“No.” He chuckled. “Keep your eyes open next time.”
“Ha-ha.” Jasmine assumed form once more. Mimicking him, she lifted her arms and aimed. “Like this?”
“Just like that.”
With a better idea of what to expect, she fired once more. This time, following the shot, she peered ahead at the target—and yes, rightthere!A crack in the wood was right at the top right corner.
“I did it!”
“Yes, you did.” Matthew lowered his voice. “Good girl.”
Her skin prickled, and she flushed scarlet.
He stepped away from her. “Without me this time.”
Without him holding her, the tops of her arms strained to hold the pistol. She shifted to find a comfortable position, and shot on her own. Over the ringing in her ears, a loud and satisfyingcrackof a round hitting wood sounded. Eagerly, she glanced up.
Her round had clipped the side of Trevor’s target.
“Look at that! I hit something!” Jasmine cheered. She shot a playful grin at Trevor. “You may have won today, but I’ll be out shooting you in no time, Trevor Reeves!”
A quiet clapping sound followed from the group.
Matthew reached forward and took the pistol from her, then handed it to Seth.
“We’ll give this round to Trevor,” Seth said diplomatically. He pointed at him. “Shoot anyway, you need the practice.”
Trevor nodded and did as he was told.
As Jasmine turned to Matthew, he closed the distance between them. Casually, he reached for her hand and laced their fingers together.
Her face burned beneath her bonnet at the open display of affection. Calloused fingertips scratched over her delicate skin, and with a briefflash of heat she wanted them everywhere. Looking down, she marveled not only at his hand but also at her own. Between her forefinger and thumb, black marks of gunpowder stained the curve of her palm.
Matthew spoke to Seth. “Once it’s down to the last man, let me know.”
Seth nodded. “I’ll yell for you.”
Jasmine raised a brow and asked Matthew, “Where are we going?”
“To be alone.” He tugged her forward, leading her to the empty blanket far from the group. He plopped down and opened his arms to her. “Sit with me.”
She glanced around. Seth and Cassandra were on the middle blanket, talking to Caroline, while Lord Blackmoor and Trevor shot their rounds. Each family member turned away… almost as if they weredeliberatelyignoring them.
She laughed. “Cassandra is a terrible chaperone.”
“She knows discretion is the better part of chaperoning. I afforded her the same courtesy,” he explained. “We need to have time by ourselves.”
After Jasmine sat next to Matthew, he readjusted the parasol to block them from view. Lounging back, he sat with his legs open, then he patted the blanket between his knees.
“Come here. Let’s do what married couples do.”
Jasmine’s brows shot up. “Right here? In front ofeveryone?”
“Why not? Seth and Cassandra do this all the time, even before they married. No one will mind if we do it for a few minutes.”
Jasmine couldn’t believe what he was asking of her! Cassandra and Seth were the most amorous couple she knew. Theyroutinelyscampered off to engage in romantic rendezvous, even in public venues. Jasmine gaped at him.
“You mean...the marital act?”