Free Billionaires Don't Like Nice Girls (A BWWM Romance) by Mia Caldwell

ducks. Wish me luck.”
    “Don’t do it,” James said. “You’ll never hit that little thing ten times in a row, not the way it’s jerking around.”
    “It’s nice that you’ve got confidence in me,” Kent drawled.
    “Go for it!” Neesa cheered, winking at Phae.
    Phae admired the way Kent’s biceps flexed as he pumped then sighted the rifle. He turned to the side, his stomach muscles rippling under the fine lawn of his shirt.
    She had more than enough time to enjoy his physique. He took forever to aim his shots. By the time he finished shooting, she was tapping her foot in annoyance.
    “I got six out of ten ducks. What do I win?” Kent asked.
    The worker dug under the counter and extracted a pair of fuzzy dice.
    Kent dangled them in front of Phae. “Not bad. Your turn, my lady. Shall I show you how to pump the rifle?”
    Phae waved him aside. “How’s my hair holding up, Neesa?” She lightly patted the back of her long braid.
    “It’s perfect.”
    “Are you sure? You know how I hate to shoot guns if my hair isn’t perfect.”
    “Women,” Kent muttered. “Hurry up, Phae. We haven’t got all night.”
    “Hard to believe you would rush me after you took like three hours to take ten shots.”
    James nudged Kent. “Ignore her. She’s trying to rattle you.”
    Phae shrugged, pretending that wasn’t exactly what she’d been trying to do. She turned to the man behind the counter. “Do you have ten rifles back there?”
    “Sorry. Only got six.”
    “Then let me see them.”
    “What do you think you’re doing?” Kent snapped.
    “You said you wanted me to hurry,” she replied as she rapidly inspected the rifles. “This one’s no good,” she said, returning it to the worker. “And reset the spinning duck wheel, please.”
    In quick succession, she pumped air into the five remaining guns then laid them neatly on the countertop.
    “Do it, Phae,” Neesa called.
    Phae carefully eyed the spinning ducks. It had been many years since she’d played this game. She took a deep breath. No problem. It’d come back to her. Muscle memory, like riding a bike.
    One after the other, she raised the rifles to her shoulder, sighted and pulled the trigger. Then she re-pumped the guns and five more times she aimed and fired.
    All the little ducks lay flat behind the spinning wheel.
    Neesa cheered loudly, jumping up and down as Phae pointed to the gigantic, four-foot-tall yellow dog.
    Phae took the stuffed animal from the flabbergasted carnie then turned to face an equally flabbergasted Kent.
    “After the contest, I’ll give him to you, Kent,” she said. “I hope you know how to thank me appropriately.”
     
     

Chapter 8
     
    “THAT WAS AMAZING,” KENT SAID, glancing at James. “I see why you wanted her to be your partner.”
    James puffed out his barrel chest. “Tried to tell you. She knows all the tricks. An uncle on her mother’s side owns a carnival and taught her how to win these games. We’ve tried to get her to share her secrets, but she says her uncle made her promise not to tell.”
    “I see,” Kent said. “So you’re cheating.”
    “I’m not cheating,” Phae said. “It takes skill to do what I did.”
    “Maybe, but by knowing what you do, you’ve got an unfair advantage.”
    Neesa waggled a finger at him. “You’re jealous that she’s better than you.”
    “That’s easy for you to say. She’s on your side. What you did was pick a ringer to settle your ridiculous argument with James.”
    “Ridiculous argument?” Neesa’s voice raised in pitch, surprising Phae since Neesa was usually so easy-going. “Hey, you don’t have anything to complain about. You said you and James used to win a lot and that you practiced. So all three of you are good at this stuff and I’m not. I’m Phae’s handicap, and that makes this an even contest. Now quit acting like a baby and get on with it.”
    Phae stared at her angry cousin, wide-eyed. “Damn, someone ate their Wheaties this morning.