Page 23 of Desire's Ransom
Chapter 7
Temair was unhappy that she’d let the knight unmask her. She’d been careless, allowing him to steal under her defenses and take her by surprise.
Abarta’s ballocks! It was the kind of mistake a beginner would make. If her feminine face hadn’t made the man hesitate when he did, she might have been the one tumbling into the stream. Or, she thought with a shudder, being run through with a sword.
Fortunately, she was able to react quickly and take advantage of his astonishment.
But now she was exposed. He’d seen her face.
That was never a good thing. It was even worse now, considering her father’s men might be hunting for a woman fitting her description.
Nonetheless, watching the pompous knight plunge beneath the waves amused her. And when he rose to the surface with his dark hair plastered to his head and his mouth agape in wonder, she couldn’t help but crow a little.
“I warned ye to throw your sword on the bank.”
She stood sideways on the log, gripping thebatain both hands, gloating down at him.
He tossed the hair from his eyes and stood up in the chest-deep water, lifting his dripping sword. “’Twill dry.” He gave it a toss. It slid onto the grass by the water’s edge.
Then he squinted up at her. A half-smile graced his mouth.
Her heart skipped. She was used to being the target of furious glares, sputters of outrage, and vile curses whenever a man discovered he’d been bested by a lass.
This man wasn’t angry. There was something else in his sparkling eyes.
Amusement.
Delight.
Perhaps even admiration.
“I suppose you think you’re rather clever,” he said.
She shrugged, but a smug smile tugged at her lips.
He slicked the wet hair back from his forehead and then shook the water from his fingers. “Where did a lass learn to fight like that?”
Itwasadmiration. She stifled a flattered smile. It had been a long time since anyone had admired her.
She tossed it off with an arch of her brow. “Ye mean with brain and not brawn?”
“Ha!” he barked. Then he clapped a humble hand to his chest and gave her a nod of respect. “’Tis a worthy warrior who knows his…or her…strengths and weaknesses.”
Gazing down into his twinkling eyes, she began to feel one of those weaknesses now. It was hard not to be charmed by the man. Not only was he pretty to look at. He had a pretty way with words.
Still, she wouldn’t be gulled by wiles. Instead, she offered him a compliment in return. “’Tis a worthy warrior who’s unafraid to admit defeat.”
He chuckled.
The sound sent a warm shiver through her.
“Of course,” he chided, “we both know you cheated.”
Her brows shot up.
“Cheated?” she scoffed. “And just how did I cheat?”
One side of his mouth curved up in a knowing smile. “You know very well that if I hadn’t been startled by your sudden…revelation…I’dbe the one standing on the log, andyou’dbe soaked to the skin.” He punctuated his words with an armload of water.
