Page 33 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“What if the winner gets a wish fulfilled by the other?” she teased. His eyebrows shot up. It was a habit of his; those brows tilted up in shock at the things she said. “Unless ye think ye will lose.”

“Nae one beats me at this. Least of all a lass who cannae hold a dagger.”

When she pretended to fumble again, he retrieved the dagger and thrust it properly into her hand, closing his over hers. There was heat to that touch, though she tried to ignore it.

“What sort of wish?” he asked, still holding her hand.

“’Tis for the winner tae decide. They can ask for anything they desire.”

“Ah, ye are provocative, Scarlett,” he whispered. Hearing him utter her real name sent a spiral of excitement through her before it shot somewhere much lower.

“Me? I cannae imagine,” she feigned innocence.

“Now, here is what ye do.” He took a dagger from the satchel one at a time and tossed it at the tree. “Fire true, and keep yer elbow lifted, ye see?” He demonstrated a few times. His technique was remarkably similar to the soldier’s that she once copied. “It’s all in the wrist, in the final flick, but ye’d be wise nae tae release too fast.” He illustrated with a second, then a third. “Ye see?”

“I think so. I’ll try.” She lifted one of the daggers but then dropped it purposely to the ground. “Oops.”

“Oops!” he snatched the weapon off the ground. “Ye wish tae take yer toe off with this thing?”

“Ye kent there was a risk if ye ask someone tae throw daggers who hasnae done it before,” she said simply and held her hand out for the return of the dagger. He cursed, shaking his head and placed it in her hand, albeit reluctantly.

“I thought ye would be the one cursing my name by now,” he remarked, walking around her.

“Why would ye think that?” she asked as she sized up her throw. She purposely assumed bad form so he would still expect ineptitude.

“Most ladies would have run a mile away by now. I am sure of it.”

“Is this how ye drive away yer unwanted lovers when ye are done with them? Ye make them do this?” she asked archly, glancing over her shoulder at him. When he didn’t answer, she turned forward, throwing the dagger poorly. The dagger didn’t even pierce the tree and fell to the ground. “It was a good first attempt, nae?” She struggled to keep a straight face, and turned her head away from him.

“I could agree, if ye wanted me tae lie.”

“Never lie tae me.” Her remark came from surprisingly deeply within her. She had a sudden image in her head of the maid fleeing his chamber. For a moment, it was easy to imagine that she was the one marrying Noah, not Eloise. She was the one who stood to be hurt by his lies.

“Then it was a poor throw indeed. Here, this is what ye do.” He came so close she could feel his breath on her neck. He placed one hand at her waist, and with the other, he raised her wrist in the air.

“Did ye have tae touch me tae show me this? Or were ye looking for the excuse?” She saw his jawline clearly at this angle as he watched her fingers clutching the dagger by the hilt. He didn’t look at her directly as a muscle twitched in his jaw.

“Maybe I shouldnae answer,” he said eventually, and they both laughed. For a short time, Scarlett enjoyed the moment. She was truly having fun.

Noah guided her wrist in a sharp flick to help her release the dagger. This time it landed on the tree, though far from the spot she aimed for. “Close enough. Now, let us have our contest.”

“Ye go first then,” she gestured.

He adopted a broad stance and raised the first dagger in his right hand. He took a minute or so to aim correctly at the apple before firing. It made a firm landing in the first apple, piercing the rosy flesh all the way to the tree trunk.

Scarlett gulped, surprised. Except for the soldier she had worked with many years ago, no one had ever come close to matching her skill.

Noah repeated the action with the second dagger, and it landed perfectly in the second apple, just like the first one.

I cannae lose this.

Scarlett grew nervous. She was afraid of what Noah might ask of her, given what the winner would receive. She moved quietly behind him as he raised the third dagger, trying not to disturb him. Knowing where his eyes had darted during their picnic made her bold.

He’s affected by me. Let’s see how much.

She reached up a hand and caressed his back with the tips of her fingers as he prepared to release the third dagger. He made a mistake with the dagger, just as his spine shuddered at her touch. She let go of her hand and watched as his blade slashed into the trunk of the tree, far from the apple.

“Well done!” she cried and clapped her hands. “Yer last shot was yer best I think.”