Warrior (Relentless #4)(108)

“That’s what I thought too. The last person I expected or wanted to find when I walked into that bar was my mate.” Now, I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

He shook his head. “You never expected to find your mate. I, on the other hand, am well aware that I could have potential mates out there, and I am doing my best to avoid that trap for as long as possible.”

I laughed at his choice of words. “I may not have wanted it at first, but I never felt trapped. I could have left if I’d wanted to.”

“Right,” he scoffed.

“Hello,” called Seamus as he and Niall walked out of the woods, no doubt back from watching over Sara during her walk.

“Just the lads we were hoping to see,” Niall said as they approached us. “How about a few hands of poker tonight?”

“Unless you have plans,” Seamus added, giving me a meaningful look.

I raised an eyebrow, and he chuckled.

“Celine was looking for you at lunch, and she had that determined look in her eye.”

I groaned inwardly. I had managed to avoid Celine for the most part since I returned, but she didn’t give up easily.

“What time does the game start?”

The brothers laughed and said we were meeting at Niall’s at seven. They headed into the main building, and I looked at Chris.

“Feel like sparring for an hour?”

He snorted softly. “You mean hiding, don’t you?”

“Something like that.”





*


“I have to say I’m surprised to see the two of you sticking around for more than a few days.” Niall tossed two chips on top of the pile in the middle of the table. “Especially you, Nikolas. Can’t remember the last time you stayed here more than a week.”

I added chips to his. “Thought it was time for a change of pace.”

“Uh-huh.” Seamus snickered. “Or a vacation after running around Maine after a certain wee lass. Word is she led you guys on a merry chase.”

“You could say that.” Chris studied his cards before he threw them down. He leaned back in his chair and smiled at Seamus. “I’ve learned never to underestimate my little cousin.”

Seamus snorted loudly. “You two must be going soft. We’ve had no trouble with her since she came here. She tried to go off alone a few times, but we brought her back.”

“She wouldn’t have given us the slip in Maine,” Niall stated with a lopsided grin. “Right, bro?”

“Right.”

I laughed off their gibes. Niall and Seamus were fine warriors, but they were no match for Sara, even on a good day. Put them all together on her turf, and they’d be singing a different tune.

Niall laid his cards face up on the table. “Read 'em and weep, lads.”

Seamus harrumphed and threw down his own cards.

I spread out my straight next to Niall’s three queens, and he swore.

“You are the luckiest son of a bitch. You know that?”

I smiled because he didn’t know how right he was.

Chris dealt the next hand, and I went to pour another glass of Niall’s Scotch. When I came back to the table, Seamus peered at me over his cards.

“So, I heard a rumor about you working with the trainees. That true?”

“Only with Sara,” I said. “Tristan and I decided she would do better with someone she knows.”

Seamus tossed down two of his cards. “Hell. I’d train her if Tristan asked me. Wouldn’t mind seeing that pretty face every day.”

I studied my cards, pretending not to hear him.

“Maybe I should offer to work with her,” he said. “Free you up so you can get back to doing what you love.”

My jaw tightened.

“You go kill things, and I’ll show the lass some Irish moves. Win-win situation for both of us, right?”

The cards in my hand began to buckle.

“Ha!” Seamus gave Niall a victorious grin. “Pay up, bro.”

Niall’s mouth turned down. “You don’t even like that album.”

“I said it wasn’t my favorite one, but you know I like all of Johnny Cash’s stuff.”

“Since when?”

I stared at the two brothers with a mix of irritation and confusion.

“What are you two going on about?” Chris asked.

Seamus looked at me with a smug expression. “I told Niall you had it bad for the lass. He said she was too young and sweet to interest you. We made a friendly wager, which he just lost.”

“You don’t have proof he’s into her,” Niall argued. “He just might not want your ugly mug around her.”

Seamus snorted. “You do realize we’re identical twins.”

“I’m still better looking.”

I shook my head at them, used to their sibling banter. “Are we playing this hand or not?”

“Sure.” Seamus exchanged a look with his brother. “Let’s make this more interesting. Best hand gets to train Sara tomorrow.”

“Seamus,” Chris said with a note of warning in his voice.

I set my cards down, trying to ignore the heat rising in my chest. Seamus and I had been friends for years, and I knew he was only baiting me for fun.