Page 9 of Claimed At First Sight

“You were losing.”

I blink at him. “I was one point behind.”

“That’s still losing.”

The older man with Mamma coughs into his fist, though I doubt there’s anything wrong with his throat.

Mamma gives me a look I know well. It’s the one that reminds me to be polite without requiring her to say the words in front of everyone.

I turn back to the man who seems entirely too pleased with himself and summon my sweetest smile.

“Then I must thank you for your gallant service. Without your heroic intervention, I might have suffered the terrible fate of losing a friendly game of badminton.”

His gaze moves over my face.

“You didn’t seem to find the possibility of losing particularly friendly.”

“That’s because I dislike losing.”

“So do I.”

Somehow, I’m not surprised.

“Then it’s fortunate for both of us that your ego arrived in time to save the day.”

A low chuckle leaves him. The sound does something unexpected to my stomach. I ignore it.

“Any time,” he says.

“I don’t expect there’ll be a repeat.”

Something sharpens behind his amusement, as though my refusal has only made him more determined.

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

The certainty in his voice makes me want to contradict him on principle.

Seriously, who is that man?

But I’m not silly enough to ask. That would only draw out this conversation, even if a small and entirely unwelcome part of me is curious.

Behind me, I can hear Mateo whisper to Mari. “Do I need to console you somewhere private?”

I shift enough to bring them into my periphery. Mateo pulls my sister more firmly against his side as she looks up at him. “I’m not that upset.”

“You could pretend.”

“For your benefit?” she teases.

“Obviously.”

Mari rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling as he leads her away. Since becoming Don, Mateo has been under a lot of pressure, but it hasn’t diminished his determination to find any available excuse to be alone with his wife.

Mamma watches them go, her eyes soft, before turning back to me.

“You look hot, tesoro. Why don’t you get yourself a cold drink? There are refreshments over there.”

She points to a small buffet with snacks and lemonade.