Love is a Battlefield: Games of Love, Book 1 (34 page)

“Is Julian here?” Kate asked Michael, who she found demonstrating his manliness for a few of the Renaissance people. The task consisted mostly of chest thumping and a liberal gesticulation of a man’s most vital bits.

He grinned in the wide way that indicated he was well aware of what had gone on the day before. “I thought maybe you’d know. You two lit out of here faster than an Olympic runner with hemorrhoids yesterday.”

Kate blushed and scurried away, opting to try Peterson instead. She found him by one of the concession stands, holding a bag of cotton candy and two little girls, who were dressed from head to toe in pink tulle. Kate had seen them in the crowd the day before, waving a pair of wands and rooting for her kilted opponents. Today they seemed to have shifted loyalties and were looking at Kate with adoration in their bright green eyes.

“Are you a princess?” the smaller one asked, the “s” sounds coming out in an adorable lisp.

Peterson nodded at Kate quickly, mouthing the words “pretty please” with the look of a well-harassed man.

“Why, yes I am. Princess Kate. Pleased to meet you.” She added a curtsy for good effect.

“No, you’re not!” the older one shouted through a gap in her front teeth. “A real princess doesn’t curtsy. We’re supposed to do it to you!”

Kate leaned in and whispered, “Well, don’t tell anyone, but I’m still in training. I forget the rules sometimes.”

It was explanation enough for the girls. They nodded solemnly and promised not to disclose her ineptitude to her people.

“It’s okay. Cinderella didn’t know how to be a princess right away, either. You have to practice,” the older one said.

“Maybe your Prince Charming will help you,” added the other.

Kate snapped back to attention. “Speaking of Prince Charming…have you seen him?”

“You mean Kilroy? Last I saw, he was over talking to Jada. I think he’s looking for you too.”

Kate shook her head firmly. That was one Prince Charming she suddenly found she could do very much without. “Not Duke. Julian.”

As she spoke, it dawned on her that Duke hadn’t made an appearance the day before. She hadn’t invited him to play on her side, and it wasn’t at all surprising Julian hadn’t either. It was odd that he’d bother showing up for the second day.

“Do you know why Duke might be here?”

Peterson shrugged. “I should be asking you that.”

One of the little girls cried and mentioned something about a promise of riding a pony, so he was only able to offer an apologetic smile before turning away. “Sorry, Kate, but you know all about the royal demands. But you might want to find Kilroy, eh? He looked a little p-i-s-s-e-d o-f-f, if you ask me.”

“Daddy! That’s a bad word!” the girls cried in unison, obviously delighted in their ability to recognize hidden profanity.

Kate laughed and waved them off, although a heavy feeling took over her stomach. She really ought to find and talk to Duke. As much as she hated confrontation, she owed him an explanation. It was unfair to treat him so callously—up until a few days ago, she had, after all, contemplated him as a serious candidate for her hand. But all the comparisons she’d drawn before, when Duke had outshone Julian as the golden example of all her lifelong dreams, were gone. Vanquished by the best orgasms of her life.

No. It was more than that. Julian was warm and real and honorable in ways Duke could never be. She hugged herself as she headed off in the direction of the stables. And he wanted
her
. He’d even been willing to embrace that dreaded “c” word, compromise, to get her. Kate had read way too many romance novels in her lifetime not to know that was the sign of a real man.

“Kate, there you are,” Duke called warmly. He stood with Jada, both of them searching the grounds—presumably for her.

“Yeah, Kate,” Jada said slyly. “There you are.”

Kate swallowed a groan and tried to send an imploring look Jada’s way. The last thing she needed was for Jada to start dropping sexual innuendos into the conversation before she had a chance to explain things to Duke.

“Duke here has been looking everywhere for you. I was about to tell him to try looking in the storage area over at the edge of the park. There are a few little shacks over there I hear a few people like to hide in. You know, to get away from the rain and all.”

