Twins for the Soldier by Rochelle Alers

Author:Rochelle Alers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-10-11T15:39:55+00:00

Chapter Eight

Angela knew she would either be hoarse or lose her voice completely as she screamed for Lee’s team, led by Aiden Gibson, when they competed against Giles Wainwright’s team during the tug-of-war. The participants wore tees and shorts stamped with their respective branch of service. All wore gloves to protect their hands against the hemp rope and military-issued boots as footwear. Giles had selected former marines to fill out his team, leaving Aiden to pick up those from the other branches.

Viviana, who had returned from her overnight stay in Charleston, nearly deafened Angela when she screamed at the top of her lungs. “Nicole, show the boys how it’s done!” After giving the Corps fifteen years, Nicole Campos had gone to law school, returned to The Falls and was now an associate with the local law firm.

The red bandanna tied to the middle of the rope went back and forth over the chalk line without either side giving quarter. Biceps and triceps were visible as the combatants fought for superiority. The heat from the sun, which had emerged from behind puffy clouds, beat down mercilessly on those gathered in the field to watch what had become a battle of gladiators.

Angela spied Joyce standing off from the crowd, frowning. Her expression indicated her distaste for the display of physical prowess, and she wondered if anyone or anything other than her grandchildren made her happy. Whenever she was around Malcolm and Zoe she’d become the overindulgent grandmother.

The competition continued for ten more grueling minutes, and then, without warning, the teams released the rope and declared it a draw, much to the disappointment of the spectators. A five-minute break ensued before the next competition: bell ringing. It was a team effort again and this time Aiden’s team was awarded a first-place ribbon. Only six signed up for the weight-lifting contest. It began with bench-pressing one-fifty, increasing each round by fifty pounds.

Angela managed to push her way to the front of the crowd and held her breath as a pregnant silence fell over the assembled when Aiden failed to powerlift five hundred pounds. The next contestant also failed. She closed her eyes for several seconds as Lee lay on the bench and slowly lifted the barbell until it was above his head. Although not as heavily muscled as his team leader, he was younger and in peak conditioning compared to the former navy SEAL. He managed three repetitions before resting the bar on its stand. Hoots and whistles rent the air as Lee bowed as if he were an actor taking curtain calls.

Angela did not have time to react when Lee lifted her effortlessly off her feet and held her over his head. The crowd cheered with more hoots and whistles as he spun her around and around. He’s gone and lost his mind, she thought as her heart pumped wildly against her ribs. He stopped spinning and slowly set her on feet. Angela gripped his shirt to maintain her balance. “You’re going to pay for that,” she threatened.

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