Page 66 of Blind Attraction

A hollow pop blasted the air and Mitch ducked. Blake stumbled in front of him, his hands falling to his hip and clutching tight. Mitch grabbed him around the shoulders before he fell, keeping him upright.

“She shot me!” Blake glanced down at his shaking hands.

Oh, shit. What had Mitch dragged his friend into? Adrenaline kicked in, accelerating his heart, clearing his mind. Loud footsteps echoed from behind them and Mitch moved to shield Blake with his body before looking over his shoulder.

Alana.

She ran toward him, her wild, brown hair flailing around her shoulders, eyes wide, mouth agape. He stared, shock gripping him by the shrunken balls. She spared him a fleeting glance before glaring back at the porch where her mother clutched at her ribs.

“Mom, get inside!” she screamed as she came up beside him and nudged him out of the way. “Get Patty. Now.”

“I-It’s only a pellet. It isn’t a r-real rifle.” Her mother replied, fear evident in her voice.

Blake slid to the ground, his back resting against the car tire.

Alana fell to her knees. “Show me.” She raised his shirt and hissed in a breath at the blood. Her head snapped to the house, toward her mother who still waited on the porch, the gun now lowered. “It may not be arealrifle but you’ve causedrealdamage. Now go get Patty.” She turned back to Blake. “I’m so sorry.”

Mitch stepped back and allowed the guilt to take over his body. His head pounded, making his vision swim and he stumbled sideways. He laid a hand against the cool metal of the car and breathed deep. Red liquid covered Blake’s stomach and Alana’s hands. Not much at all, just enough to make Mitch giddy.

“It’s only a scratch,” he heard Alana whisper.

He peered down at her and caught her staring back at him, her eyebrows raised. “What are you doing here?”

The front door slammed, and Mitch moved out of the way as an auburn-haired lady knelt beside Alana with a first aid kit. “Hi. I’m Patty.”

Blake shrunk back, his gaze flashing from Alana to the other woman. “I’m fine, really.” He held up his hands. “It’s a scratch.”

“Don’t be silly.” Patty opened her first aid kit and snapped on a pair of gloves.

“It’s all right, Blake. Patty’s a nurse. She works here.” Alana squeezed his shoulder and he slumped with a deep breath.

Patty gripped his elbow. “Why don’t we get you into the house so I can take a look at you?”

“Umm.” His gaze went from Patty, to Alana, to Mitch, and back to Alana. “No offense, but your mom is all kinds of crazy. I’d prefer to stay out here if that’s OK.”

Alana grimaced and Patty chuckled. “A big tattooed guy like you is afraid of a little lady with a broken arm and a pellet gun?” Patty raised her brows and stood. “Come on.” She held out her hand. “I’ll protect you.”

Blake moved to his feet with a wince. “I hope so, cause those pellets hurt like a bitch.”

Alana kept her back to Mitch, her body facing Patty and Blake as they made their way up the front steps and into the main house. Her spine was stiff, her shoulders rigid.

“I’m sorry, Allie.”

Her chin rose and she heaved a heavy breath. “Why are you here?”

“I needed to see you. I needed to apologize.”

Silence.

He gravitated toward her, closing the distance, and placed his hands on her shoulders. She shuddered at his touch, and he didn’t know if he should back away or clutch her tighter. “I’m sorry.”

She stepped forward, dislodging his grip. “I better go check on Blake.” She walked toward the house, quickly making her way onto the porch.

“Allie.”

She paused, the screen door held open in her hand, and glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes were glazed, her lips pressed together in a tight line.

He wished he could wipe away her anguish with a brush of his lips. “Promise you’ll give me a chance to explain later?”

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