“I’ll wageryoudo no such thing.”
Wyndham peered at him over the pages of his book.Sage could practically feel how hard he was working to come up with a clever response.Unfortunately, being crass with his words was one area where Wyndham had always fallen short.
“You’re right,” he said finally, returning to his novel.“This is my house.I have no reason to excuse myself, if I do not wish to do so.”
Before Sage could give any thought to that particular fancy, Conrad returned and the room lightened instantly, as did the magic in his chest.Somewhere along the way, Roger had found a small basket to help carry all of the leaves and herbs they’d collected in the garden.
“What do you not wish to do?”Roger set their spoils on his desk with little care, some dirt falling through the loose weave of the basket.
Conrad brushed at the mess with his hand as he came to stand beside Sage again.He offered a smile and Sage returned it, secretly pleased that it felt so natural for him to return to his side.
“I was only telling Sage that I do not wish to lose another round of charades this evening,” Wyndham said casually as he turned a page.“So you’ll have to excuse me if I reduce myself to our current champions’ level of propriety in order to give the correct answer.”
“Oh dear,” Roger sighed.
“Not to worry.”Conrad wrapped his arm around Sage’s waist and pulled him close.Sage’s heart tumbled.“Wyndham has no chance at winning when the two of us are working together.”
Behind his book, Wyndham was smiling.
