Page 102 of Second Chance Savior

“Can you show it to me? And on the way, we can talk.”

“Conveniently away from River? He’s not eavesdropping. Unlike some people. He’s busy with something else.”

“Doing what?”

“Never mind.” I nodded my head toward the archery range. “Let’s go check out the range.”

“Uh huh. So, whatever he’s doing, you’re not supposed to tell me.” She huffed a laugh, though she didn’t soundamused. “You and River seem to have bonded quite a bit over the last three days.”

I let that comment pass unanswered. For now.

We made it to the archery range. Sometime in the past decade, my father had built a wooden sun shelter here to keep it nice and shady on sunny days. Like today. To buy time, because I wasn’t eager for this conversation, I went to the insulated supply cabinet. Dad kept the equipment out here in the summer for easy access.

“You want to shoot?” I asked Brynn.

“You know I do. I would never pass that up. Your parents have a sweet range here.”

“This is where I learned.”

Though my most vivid memories of this place were of River and me. I was protective of those memories. Protective ofhim.

Brynn looked over my shoulder into my dad’s collection of bows and arrows. “So your dad hunts with these?” She pointed at the various broadheads, the wickedly sharp metal tips that could cut through flesh.

“Yep. I’ve gone with him.”

“Not planning to use those on me, are you?” she joked. “Didn’t think you werethatmad.”

I frowned at her over my shoulder. “That depends. Where’s my cat? You didn’t leave Cleo alone, did you?”

“What kind of person do you think I am? She’s staying with Agent Torres.”

“I was meaning to ask about him and Rainey.”

I strung my recurve bow. Brynn selected a compound, which was already strung. While we set up, Brynn told me how her co-agents were doing. Agent Rainey had been the one to retrieve the car when we realized Brynn had been drugged. Agent Torres had helped River and me get awaywhen Stillwater’s henchmen had attacked. Both of them had risked their lives to help me.

Brynn told me that both agents had been injured. Rainey had made it to the car, but someone had rammed into him, disabling his vehicle and breaking his arm in two places. So he’d been out for the count. Agent Torres had been shot in the side, but it had been through and through.

“They’re doing fine,” Brynn assured me. “Whining about being bored with desk duty. Injured agents are the worst.”

We faced the targets and took a few practice shots.

“I haven’t had a chance to thank you again for your help that night,” I said. “It was awful. We were all lucky to make it out alive. Stillwater could’ve done worse than giving you an upset stomach.”

Brynn smiled ruefully. “That was definitely not pretty. I hated that I wasn’t there when the bullets started flying. Thank God River was. I have my issues with him, but he was there.”

“He’s come through for me. Over and over again.” I lined up another shot at the target.

“But Charlotte, I’ve got to be honest. When he showed up in Denver, you wanted nothing to do with him. You barely trusted him. You also made it clear that he’d hurt you in the past. So you have to see why I’m concerned when I see you kissing the man like he’s the love of your life.”

I sputtered, my arrow going wide. “Hardly. It was a quick kiss.”

“Not from where I was standing. The two of you kissed like lovers. I admit my romantic track record isn’t stellar, but I know what that looks like.”

“So we’re having a fling. In a way, it was a long time coming. Just something we’re working out of our systems. Stress relief.”

But as I said those words, they felt hollow. River had toldme he loved me. And what I felt for him… It was growing so fast, it scared me.

“Not sure I buy that,” Brynn said. “The way the man looks at you? Protects you like he would lay down his life, no, make that kill if anyone comes near you? I get it. It’s sexy to have that kind of male attention directed at you. I’ve got a weakness for that kind of guy too. But such a turnaround, after three days of isolation with the man? Do you see what I’m getting at?”

---