I still had little clue about what was going on in terms of the rules of the game. “Good shot, sexy,” I said as his ball went through the hoop. And I definitely wouldn’t have been having so much fun if he wasn’t so easy to like. But I might not have been sleeping with him if he wasn’t so sexy it made my knees weak just being within a mile of him. I’d wanted to save my company so badly that I would have married him if he were the least attractive man on the East Coast. I kept my eyes firmly on Ryder’s butt as he played. There was clearly no love or affection shared. I had no idea why Ryder spent any time with his cousin and his wife. Pulling me toward him, he placed a kiss on my head. “That’s my girl,” he said as my ball ended up exactly where he’d told me to put it. I swung the mallet and it cracked as it hit the ball. As if they were waiting for the first punch to be thrown, blood to be spilled. Most of the guests were looking in our direction-as if the four of us were actors on a stage. I glanced up at the crowd at the side of the grass. “How many times are you going to say the word shaft to me during this match?” Ryder chuckled.

Wasn’t that kind of comment wasted if no one could hear it? Or did he just like my ass? He crouched beside me, facing the little white hoop sticking out of the ground. “Your arse looks fantastic,” he whispered into my ear. Ryder stalked toward me as I stood over the croquet mallet and came behind me, smoothing his hand over my ass. I wasn’t sure if it was for my benefit or for Frederick and Victoria, who were looking on. His grin told me he was trying to provoke a reaction with his dirty croquet talk. “Grip the shaft at the top with both hands, your right below your left,” Ryder instructed from his crouched position in front of me. I’d never thought it was even possible outside the three of us. I’d never in my life, other than with Darcy and Grandfather, been so certain someone was unquestionably on my side.

Scarlett turned in my embrace so we could face him as a team. “Looks like it’s cousin against cousin,” Frederick called as he strode toward us carrying a mallet.

“And I’m great in bed,” she said and winked at me. “You certainly seem to know what you’re doing.” She raised her eyebrows. There wasn’t much I didn’t enjoy about her. “Oh, don’t tell me you don’t enjoy my teasing.” She pushed my hair from my face.

Duke of manhattan by louise bay