies through the air toward Derek, who swings his bat just in time.The crack of the strike echoes off the house, and Aidan bolts for the other end of the pitch.Meanwhile, the ball sails through the air, and every man on the field wants to be the one to catch it.

Nick Hunter from the British team leaps out, reaching for the ball.But Iain MacTaggart snatches it away before Nick can even touch it.

Cheers erupt.Even the wives of the Brits whoop and clap for the Scots team.

The game goes on, and Derek hits another ball that one of his teammates catches.Every man, woman, and child on the lawn cheers, no matter which side caught the ball.This match is strictly for fun, after all.

Once the match ends, Errol Murdoch raises his arms high and shouts, "We have all agreed, the Scots won!You know what that means."He grins."It's taps off, laddies!"

Both teams whip their shirts off and fling them away.

Then they sprint over to the spectators to find their respective loved ones.Avery leaps off her chaise and throws herself at Hugh.He lashes his arms around her, lifting his fiancée off the ground as they kiss passionately.

I stand up and wait for Derek to rush over to me, though I doubt he will show as much passion as Hugh and Avery did.

---