Page 49 of An English Rose for the Highlander
Rose nodded at once, recalling the word if not the game itself. “I have heard of it, but I regret to say that I have never played.”
“Och, well, we must remedy that.”
In seconds, Dominik had himself and Rose standing in front of the quoits set, explaining that she must toss the metal disc around the hob, which was the pin sticking out from the wooden structure on the ground. She was disastrous at it when she began, Dominik easily throwing his next to her before she leaned back with a sigh.
“Ye simply need to get the feel for it, lass.” Coming up to her, Dominik stood just behind her, reaching forward to take her throwing hand with his. Her cheeks flushed at the proximity, the feeling of Dominik so close to her, his breath warm on her neck. “I will help yer aim. Just trust in the feel of the disc.”
He rocked back and forth with her as Rose got ready to throw, creating a rhythm of movement that swayed her back and forth. When his fingers tipped her wrist and then released, she let go of the item and watched it soar cleanly over the central hob.
“I did it!” She turned to Dominik, beaming with a wide grin.
“Ye did, lass. Now,” he retrieved her disc, placed it in her hand, and stood next to her with his own disc and a smirk, “now let’s play for real.”
“And what shall we play for?” She teased, but Dominik was quick to come back at her.
“A wish, I think. Whoever wins gets one wish from the other, something the winner truly wants.”
She continued to smile, tickled by Dominik’s challenge. It was endearing to see him like this, that competitive side of him channeled into something as simple as a game. Nodding, Rose turned to the hobs and lined up her shot.
“Agreed.”
Unfortunately for her, it took no time at all for Dominik to utterly crush her in quoits. First one game and then six, their games lasting well into the afternoon. While she defended her skills as a first-time player, her husband would not silence his hilarious gloating and even went so far as to admit that she set herself up to lose because he was admittedly quite good.
“You are terrible!” She playfully shoved at him as they walked back to the carriage. “You could have told me that you were so skilled at the game.”
“And miss the joy of watching ye get so caught up in trying to beat me? Never.”
In truth, all Rose could do was smile, laugh, and let Dominik flaunt his victory all the way back home. Even still, she silently promised herself that should she have the opportunity to challenge him to another game of quoits, it would be after practicing diligently so that she might stand a genuine chance at winning.
“Did ye enjoy yerself then?” Dominik asked as they sat in the coach, Rose’s attention so set on him that she forgot all about Mirren across from them.
“I did, me laird. I truly did.”
24
Alightness filled Dominik that he could put into words. It had been ages since he had had such a time as today. The visit of his friends, theceilidh, had been wonderful, of course, but today was…different. It felt simple and unhurried. He hadn’t stopped to think over his many responsibilities, even though he knew he should have.
Too many worries, English officials, an abduction scandal, it all hung on his shoulders, a yoke weighing down the sturdiest of animals. There was no avoiding it, and yet, being with Rose as he had today made it all disappear.
He’d forgotten about the aching need to protect his people from rumors that should only affect him. Hell, they shouldn’t exist at all. Dominik had even forgotten about their guest who had come to tell them the dreadful news. Mirren had been such a friend to provide them with a chance to get ahead of this situation, and he was so incredibly grateful.
And still that had not stopped him from becoming so distracted by the allure of his wife that he hardly remembered bidding her good evening.
Now, Dominik stood with Rose outside her bedchambers, poised at the door. And the thought of leaving her was as painful to him as the notion of leaping from the window.
Stay close to her. Remain at her side. Do whatever it takes.
His thoughts were urgent, pleading. Dominik could see them tangled up in each other in his mind’s eyes. He wished for that more than could be reasonable, but it was as undeniable as the stars above.
“Today was lovely, Dominik. I so appreciate the chance to enjoy the countryside as we did this afternoon.”
The Laird smiled. “It was a bonny day, indeed. Especially…” He paused, leaning in toward Rose as he smirked. “…taking me win in quoits.”
Rose chuckled, throwing her hands up and shaking her head. “Will you never let me hear the end of that?”
“I may consider it, but it willnae come easy, lass.”
Cheeks flushing that delightful pink, Rose ducked her stare away, turning to reach for the handle of her door. Dominik tookher arm, stopping her before shifting her to face him once more. They could not part, not yet. Not now. Not…ever.
