Page 30 of Wild Escape

“How about this?” She pointed to a dartboard. “One turn each, three throws. Highest points win. If I win, you buy me a drink. If you win, I shut up about it.”

My eyes narrowed at her. “You’re on.”

15

Daphne pulled six darts from the board. She held three in each hand. "Take your pick.”

I grabbed a handful.

She weighed the remaining darts, getting a feel for them. “Do you want to go first?”

"After you," I said.

She considered it. "Let's flip for it.”

"Fair enough." I pulled a quarter from my pocket. "Call it in the air."

She nodded, and I flipped the coin.

It tumbled end over end.

“Heads,” she said.

When it came back down, I caught it in my palm, then slapped it against the back of my wrist. I peeled my hand away to reveal the coin.

“Heads it is.”

"It's my choice, and I choose to go after you.”

My eyes narrowed at her again, wondering what she was up to.

I stepped to the line, took aim, and practiced my stroke. I settled my mind, took a deep breath, then let the dart fly.

It careened through the air and stabbed the corkboard dead-solid perfect in the bull's-eye.

I grinned, looked at Daphne, and winked.

She smiled, enjoying this.

I took aim again and let another dart fly.

Thunk!

Bull's-eye!

"Feeling confident, are you?” she asked.

"If you’re trying to get in my head, it's not going to work."

She pulled her neckline down a bit as a distraction. It was a hell of a distraction. "Want to raise the stakes?"

"What do you have in mind?”

"I have plenty of things in mind," she said with smoldering eyes.

"I think we'll keep the stakes where they're at."

"Chicken. Bock, bock, bock!” She flapped her arms and pranced around.