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And she’s naked underneath that shirt.

Hisshirt.

“You were right,” James says in his British drawl. “He is out of it.”

I focus back on the ball and pull my cue back. I hit it too hard, and it misses by a wide margin. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Nora disappearing up the stairs without a second glance back at any of us.

“What a shame”—Rafe grabs his own cue—“that I didn’t bet on this game.”

“You haven’t won yet.”

“No. But I’m close enough.” He walks around the table, analyzing angles. “And look, if you don’t want your mom to pick a woman out, do it yourself.” Rafe looks over with a shrug. “It could even be fun. Host auditions.”

I drain the last of my whiskey. It does nothing to stop the burn down my spine. Alex walks up to us, still wet from the pool, and I have to look away from him.

“What are you playing for?” he asks.

“A gentleman’s honor,” James says.

Alex chuckles. “How terrible, then, because none of us have any.” His Scottish accent is always stronger when he’s been drinking.

“Speak for yourself,” Rafe says, lining up his shot. The ball rolls smoothly into the pocket. “I’ll have you know my honor is intact.”

“Is that what you tell all the girls?” James drawls, taking a drag of his cigar.

“Don’t be jealous,” Rafe tells him. “I’m sure you could still have fun. If you tried really, really hard.”

Alex grabs a cue and leans against the wall, watching us play. I can feel his eyes on me, and it takes everything I have not to look back at him. To not tell him to put on a fucking shirt. “James doesn’t do fun,” he says with a wide grin. “It’s not noble.”

“Shut up,” James says. He has never liked when any of us bring up his title, which is why none of us will ever stop.

For all of his manners, he bites.

“Did I hit a nerve? I apologize, your grace.”

“Now, now, children.” Rafe lines up another shot, his dark hair falling over his forehead. “Do play nice.”

I lose the game.

“Don’t take it too hard,” Rafe tells me afterward. He slaps me on my good shoulder. “You’re a victor in so many other ways.”

I push him away, and his grin widens. “Patronize me one more time.”

I watch the others play a game before I call it.I’m tired,and all that, and ignore the insults they throw my way. My bedroom is at the far end, and Nora’s is on the other side. Just like back home.

On opposite sides of a corridor that always seems to be too long.

I make sure my bedroom lights are off and the door closed before walking over to hers. I knock twice.

She opens the door, and she’s still in that fucking shirt. Her wet hair is in a low ponytail, and she smells like shampoo and soap. “West?”

“The deal you offered me earlier.” I step inside and close her door behind me. “I’ll take it.”

Nora pulls me into her room, into the bathroom. “Finally,” she says, and pushes me toward the edge of her bathtub. “Sit.”

“You’re annoyed with me.” I look at the shirt she’s wearing. The hemline kisses the tops of her thighs. Just like earlier today, she’s probably bare beneath it.

Her brother is downstairs. I might have to marry to save my estate. She just wants us to practice for when she goes forth and dates men she actually likes.