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There was a roar, and just like that the townsfolk left his shop and followed her

Lake watched her go while his feet twitched with the need to follow her He wanted to get his hands on her before she remembered that they were at war, and that it wasn’t over yet And he definitely wanted to get her alone before she talked herself out of kissing hiain He took a step towards Kirsty’s shop when he felt a sharp pain in his left ankle

“What was that for?” he demanded of his evil little helper

The crowd disappeared into Kirsty’s shop He’d missed hisof opportunity He scowled at Betty

“That’s for selling out to the ene you lot in the English army these days, but this isn’t how you run a war, laddie Which side do you want to win this thing? Well?”

“Ours Mine What do you think?”

“I think you’re acting like a lovestruck boy on his first crush Buck up or I’ll have to fight on ain”

With that she store—with the cardboard cut-out of hihtly He wasn’t even going to ask what she planned to do with his picture And he definitely didn’t want it back when she was done With a frustrated grunt, he turned his back on the party over the road—his party, the one he’d paid for—and strode into his shop He’d have to deal with Kirsty later, and he wasn’t sure he could wait that long

Once inside the shop, Lake was surprised to find that Rainne was tallying up the day’s takings He thought she’d be long gone Or hiding in so the fact he’d ridden into town

“We rin “People loved the place” She paused for aYou’re better at this than I am”

The ent out of him All he’d ever really wanted was to see her happy and settled In his mind she was still the five-year-old who’d cried and held hi for the arain Because when he left, her dreauilt made his stomach clench He forced himself to s it as he affectionately ruffled his sister’s mad hair

“We ood team,” he told her

He kneas overcoenerous, especially considering her part in the tea

“Maybe too over some of my plans—you know, for more environmentally friendly underwear?”

“Does that ”