“How nice of you, Jada. You’re always so selfless. So
kind
.”

“And you, dear Kate, are always so forthcoming.” Jada flashed Duke a dazzling smile and patted his arm sympathetically. “You call if you need anything, okay? I want you to know I’m always available to appreciate a man of your build.”

With a wink, Jada sashayed away, but not before sending Kate a look of pure delight. It wasn’t hard to interpret. The woman wouldn’t rest until all of Kate’s sexual escapades were laid out on the table and examined for accuracy. Not this time, though. Kate was willing to accept Jada as she was, but that didn’t mean she had to fall under her command anymore. She didn’t need the crutch.

She was enough on her own.

As soon as they were alone, Duke tried to lean in and offer Kate another one of his chaste pecks. She placed a hand on his chest and pushed back, just catching an irritated compression of the lips before he put a smile in its place. This wasn’t going to be fun.

“Listen, Duke. Can we talk?” she asked gently.

“Of course, Kate. You know I’m always here for you.”

They walked behind the stables out of view of the chessboard. She made sure to step out of his arm’s reach, feeling the full force of his size for the first time. He wasn’t exactly antagonistic in his bearing, but there was a definite steeliness there, and if she was honest with herself, she had to admit she knew almost nothing about this man other than where he lived and what he drove.

“About that,” she began, twisting her hands together. She’d never been very good at this part. “I think you’re a great guy and all, but I’m not sure I want you to be there for me, you know?”

“Oh, I know you’re one of those women who enjoy their independence. Don’t worry. I haven’t come to try and tell you how to play chess or handle your business or anything.”

“Why
are
you here?” she found herself asking, even though he hadn’t grasped her meaning at all.

He flashed a smile and brushed some dust from his sleeve. “I have good news, and one more favor to ask before everything is settled. Cornwall Park is yours. I’ve directed all the SHS contractors to move the supplies and outbuildings to Kilroy Hall. Almost everything is being set up and getting ready to go as we speak.”

“Wait, what?” Kate’s head spun. Duke looked like a little boy proud of himself for peeing right on target for the first time in his life. What any of the Cornwall Park stuff had to do with him was beyond her. “Why would Julian do that? We already agreed—”

Duke laughed softly and reached out a finger to run along the side of her face. She shivered under his touch. “He didn’t do anything. Since you’ve been so good as to keep him distracted and out of my way, I’ve been able to take over most of his responsibilities and get things situated right where I want them. You have no idea how much help you’ve been.”

“Help?” Kate echoed.

“Sure.” Duke shrugged. His hand dropped, and he inspected his nails casually. “You played your part to perfection, and I fully intend to reward you. Cornwall Park is yours for the taking. It
is
what you wanted, right?”

“I didn’t ask you to do that!” Kate hissed. “You had no right—”

A snorting sound from inside the stalls made Kate jump. She looked around nervously, but no one was anywhere near. They must keep horses here during the tourist season.

“You didn’t seem to mind taking what I had to offer the other night,” Duke replied calmly. His voice held a low, sultry tone that brought to mind the brief kiss they’d shared. In the full light of day, facing him, it was hard to imagine what had compelled her to such extremes.

“That was different,” she managed.

“Why? Because you thought it would make Wallace mad?”

“Well, yes. But now—”

“Look, precious. All I need is for you to keep him out of my way for the rest of the day. That’s all I’m asking. Draw the game out for as long as possible, and then take him out for a celebration or something. Do this one little thing for me, and I promise to make it worth your while.” Duke’s voice dropped significantly. “I have no problem seeing my side of this through to the end. You’re not such a bad-looking woman, you know.”

The horse made another noise, a loud bang that prompted Kate into action. She backed away, disgusted, her hands up as if to ward off not just Duke but the enormity of what he was saying.

“It won’t work. There’s no way Julian’s going to let you move his entire event without his permission.”

