Page 18 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

“She’s having a play date with one of her friends today. For us and King Gregor, we’ll start learning the actual process of Western cutting.”

They worked with the horse and each other for a couple of hours. Then Alex called a halt. “We’ve done enough for today. Come inside, have some tea and relax before you go pick up Erin.”

“Thanks. That sounds good.”

“I’m so glad you think so.” He walked over to her and took her in his arms.

She didn’t object.

He smiled and lowered his head, kissing her lightly and then deeper until his lips melded with hers.

She parted her lips, and her tongue darted out.

He smiled and met her questing tongue with his. He tasted her and loved her. Her response was what he had hoped for…prayed for. He pulled her close and then cupped her face with his hands before pulling back and kissing the sides of her mouth, then lightly kissing her lips.

“I’m sorry you have to go pick up Erin. I would like to continue and see where our kisses lead us.”

She laughed once. “I’m afraid I know where they would lead, and I’m glad I have to leave…now…to get my daughter.” She kissed him quick. “We’ll have to start with the tea next time.” She winked.

“That would be my preference as well. I’ll walk you to your truck.”

He escorted her out, determined to get another kiss to hold him until tomorrow.

* * *

July 8th

As soon as Airk Thorbaer entered her suite, dirty and bloody, Reina knew the news was dire. She wished their cell phones worked in the mountains, but they didn’t.

She was out of her chair and on her feet in a flash. “What? What happened?”

Airk stood at attention with his arms locked at his sides. “It was an ambush. Assassins came out of the forest.”

“Gregor?” Heart racing, she feared the worst.

“Gravely wounded. Reina he was the target. He was leading the group with Nicolai beside him, as he always does. They fired at him and Nicolai almost exclusively. Lord Rederov was apparently also a target. They killed him with an arrow to the heart. They were using arrows as though they were another hunting party.”

“I must go to Gregor.” She ran from the room.

Airk kept pace.

If Gregor died, she would kill Nicolai at the first opportunity.

As she ran, she asked Airk. “And Nicolai?”

“Wounded, but he will recover.”

Of course he will. This was his plan. I know it.“How soon until he recovers?”

“The doctor said a few days in the hospital, and he will go home.”

Reina was doing her best not to scream, but she’d had enough.

Airk put his arm in front of her. “You might wish to prepare yourself.”

She slammed the handicap pad for the door to the hospital wing of the palace and waited for it to open enough for her to go through. Reina had insisted on building the hospital when Alex was little and always injuring himself. Then the girls did the same, and now Gregory. Why did her children always hurt themselves when they were young? Thank goodness they grew out of it, except for Gregory. He still injured himself while playing.

“Where is he?”