Highland Sparks: Logan and Gwyneth (Clan Grant Series Book 5) by Keira Montclair

all the time. He vowed to change that for Gwyneth.
    Smiling, he set Lily down and she scampered back to Brenna’s side, giggling all the way. As soon as they returned, Alex announced, “Contest stands as Loki has announced. One arrow each. Final shot to determine the winner.”
    The crowd hushed as Logan readied himself to make his last shot. He had to secure the win or he would never live it down, though if he had to lose to anyone, she would be the one. He had to admit she was a fantastic warrior. He would definitely want her on his side in a fight. He drew and shot. Direct hit to center. She couldn’t beat him. His gut clenched in reaction, followed by a cloud of confusion. What kind of reaction was that? Shouldn’t his chest be swelling with pride? Logan paced a small circle, trying to rationalize his reaction, but he couldn’t.
    He glanced at Gwyneth, but didn’t gloat. Disappointment flooded her face, but then switched to determination. His attention was totally focused on her. Slud, but she was beautiful when she stood strong and proud. She stepped up to the mark with confidence. God’s teeth, what was she thinking? She couldn’t beat him, yet he had to admire her courage.
    She took her time nocking and drawing, and making sure her position was correct. When she finally released her arrow, the crowd gasped, waiting for it to land. It hit the center of the target and fell to the ground. Her face fell, but she acted honorably and turned to congratulate him.
    Somehow, he just couldn’t gloat. His shoulders slumped as he saw the dejection on her face. Hellfire, he wanted this woman. Perhaps it wouldn’t have hurt to lose to her just his once. Loki was yelling at the end of the field, trying to calm the cheering of the crowd. He didn’t understand any of the lad’s words until Alex let out a Grant war whoop and the crowd stilled and all turned to look at Loki. The boy motioned for the head judge, his sire Brodie, to come out to the target.
    Gwyneth glanced at Logan in confusion. “What’s it about, Ramsay?”
    “I can’t tell. I’m sure it’s naught, Gwyneth.”
    Her hand waved at him. “Shush. I want to hear what Loki has to say.”
    Loki told Brodie that he wanted the other two judges to join him at the target to verify the win. Brodie beckoned to the others, and Logan decided to follow them to the target. It wasn’t that Logan didn’t trust the judges; he wanted to see for himself how close he had hit. Gwyneth fell in step behind him.
    Brodie held his arm out to the two of them, obviously not wanting them to be privy to the judges’ conversation. Gwyneth stepped ahead of him, but then stopped in her tracks. Logan took a step closer, breathing in her scent, and noticing how long her hair was in her plait. He wondered how it would feel to have her hair unbound, dancing across his chest as she rode him. As if on cue, she glanced over her shoulder at him, and he saw her tense, as if his nearness unsettled her.
    Good, he wanted to unsettle her…right into his arms. He leaned a bit closer until his chest brushed her shoulder, hungering for any chance to touch her. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t move, another good sign. He had a new goal in life. Someday, he would have her. For now, if he could just get her sweet arse to brush up against him, he would be a happy man, but that would probably be too much in front of all the spectators.
    The crowd waited while the judges consulted together. After they had studied the target for a long moment, Alex turned around and held his arms up, commanding the crowd to quiet. Logan and Gwyneth exchanged a look—she appeared to be just as puzzled by this additional declaration as he was.
    “The win goes to Gwyneth of the Cunninghams. Her arrow knocked Logan’s off the target and took dead center.”
    The crowd exploded in excitement, everyone running over to see it. Logan’s arrow was different than Gwyneth’s, so there would be no way the two could be confused.