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Abbot threw his bow on the ground Reece took his mark He steadied his ared toward him with his fist raised

“Reg, behind you!” Lara called

Reece ducked and elbowed Abbot in the gut When Abbot flipped forward to cradle his injured midsection, Reece punched hinoring the collective gasp from the audience, Reece lifted his bow, his bloodied knuckles steady He let the arrow fly Thwunk The crowd broke into cheers Lara couldn’t stop herself fro in his direction

She heard the announcer proclaim “The winner of the third uson”

Reece tossed his bow aside and held his arms open to catch Lara in an exuberant e his head and clai her mouth in a heated kiss Reece The cat calls froround Reece For Lara, all the world—present and past—disappeared There was only him Reece The time, the place didn’t ainst hers, his ar around her His lips tantalized her senses, stealing all coherent thought

When he dreay, he was s and she eak in the knees

“You did it,” she said, s back

“I don’t guess I ever e”

She chuckled “No, you did not mention that”

His grin set her soul on fire “So, I guess Reg and Eleanor are officially engaged”

“I’m so happy for them I think we should celebrate”

She didn’t knoas possible, but his grin widened

“Congratulations,” Lord Clayton’s voice boomed froorously “I underestihter has permission to wed you”

Reece’s arainst hiht “Thank you, sir,” Reece said “I am anxious tobe postponed until toht?”

Lara looked up at him in question

“Very well We shall ements and move the ceremony to my hold” Lord Clayton nodded curtly and went to the stables to collect his horse

“Why do you wish to postpone the wedding?”

“We’ll have leapt by then I’d hate to intrude upon so and Eleanor”

She smiled “It’s sweet of you to think of them”

“We can still celebrate their engageh”

“No arguaze wander

over his hard, ht that sets a woman all aflutter”

“If I’d have known that, I’d have dressed like a tin can sooner”

“I prefer you undressed actually,” she teased She glanced over her shoulder and found Alyssa had Abbot’s head on her lap and was stroking his hair as she irl didn’t miss a beat Lara still couldn’t fathom how Alyssa could want him So he had a castle And“Let’s get out of here I can’t stoer” Lara took Reece’s hand and they headed towards Toby as bragging to Abbot’s squire about his superior training and the honorable knight he served

“You look ravishing in that dress, Lara,” Reece whispered in her ear

She flushed despite herself “Thank you”

“I need to ask Toby so Would you wait here for a moment?”

She gave hiorous pat on the back, and was handed the reins of his horse Toby pointed out towards the east of the castle and patted Reece on the back again Reece smiled at him in appreciation and then headed in Lara’s direction

“What was that all about?” she asked

“It’s a surprise We’re going for a ride”

She s back to Clayton castle?”

“Just a little side trip Someplace private” He leaned closer and his warm breath stirred the fine hairs behind her ear “To celebrate”