'Nikko?'
'Hm-m-m?'
She snuggled her back against his bare chest. He pressed her to him and kissed her hair. 'Nikko, are you sure you didn't let me win?'
'Why would I do that?'
'Because you're a very strange person. And rather nice.'
'I did not let you win. And to prove it to you, next time we'll wager the maximum penalty.'
She laughed softly. 'I thought of a pun—a pun in English.'
'Oh?'
'I should have said: You're on.'
'Oh, that is terrible.' He hugged her from behind, cupping her breasts in his hands.
'The one good thing about all of this is your garden, Nikko. I am glad they spared it. After the years of love and work you invested, it would have broken my heart if they had harmed your garden.'
'I know.'
There was no point in telling her the garden was gone.
It was time now to take the tea he had prepared for them.
Copyright © 1979 by Trevanian
ISBN: 0-517-53243-3
