“Show me.” Kai looked around the tavern. He caught sight of a young man who kept looking Ava’s way, clearly taken by her fine looks and blonde hair. “With him. Hold his gaze. Just fer a few beats. It’s even easier than raising a sword. Trust me.”
Ava sighed, clearly frustrated with him. She sat taller and tried to hold the man’s gaze, but she looked away fast, turning her chin down. The young man turned away as well, clearly disappointed.
“Well, at least ye are nay longer blushing pink in embarrassment. Ye’re bright red now.”
“Kai!” She elbowed him, making him chuckle at her frustration.
“Ye can hold me gaze though, cannae ye? Look.” He shifted his arm from the back of the bench, brushing his fingers along the back of her neck to get her attention. She whirled her head around so fast, her braid flicked past her shoulder. She looked at him in shock, those hazel eyes wide. “See?” he whispered. “Ye are nae looking away.”
“Ye dinnae count.”
“Why nae?”
“Ye’re nae really a man, are ye?”
“I beg yer pardon?” His jaw dropped as she blushed even redder.
“Ye ken what I mean.”
“Truly, I dinnae. I can find ye many women who can testify tae ye that I truly am a man, Ava.”
“Oh, I ken ye could.”
“Or would ye prefer me tae undae these trews and prove it tae ye meself?”
“Stop playing around.” She elbowed him again, a little harder this time. He had to rub the sore spot on his chest, trying not to laugh at how much she was fidgeting. Her emotions had changed now. She was growing increasingly nervous.
“Very well, if I dinnae count, then practice on me. It may make it easier. Look me in the eye.” He leaned toward her, prompting her to jerk her chin upwards. She stared at him with something more like suspicion. “Come, Ava, softly. Ye think ye are going tae charm a man intae yer bed by glowering at him?”
“I’m trying tae charm a man up the aisle, nae intae me bed.”
“Same thing.”
“It really isnae.”
“Ava, it really is.” He hardened his voice. “Only yer task is harder. Ye want Blair Grant tae desire yer bed ferlife.”He tried to keep the anger out of his voice. After tonight, he had a feeling he would detest Blair Grant’s guts forever. “Now, look at me softly.”
She raised her chin and looked at him, though it was more impassive.
“Maybe smile at me,” he whispered, sidling along the bench closer to her. His arm was now so close to her shoulders, he was barely a hair’s breadth from her. She had inhaled sharply, the surprise wafting off her. “Lift an eyebrow, something tae show ye are interested by what ye see.”
Yet she didn’t. She just runed redder in the face.
“Like this,” he whispered, smiling at her with ease. Her stare now deepened to a thorough frown. “Ava, ye’re supposed tae be trying tae charm me. Ye look more battle-ready right now.”
“Oh, this is hopeless.” She broke her gaze and looked around the tavern. When she stared at one man in particular, Kai had to fight not to laugh.
“Ye look as if ye want tae take his head off with a sword.”
“Maybe this was a bad idea.” She looked down at her tankard and slumped into the bench, her shoulders now brushing his arm. Kai was tempted to pull her into his side, nestle her there, where he could keep her safe from harm.
“Dinnae lose yer courage,” he urged. “Ye’re the bravest woman I ken.”
“I am?” She looked up at him in surprise.
“Course ye are.” He smiled at her. “If ye can master the sword, ye can master seduction, trust me. Ye just need some confidence,and ye need tae see that any man would be gasping tae be in yer bed.”
“Is… is that really what ye think?”
