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Lara thanked his mom. “I appreciate your help today, Sophie. I wouldn’t have finished all the cookies in time without you.” Tate laughed. “Mom doesn’t cook. She can kick someone’s ass, but she doesn’t cook.”
Sophie shrugged. “Lara was patient with me and finally settled on having me wait on customers while she baked. That was the magic bullet. She finished with hours to spare.”
They pulled into Porter’s and Aidyn pulled in behind them.
“Lara and Sophie, you’ll be the envy of the ball. I’ll help you fight off suitors.”
Lara shook her head and giggled. His mom rolled her eyes then Aidyn got serious and lowered his voice. “I saw her again today. I think she’s following me.”
“Who?”
“Elena.” He looked around. “The dark-haired woman from the mountain. She came down the mountain and stopped to watch me. She carried her basket and as I drove past, she made a point of setting it down near a tree. Then she covered it with vines.”
“She disappears like the wind when she wants. I turned around and went back to see what was in the basket. She had left a note that said, ‘Hi.’”
“Just, ‘Hi?’”
“Yes. I think it’s her way of feeling things out.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
Aidyn rubbed his jaw and shrugged. “I’m going to leave her a note and ask if we can have a chat.”
“Why?”
“I like her. She’s interesting and I don’t think she’s like the others. Plus, she helped us get out of there when the shooting started. She pointed and nodded to the cabin to warn me Everett was near.”
“Truth.”
They neared the door to the steakhouse, and he leaned forward slowly and held it open for Lara. He winked at her when she passed him. His hand immediately found a home on her back. They stepped into the ballroom, all decorated in crepe paper and all things Bourbon. Barrels, corks, bottles. All of it tastefully done. The band was playing and he whispered near Lara’s ear, “Would you like to dance with me?”
She turned her head. The most beautiful smile he’d ever seen was on her lips and she nodded. “I’d love nothing more.”
He laughed as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor. The goal was to hold her tight and whisper beautiful words in her ears. And show the townspeople she was not her father.
“I love you, Lara.”
She giggled. “I love you, Tate.”
“I want to be your date every year for this ball.”
She giggled again. “Okay. You’ll have to ask before anyone else does, though.”
He stopped twirling her around the dance floor and stopped them in the middle. He got down on one knee. Something he’d practiced this week.
“I’m asking for the rest of my life if you’ll be my date for the Bourbon Ball and all dances? Will you marry me? Bear my children? Through sickness and in health? Will you be my wife?”
The crowd stopped and stared; the music stopped, and Lara smiled the most radiant smile he’d ever seen. “I’d love nothing more.”
His heart galloped; his breathing came in shallow spurts as he slid the ring on her finger, then stood. He kissed her lips, then whooped. “She said yes!”
The band played a quick wedding march and applause thundered around them. Shianne ran over. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe I just saw that, Lara.” She wrapped Lara in a bear hug. “Congratulations.”
She lunged at him, and he grimaced before letting her hug him.
“You better treat my bestie right.”
“I promise.”
His parents and his teammates were next, and all he remembered was that Lara said yes.
***
Tate and Lara are about to get married and you’re invited to witness their big day. Click here to attend the wedding.
Aidyn is enamored with Elena,but they’re from two very different worlds. In her world, Aidyn is the enemy, in his, she brings danger. Find out if Aidyn can Save Elena.
Saving Elena