Duke laughed, long and loud and in a way that made Kate feel like she desperately needed a shower. “If you and I are going to get along, you’ll need to learn I don’t need anyone’s permission to do anything.”

Kate, filled to bursting with equal parts anger and disgust, contemplated the merits of hurling a large piece of manure at Duke’s smug face. But then she saw him.
Julian.
Emerging from the stalls, fury contorting his face into a maelstrom of emotion.

“Wrong. You’ll need
my
permission if you think you’re going to walk away from here without at least one broken leg.”

Instead of looking horrified at being found out, Duke merely smiled and squared off to meet his enemy. Kate wished she had half his nerve. The quick glance Julian spared her was enough to make her long for her mother—something she hadn’t wanted since she outgrew the monsters under her bed.

She started to take a tentative step backward, but Julian interrupted before she even got her foot off the ground. “You stay put.”

Adrenaline surged through her at the domineering command in his voice, causing her hands to shake and her stomach to heave. Sure, Julian had been right about her from day one. All her life, she’d carried with her an image of what her ideal suitor looked like, and Duke’s fancy car and expensive dinner had fit the picture to perfection. She’d let herself get blinded by the glitz of it all, by the way he fit into her ordered little boxes. It was her mistake letting him into her life in the first place, and she was willing to own it.

But she didn’t deserve the tail end of Julian’s wrath before she even got a chance to explain. He was supposed to be on
her
side now. They were allies. They were lovers. They were friends.

“Were you eavesdropping on us?” Kate demanded, her hands moving to her hips and her spine straightening.

Julian shot her a look of pure irritation. “It’s not eavesdropping if I actually uncover a plot.”

“A plot? What are you talking about?”

“Me, Kate. I’m talking about me and my entire life. What you and Kilroy have done matters.” He turned to Duke, his voice low, his body tense as he took a predatory step forward. “I can’t believe I was so stupid to think for a second that you’d backed off. That you might let us fight this out honorably.”

“I can believe it,” Duke replied suavely. “I only had to dangle something pretty in front of your face, and you lost track of everything else. Like a baby. Or a woman.”

Kate sucked in a breath. If Julian didn’t hit him, she might take on the task herself.

“Neither one of you gets to make the rules anymore,” Julian said, his voice and body taut. “I’m done with the lying and the manipulating. From here on out, it’s my way or—”

“Kate! Julian! Where have you two been? The game is about to begin.” Stuart came at them from the side. Clearly oblivious to the tension that held them all in check, he grabbed Kate by the arm to lead her toward the main area of the fairgrounds.

“Give us a minute, Stuart.” The command in Julian’s voice was unmistakable, but it had no power over the smaller man. Stuart cast a benign gaze over the two Scottish athletes and chuckled.

“Clear the nonsense up later, will you? There’s someone here from the
Historical Times
magazine hoping to do a feature piece on our little battle and the Highland Games. They heard about us on a national news spotlight. This is incredible.”

“
Historical Times
?” Kate asked, looking around, bewildered. “That’s great, but—”

“No, no,” Stuart interrupted, gesticulating wildly at Julian until he had no choice but to follow. “No buts. Just look natural. And smile.”

Kate could do neither of those things. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Duke flash a triumphant grin and move off in the direction of the parking lot. Julian’s look was anything but pleased, but they’d come within sight and sound of the crowd, and there was nothing more he could say. The imposed silence didn’t seem to please him at all.

This time around, Julian was an intimidating foe on the board. He wasn’t angry in the same way she’d seen him before, when emotion and fury made him swell with something almost like pride. This was different. His face was shadowed, and it went deep enough that it made him look mean.

Even Jada noticed it. “Geez, woman,” she said wonderingly. “What did you say to wind Papa Bear up so much?”

Kate ignored her, her heart thumping heavily as Julian called out the first move. It was the exact one they’d plotted the day before, when losing had seemed like such an easy sacrifice for her to make. She hesitated. It wasn’t easy now. He hadn’t given her a chance to explain.