I’d stolen her Gift and she was apologising to me; I couldn’t have felt more awkward. ‘No problem. Look after yourself and don’t leave the road.’

‘No worries,’ she grinned. ‘Have fun, you two.’ There was a flicker of mischief in her eyes.

‘What was that last comment about?’ I asked Byron as she walked away.

He leaned towards me and dropped his voice. ‘I think she senses the sexual tension between us.’

I gave him a shove. ‘As if.’

‘You owe me, Integrity. I won the bet.’ A smile tugged at his mouth. ‘I’d hate to think you’re a sore loser.’

‘Not in the slightest.’ Besides, anything that kept the conversation away from missing Gifts could only be a good thing. ‘I suppose you want me to hang around here so you can beat me to the finish line?’

He snorted. ‘Hardly. I can beat you without you doing that.’

‘So,’ I said, crossing my arms, ‘what do you want then?’

His smile grew. ‘A kiss.’

It took a moment for the word to sink in. When it did, I stepped back. ‘You want what?’

‘You heard me.’

I flung an arm out towards the trees. ‘Tipsania is out there! Your fiancée!’

‘She’s not my fiancée.’ He was telling the truth.

‘Not yet.’

‘I’ve told you many times that my relationship with Tipsy is complicated.’

I thought of Candy. ‘I’ll bet it is but I’m not the kind of woman who interferes in relationships. Even complicated ones. You need to ask for something else.’

‘No.’ He watched me carefully. ‘I won the bet and that is what I want.’

‘This isn’t going to make things better between us, Byron,’ I said.

‘It might.’ He took a step closer. ‘Even Kirsty can sense the tension between us so maybe it’ll act like a valve and release some of that … pressure.’ He shrugged nonchalantly. ‘And I can’t remember much from Aberdeen. Did we kiss then? Because you’re probably really bad at it and then I can walk away and concentrate on the Games instead of on you.’

My mouth dropped open. ‘Wanker! I’m a great kisser.’ The kiss we’d shared in Aberdeen was seared into my memory. Had he really forgotten it? His phrasing hadn’t been direct enough for me to use Kirsty’s Gift to ascertain the truth – or lie.

His eyes danced with both promise and challenge. ‘Prove it then.’

I muttered a frustrated curse. ‘This is ridiculous.’

Byron didn’t say anything. I sighed. ‘Fine,’ I said, snapping. ‘One kiss.’ I leaned over but he pulled away.

‘No peck on the cheek,’ he warned. ‘I’m asking for a real, passionate, proper kiss.’

‘You want a snog,’ I said flatly, ‘like a horny teenager.’

He ran his tongue across his top lip. ‘I suppose I do.’ He bent his head and whispered, ‘And I am horny.’ Another truth. Shite.

‘I hate that word,’ I said, dissembling.

‘Horny?’ He smiled. ‘Would you prefer randy?’

I made a face.

‘Lustful?’ he inquired.