Page 78 of Glorious Rivals
“Four uses of the worddon’t,” Rohan noted, and then he baited her.“It’s almost like the game makers enjoy telling us whatnotto do.”
His mention of the game makers was intentional, calculated to prime Savannah’s anger and drive, to remind her of every motivation she had to use and discard him.But Savannah Grayson was well-used to living a lie, to burying anger and ill-intentions so deep that, to the rest of the world, they appeared as nothing more than the lightest coat of frost.
She was not as easy to manipulate as most.
“Don’t countwould suggest that this isn’t a numerical puzzle.”Savannah’s voice remained even.“And yet, what we want isnumber three.”
In the distance below, waves broke against the standing stones.Rohan had a certain appreciation for the fact that even the mightiest, wildest ocean waveswerebroken by the massive rocks, reduced to lapping harmlessly at the shore.
It would be a shame, in some ways, to render Savannah Grayson harmless.
“Don’t lookandcan’t seewould imply that it’s not a visual puzzle, either.”Savannah turned from looking out at the water to looking at the island behind them.
“Not within.” Rohan walked to stand behind Savannah, directly behind her and close enough to the edge of the cliff that, should she so choose, Savannah could easily attempt to send him tumbling over its edge.“In other words: not internal, not inside of a barrier, not contained beneath the surface.”
Rohan took another seemingly careless step, putting himself within an arm’s length of her.Do I look vulnerable to you, Savvy?
“Without,” he continued, “is one of those handy words with multiple meanings.On the one hand:outside,external,not contained.”Rohan wondered if she could hear the subtle challenge in his voice, one that said that some people were not so easy to contain.“Butwithoutcan indicate an absence.”Of all the roles he had inhabited over the years, Rohan did have a special fondness for playing the rogue.“As in without morals, without compunction, without… restraint.”
Savannah turned toward him, and Rohan saw her register just how close to the edge he was.Do it, Savvy.She had to know him well enough by now to know that he would catch the edge.No permanent damage.
“You pretend to have so little restraint,” Savannah said, her voice as smooth as glass, “but we both know that you are nothingbutrestraint, British.You are living, breathing, walking, talking carefully laid plans.”
“Guilty as charged.”Rohan allowed his broad shoulders to rise and fall in the most careless of shrugs.“Even my schemes have schemes.”
As did hers.
Savannah wrapped a hand around his bicep, just above the elbow, and then she moved himawayfrom the cliff’s edge.
“It would be inconvenient,” Savannah said archly, “if you fell.”She dropped her hold on him.“So.”She raised her chin.“If we can’tlookorjudgeorseeorcount—what’s left?”
“Thinking.”Rohan allowed himself to do exactly that.“Making connections.Filling in the blanks.”Perhaps it’s time I fill in some of my own.“Did you learn anything about Brady’s sponsor?”
That question was not geared, of course, to finding out anything aboutBrady Daniels.It was just another little test.How much would she tell him?How far would she go?
How long did they have?
“Night.”Some people changed the subject.Savannah Grayson obliterated and replaced it.
“Dodging the question, love?”
“As it happens, I’mthinking.We were told there were hints to multiple puzzles on the yacht.We know Brady was at least one puzzle ahead of the rest of us.What if the hint from the champagne flute was forthispuzzle?”
“Night.”Rohan decided he was done testing her for now and turned the full force of his mind to the puzzle at hand.
DON’T LOOK.
DON’T JUDGE.
CAN’T SEE.
WHAT YOU WANT IS NUMBER THREE.
DON’T PUT.
DON’T COUNT.
NOT WITHIN
