“They are not my problem,” Drake shot back. But he didn’t disappoint. In a blur of movement, a fist flew out with lightning speed.
Dare dodged but not fast enough. Just half a second too slow. Pain exploded at the side of his head. Another half second later, before he could recover, his arse hit the floor. A curse flew off his tongue at the same time as the impact.
A deafening roar of cheers filled the warehouse.
Damn it.That hurt like the devil.
More curses sprang into his mind. One damn second. One damn second was all it took the destroy the fantasy that he and Drake were always equally matched.
Drake smirked. “Are you getting up or are we done with our little sparring match?”
Only to be knocked down again? No, thank you. Once was humiliating enough. “You could have at least saved me some damn face.”
“Not in my nature, cousin. Do you need help up or do you plan to marry the floor?”
Dare leaped to his feet and dusted off his hands.
Hell and damnation. He must look like a fool to Leonora. A flush of heat rushed to his cheeks, the blaze bleeding into his neckline. He’d never felt this embarrassed in front of a woman a woman he liked.
Because you’ve never liked a...The thought trailed off into a devastating, deep chasm that formed in his mind. Dear God. Did he like Lady Leonora Heart?
That could not be.
Oh, he fancied flirting with the little temptress. Laughing with her. Being in her company. But that...
That didn’t . . .
An even fouler curse rolled off his tongue. He liked Lady Leonora Heart. But what exactly did that mean? Like. Such an innocuous little word, one easy tossed about by fools and fops. But for him? It was a dangerous thing to feel.
He wanted to look over at her, but he also didn’t dare. Would she be laughing at his misfortune? Would she be shocked? Would she have even the tiniest smidgeon of pity for him?
You are a mess, Dare.
“Don’t worry,” Drake said. “I did you a favor.”
How the hell was that a favor? “What are you talking about?”
“Your little bird didn’t see your fall, and I figured it would be a good time to end the match for you.”
Dare sneered at him. Bloody arrogant ars—
“Her eyes weren’t on you,” Drake explained, interrupting the curse in his head.
Dare scowled. Her eyes weren’t on him? Then where were they? On Drake? The thought brought a deeper furrow between his brows.
“They also weren’t on me, either, if that is what you are thinking.”
“Then explain, why don’t you?” The fact that the man could see right through him annoyed the hell out of Dare.
His cousin shrugged and nodded to a spot beyond him. “Your little bird is leaving.”
Dare’s head finally snapped to where Leonora had been standing, only to find her gone from the spot.
Lady Leonora Heart!
He had brought her here. She was underhisprotection. Where the devil had she gone? Would she truly leave? His gaze moved in the direction his cousin had nodded, toward the doors of the warehouse, and he caught the back of her long hair flowing down his jacket just as she slipped through.
Dare snatched up an unattended shirt and took off at a run.
