CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Roarke felt his chest tighten at her words. For years he’d dreamed of another chance to speak openly with Mara like this, but he never imagined it would happen. For one, he thought she was long dead and buried. Then, once he learned the truth, he felt he wouldn’t be able to get past his fury to get to this point. Thank God he’d been able to let go of so much aggression, or he wouldn’t be here with her now.
They truly had come full circle.
Roarke suddenly turned to her. “Do you care to make a wager?”
When she merely lifted a brow in challenge, he laughed.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He nodded toward the green valley before them. “The first one to reach your father’s old cabin wins.”
She eyed him warily, although her lips twitched with obvious excitement. “And what would be the stakes?”
He reined in beside her. Resting his arms across his saddle’s horn, he shrugged. “Ladies’ choice.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re lettingmechoose?”
“Why not?” He grinned. “It might be fun. Unless you’re afraid of losing…”
She held up a finger. “Ah, but if I’m selecting the prizes, then I won’t pick anything I’m not willing to gamble on.”
“Fair enough.”
She tapped a finger on those delectable lips that Roarke yearned to taste even now, but he waited patiently for her to speak.
“I’ve got it!” With a snap of her fingers, he smiled when her green eyes glowed with mischief. “If Iwin, you have to take a dip in the ocean.”
He blinked. “Inthisweather?”
Her lips twitched. “Well, if you’re afraid of losing…”
The wench. She dared to use his words against him.“All right, agreed. But what about you? Same rules apply?”
She thought a moment before nodding and holding out her hand. “Yes. If you beat me to my father’s cabin, I will take the plunge myself.” After they shook on it, she added saucily, “Just don’t count on it.”
With a snort, Roarke turned his horse back around. “Ready?” he asked.
At Mara’s eager nod, he began the countdown. “On three. One….two…”
The moment he said the final number, they both took off at a full out gallop.
Roarke was careful to watch her for any signs of trouble, for it had likely been some time before she’d rode, but she bent over her mare with confident experience. Her bonnet quickly flew back behind her to bounce against her back, while her blonde hair unfurled like a flag to wave in the wind.
Her shout of glee came back and slammed into his groin—until he realized that it meant she was gaining significant ground ahead of him.
With a sly grin, he decided it was time to retaliate.
Mara could feel her blood pounding through her veins to match that of the horse’s hooves as they flew across the earth. She had never felt so free.
But then, Roarke passed her.
With a gasp, she shouted after him, “You’re cheating!”
His husky reply was drowned out as he steadily widened the gap between them.
A brief time later, Mara finally brought her horse to a halt.
Roarke was leaning nonchalantly against a tree. He had one booted foot propped up behind him, and he gave her a rather smug look.
