Page 138 of Highland Spy

Her heart squeezed at the idea of one of the girls coming for her. She cared for them all so much more than she had realized she’d allowed herself to.

“And I get to kiss ye goodbye.” He dipped his head to the side as if he didn’t care one way or the other. Obviously he did, if he had made it part of the bet.

It was too easy.

“What else?” she asked.

Connor shook his head with a smile tucked poorly behind an indifferent facade.

She raised her eyebrow, and he grinned. “Ye canna cheat.”

• • •

Connor knew Ariana wouldn’t like his stipulation.

She wrinkled her nose. “You know I can’t play well if I don’t cheat.” She put her hands on her hips, which only served to accentuate the narrowness of her slender waist in the fine green gown she still wore.

“Aye, if ye dinna get caught,” he added playfully.

Ariana’s mouth fell open in mock offense and he grinned before he could stop it.

He’d once cherished their banter, the comfort of their conversation. Having it back, even this one brief flash, made him understand how very much he’d missed it.

“Fine,” Ariana conceded with a wry twist of her mouth. “But what will we use for chips? I haven’t even coin to hold an entire game.” She tossed four coins onto the bed where they landed soundless on the soft surface.

He smirked. She had more than that, but she obviously did not want him to know.

Clothing.

The idea rose in his mind without hesitation. Nothing would make her decide to finally at least be honest with him about the coin she carried like using clothing instead. Not that he needed to see her coin, but damn it, he just wanted some kind of truth from her.

Ariana regarded him with a dubious expression. “What?”

He shook his head, refusing to answer.

“Then why are you staring at me like that?” She gave his chest an accusatory poke.

Was he making a face?

“Like what?” he asked.

“Like a boy with a frog in his hands.”

He let his gaze slide to the other side of the room where her two small packs lay ready for her departure.

“Clothing.” His voice had a slightly choked sound to it. He cleared his throat and tried again. “We could use our clothing as chips.”

She raised one highly arched brow sardonically. “Are you sure you want only a kiss if you win?”

He held up his hands in silent surrender. “I’ll only take what ye willingly give.”

She approached the small table on the opposite wall and withdrew a card deck from her bag. She stared at her bag for a long moment before finally standing. With her back settled against the wall, she sifted through the cards with careful consideration.

“Very well, I’m in.” Her cheeks went pink. “Clothing as chips.”

So she would not trust him with even the coin she carried. It was a blow to his ego. Connor took a place at the opposite side of the table, his own back pressed against the same solid wall as hers. She dealt with nimble fingers and cast a glance up at him before she took her stack of cards from the table.

“I’ll be watching ye,” he said.