Blue Ribbon Summer (The Baltimore Banners Book 3) (18 page)

"Oh, Ian. I don't know what to say." Kayli blinked against the tears, no longer worried about the crowd watching them, or about the steer or the show or anything else except for the man in front of her.

"Kiss her Uncle Ian!"

"Yeah, kiss her!"

Kayli choked back her laughter at the twins' voices ringing so clear above everyone else, at the sudden urging of others in the crowd who seemed to be caught up in the girls' excitement. She shook her head and looked back at Ian.

"You're right, they are she-devils."

Ian gave her another small smile and shrugged. Then his expression turned serious and he moved closer, just the smallest step.

"I love you Kayli."

"Oh Ian." Kayli dropped her show stick and closed the distance between them, wrapping her free arm around his waist and leaning up to give him a kiss. "I love you, too."

Ian grabbed the lead of her steer and tossed both leads to Lori, who was now standing next to them. He wrapped both arms around Kayli's waist and lifted her off the ground, holding her close to him as his mouth descended on hers with an intense ferocity that held nothing back.

The crowd around them broke out in loud applause and cheers as they separated. Ian lowered Kayli to the ground but kept his arms close around her, holding her tightly against him. And Kayli figured the smile on his face matched her own, that the love in his eyes was a mirror of hers. She tilted her head up and offered him another kiss, a quicker one this time that was interrupted by someone not-so-subtly clearing their throat.

Kayli looked up to see the judge standing next to them, a broad smile on what was usually a serious face. He shook his head then held out the oversized ribbon for Grand Champion. Kayli laughed and took it from him, then turned and offered it to Ian.

"This one's for you. My Champion."

Ian threw his head back and laughed, then claimed her mouth for another kiss. Kayli eagerly melted into his hold as the crowd cheered them on.

Behind them, three girls giggled and gave each other high fives. One of the twins, it was hard for people to tell which one, looked over at the other two and smirked.

"I told you so."

"No, you didn't. I did!" The other twin said.

The older girl put her arms around the younger two and smiled. "No, girls. We all did!"

Lisa grew up with an overactive imagination and strong encouragement from her parents, and an insatiable infatuation with the Peanuts gang. That infatuation--along with an impatience she has yet to outgrow--jump-started her love of writing. After all, why should she be forced to wait a whole week to read the stories of her favorite characters when she could create stories for them?

That love of writing never diminished, even though it was placed on simmer during her careers, first as a firefighter with the Baltimore County Fire Department, then as Director of Retail Operations of a busy non-profit.

Lisa lives in Maryland with her husband and two sons, one very spoiled Border Collie, two cats with major attitude, several head of cattle, and entirely too many chickens to count.

Please visit her at
http://lisabkamps.com
You may also find her on Facebook at
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or reach her via email at [email protected]