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“Hmm.” I watched as she took her final throw of the game.

The dart sailed through the air with precision that would make professional players jealous, landing exactly where she aimed—dead center in the bullseye. The small crowd that had gathered around us erupted in applause.

“One seventy-nine,” garbled an old farmer, who was on his dozenth beer. It was mid-afternoon, and the responsible thing to do was make sure he didn’t drive home like so many Wisconsinites tended to do. “Nearly perfect game.”

Isabella turned to me with a smile that was both innocent and dangerous. “Your turn.”

I stepped up to the line, feeling the weight of the darts in my hand. I had a decision to make. Rolling the dart in my fingers, I took one look at the happy, carefree smile on Isabella’s face.

The decision was easy.

My first two throws were solid, but they wouldn’t match her score. The second bumped the points higher, making it seem like I might catch her. With a flick of my wrist, the final dart landed just outside the triple ring.

Isabella squealed with delight.

My heart fucking soared.

“You’re buying the next round,” she crowed, doing a happy dance on her way to the board to collect the darts.

Her joy was infectious.

I chewed my bottom lip to keep from smiling as I wandered to the bar. The rain was letting up, and I would have to leave soon. As much as I wanted to take Isabella back to the cabin, forget about the world for days, weeks,months,that wasn’t happening.She wanted her kingdom back. And I was the devil who could bring it to her on a silver platter.

The old farmer dogged my steps, probably hoping to cash in on the victory.

“I saw what you did there,” he whispered conspiratorially. “You let her win.”

My hand cinched around his feeble wrist. “If you breathe a word of your…theory,” I warned.

“Lips are sealed, young man,” he slurred.

I met the bartender’s eye. “Does he have anyone to take him home?”

“Oh, come on, man! I won’t tell,” the drunk protested.

“I’ve already called his daughter.” The bartender slid two Coronas toward me, caps off. “She’ll be here after work.”

I gave the man a nod. “Sit here,” I commanded the farmer. “Drink some coffee until your ride comes.”

The farmer pouted.

As I moved away, the bartender slid out from behind her counter. “Don’t mind Bob. He lost his wife just a few weeks ago. Hasn’t been the same since.”

Something inside me ached.

It was so unusual. I didn’t feel for others. I wasn’t part of the human race. Yet in this old man’s misery, I was keenly aware of a shared feeling.

I swept a look to where Isabella had reset the dart board. “Put his tab on mine.”

“That’s very kind of you,” the bartender murmured as she ambled past me to a table where a family was eating broasted chicken baskets.

Kind?

Maybe Isabella was rubbing off on me. Because a fortnight ago, I would have let the man drive off, hit a tree, and not thought twice about him.

Yes…I was changing.

Chapter 40 – Isabella