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Grey eyes and a fierce scowl flashed in her mind. Bulging arms. Meaty chest. Thick thighs. She gnawed on her cheek. There might be a few similarities in build between Leo and the Duke. Apparently, Theo had a type. She had a taste for controlling big, strong men. Sue her if you must.

“Yes, a rare gem,” Sarah said as she dealt the last trick of the game. “Is there a way to just make more of you?”

Leo grinned, his double dimples appearing. He was a very handsome man. Kind. Jovial. He might be similar in build to the Duke, but he was about as opposite in temperament as possible. “My ma and da tried, but when they ended up with Nathan, they figured it was safer for the world if they stopped trying. The risk was too great.”

Bash snorted. “Nathan’s not so bad.”

Leo arched his brow. “Whose idea was it to ride home from the tavern, toss-pot drunk, backward?”

“That was actually quite impressive,” Bash argued. “Riding a horse backward is a feat in itself, add being drunk as an emperor, and it’s an example of remarkable talent.”

“I believe the word you’re looking for is daftness, not talent,” Theo said.

Leo snorted. “Perhaps remarkable talent on the poor horse’s part.”

Theo pointed at Leo. “Excellent point.”

Bash threw down his last card, which was the Jack of Hearts. Theo grinned. Because the King of Hearts hadn’t been played yet. Which meant⁠—

Leo threw down the King of Hearts. He and Theo took the majority of tricks and won this hand. “Well, that was so easy it wasn’t even fun.”

“Arse,” Bash muttered. “It’s impossible to win against you two.”

“I just go into it knowing my fate,” Sarah said after polishing off the last of her drink. “Softens the loss that way.”

It was true. Both Theo and Leo were competitive and highly strategic. They randomly drew up teams each time they held a night of cards, and it was very rare that they lost when teamed up.

Theo stood, the wood of her chair scraping across the floor. She collected everyone’s glasses and made her way to the sink to wash up. Leo joined her shortly, towel at the ready.

“The night is still young,” he said quietly, waiting as she scrubbed her tankard clean.

“It is.” She handed him the glass but didn’t let go when he took it. He lifted his gaze to meet hers, his brows pinching. “I’m not available for that, Leo.”

He blinked a few times. Then finally seemed to gain his bearings. “Oh. My apologies.”

She bumped him playfully with her hip and moved on to wash the next glass. “You don’t need to apologize. We’ve always been very open with each other. I saw your look while we were playing whist. I know that look. But right now, I’m…otherwise occupied.”

He frowned down at the tankard, which he continued to dry even though it was already perfectly acceptable.

“Are you well?”

He let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Yes. Yes, of course. No obligations, correct? That is how we’ve always conducted ourselves.”

They might have held no obligation toward each other, but this was the first time either of them had made a request that the other denied.

“It is odd.” She shot him a smile. “I’ve never had to deny your advances,” she said cheekily.

He huffed out a breath. “Hardly advances. We are about as business-like about this as one can get.”

They worked in silence for the rest of the glasses before Leo finally spoke again. “So… Are you otherwise occupied…for good? And I ask that as a friend. I know it’s not something you’ve wanted thus far, but if you did manage to find a man who made you want otherwise, I’d be very happy for you.”

She turned and rested against the countertop. “You're sweet, Leo. But no. This is temporary. As they all are. It will take divine intervention to make me ever change my mind about marriage.”

His lips twitched. “There is no man who could ever own you, Theodora Dawson, despite what the law might try to decree.”

“Be that as it may, my fate is much safer in my own hands.”

“Never trust a man,” he murmured, blue eyes dancing.