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“But what would they call it?”
She shrugged. “They’re voting on names. The article I read said the idea is to represent small-town charm. The town off Exit 6 just petitioned to change their name to Ryder Creek.”
His frown deepened. “Not the pig farmers?”
She nodded. “They’re probably tired of being referred to as the pig farmers. A big inn is opening up, so I imagine it has to do with tourism. It’s kind of smart.”
“I guess. But it just seems like everything’s changing. What was wrong with the way things are?” His hand ran over the length of bar in front of him and affection reflected in his distant stare.
“Change is hard,” she repeated. “Especially when it’s unexpected.”
“Yeah. Not to sound like a pussy, but it gets me really upset. This place has been a part of our family for generations. It’s where our family celebrates weddings, birthdays, and sacraments. But it won’t be there for my family, if I ever end up having one of my own.”
She hated seeing him sad, especially when he was so good at cheering her up whenever she needed it. “Will it make you feel better if I let you beat me at darts?”
He barked out a laugh. “Let me beat you? Honey, I could give you every advantage in the world and you wouldn’t stand a chance at beating me.”
“Oh, game on.” She chugged the rest of her beer and hopped off the stool. “Are your legs feeling okay? Strong? Because after this ass whooping you won’t be able to sit for a while.”
All sadness evaporated from his stare and he smiled widely. “I’m sorry, did you say something? I couldn’t hear you from way down there.”
“Har, har, har, you’re so funny. Bring it, stretch. Now, I’m really gonna kick your ass.”
He led her to the back of the bar where the dartboard hung on the wall. Ryan plucked the darts from the cork and handed her half. On the chalkboard beside the target, he scribbled their names.
“Nice,” she commented, seeing he’d written Ryan Dart Legend Extraordinaire vs. Wee Maggie. His smack talk wouldn’t intimidate her. “Should we put a little money on it to make it interesting?” He should know from the beginning she had a fierce competitive streak.
“Well, do you want to bet money or make it interesting?”
“Is getting beat by a girl half your size not interesting? Or does that happen all the time?”
He laughed. “Feisty. I like it. But since you’re so confident, how about we bet something a little more valuable than money?”
“Such as?”
He walked back to the line on the floor and prowled around her in an attempt to psych her out. “If I win, I get to kiss you—the way I want.”
Oh, that was how he wanted to play it? “And if I win?”
“Name your mark.”
She tried to think of something really good. “If I win, you clean out my gutters.”
He scoffed. “You’re on.”
She tipped her head with the cockiness of a dart master. “Since your ego puts you at a disadvantage, you can throw first.”
“Oh! She’s a shit talker, folks.” Lining up his shot, he displayed good form and let the first dart sail.
“Not bad.”
He threw the second. Another great shot, earning him sixty points right off the bat. But by the third he got a little too smug.
“Too bad.” She tsked, waiting for him to write down his score.
“Seventy-three is the score to beat.” He sounded rather proud of himself.
She stepped behind the line and sketched out her shot with practiced form. The weight of the dart left her hand, hurdling toward the board and sinking in the center of the bullseye.
Ryan stilled as she threw the second dart. Another bullseye. There wasn’t much room for the third, but she managed to squeeze it in. Smiling broadly, she wrote down her score.
“One-fifty. Make sure you wear gloves when you come to do my gutters. They’re real dirty with goop and bugs and stuff.”
“You brat,” he whispered. “I see how it is.”
The game continued, but no matter how much Ryan tried, he couldn’t beat her. Still, he was a good opponent.
“I can’t believe you’re gonna win.”
She had it in the bag. One more bullseye and she’d take the game. He needed over a hundred points. Glancing over her shoulder at him, she smirked. “I told you, I’m short but I’m scrappy.”
“I think you cheated.”
“How did I cheat?”
“You distracted me with cuteness. I’m used to playing against ugly, hairy men.”
“I bet they kiss you real nice when you win.”
“We play for money.”
“Ah, interesting.” She threw the dart and gasped. Well, that was a wash. The damn thing didn’t even sink in.
“Oh! What happened?”
“Shut up and let me concentrate.” She lined up her second shot.
One bullseye, that was all she needed. She drew back and Ryan smacked her ass. The dart lodged into the wood paneled wall, and she turned to scowl at him.
