There was something exhilarating about competing with Maggie. They no longer thought about their previous arguments, nor their awkward conversations about a marriage of convenience. Instead, they were smiling at one another as Maggie inched toward the corner of the room and he closed in from the other direction.
“Well, maybe I have seen a clue. Let us call it that and nothing else. There it is.” She pointed over his head.
Falling for her trick, he turned and looked at what was behind him, then he heard her hurried feet. He barely darted around in time, seeing her running toward the parasol stand in the corner of the room.
Giving into temptation, he ran after her, sprinting and catching up with her just in time. He caught her arm and swept her away. She giggled loudly, just as he caught her against the wall, blocking her in.
“Now that is cheating at the game,” she said between laughter.
“Or is it just being clever at playing the game?”
“No, it is definitely cheating!” She thrust her hands into his chest and tried to push him away, but he was too strong. He kept his palms flat against the wall on either side of her, suddenly aware just how close they were. Her hands slid down his chest as the laughter faded between them.
Just as quickly as he had realized how close they were, plainly, she had realized the same thing. Her eyes widened a little, her lips parted, and the pleasant blush on her cheek that had been there before now transformed itself into something radiant and red.
What is she thinking?
“Theo?” she whispered. “This is still cheating,” she said teasingly, the smile growing on her cheeks.
“Only for a short time.” He couldn’t pull himself away. He stepped a little closer toward her.
The scent of honeysuckle and freesia was intoxicating. It made him lean toward her, desperate to have more of that scent.
His lips hovered over hers. They were so near to a kiss, his mind was running wild. Would she mind if he kissed her, or would she thrust him away in anger?
Her hands slid a little further down his chest. He had to hold himself back in order not to growl out in a thrill at what she was doing. Then she released him, her hands falling against the wall behind her.
“It’s in the parasol stand, isn’t it?” he whispered to her, moving to talk near her ear.
“N-no,” she stammered.
“Something wrong?” he teased. “You seem to be struggling to keep your voice level.”
“No, I’m completely fine.” She lifted her chin up sharply to meet his gaze, those cheeks now so burning red he had to stop himself from laying the back of his hand across her cheek. “I’m only thinking of the treasure. That is all.”
“That’s all you’re thinking about?” he asked with a knowing smile, feeling the way she was turned up toward him.
She would kiss me back, if I gave in, wouldn’t she?
It was a pleasant distraction, a thrill. Maybe this could be their future? Stolen moments of excitement pressed against walls and in the corner of this house, then abruptly, his stomach dropped.
This house didn’t know that kind of happiness. It was not what happened within these walls. This place was home to sadness and darkness usually, nothing more.
“Theo?” she whispered softly, lifting her chin up at him.
She was so close now, it would be easy to close the distance between them.
“Hmm?” he murmured, bending his head down toward her.
I’m giving in, aren’t I?
Then an image flashed into his mind. It was of his mother shouting at him that night on the heathland when they had met.
“Demon!”
It kicked him deep in the gut.
He could almost picture himself with devil horns and a tail, bending toward Maggie and forcing her to kiss him.
