“Okay,” she said, sucking in a lungful of air.
And then she fired.
The plate fell into the sea, perfectly intact.
His voice softened. “Very good.”
“I missed.”
“Yes, but your aim improved. Try again.”
Rune did. She missed all the shots she took, but not wildly so. They fell into an easy rhythm. Rune shooting. Gideon correcting her form. Reminding her to breathe, or to follow through when pulling the trigger.
When she finally relaxed, his rough cheek brushed hers. “What were you dreaming about last night?” His voice was low, near her ear. “When you called out for me.”
Rune’s shot went wide.
What?
She’d called out for him?
Humiliation flooded her.
She kept her gaze fixed on the girl with the plate, trying to focus. But feverish images from last night kept flashing through her mind. “It was nothing. Just a dream.”
His arm tightened around her, anchoring her to him. “It didn’t sound like nothing.”
Rune lost control of her breathing. Lowering the rifle a little, she turned her face toward his. Their breath mingled in the space between. “Trust me,” she said, her gaze dropping to his mouth, “you don’t want to know what it was about.”
“Oh?” His eyebrows shot upward. “Now youhaveto tell me.”
She shook her head and lifted the rifle anew, mentally running through each piece of advice: Relax. Breathe. Both eyes open. Elbows down and…
“Rune.”
“You’re distracting me.”
“Am I?” He dragged her closer against him.
Rune swallowed. “We were arguing. About a cravat.”
“You’re lying.”
Only partially.
“Tell me the truth.”
The girl across the deck flung the next plate into the air. Rune fired. This time, the china exploded.
Rune watched the white shards plunge into the sea like falling stars.
“I hit it,” she whispered in disbelief, lowering the gun to her side. “Gideon! Did you see? I hit it!”
Pride surged, ballooning her chest. She turned to face him.
“Sharpe!” Abbie interrupted. “We’re moving inside where it’s warmer. Fancy a game of cards?”
“Always,” said Gideon, letting Rune go. Just like that.
