Page 11 of His Last Shot
“Right. That’s what all the supposed good guys say. Trust me.” Even though I get a good feeling from this man, I still need to be cautious. My heart likes to fall fast. And that fast heart of mine has burned me.
“Fair enough.” He reaches into his back pocket. “I tell you what.” Sliding his ID out of his wallet, he hands it to me. “Here, take a picture of this and send it to whoever you want. Tell them you are going to Miller’s Bluff with me to hang out. Turn on your location so whoever you send this to can track us. We can even drive separate. What do you say?”
I chomp on the inside of my mouth, contemplating. With hesitation and a surge of curiosity, I take his license.God, what am I doing? I just met this man.
A sigh of relief and a small satisfied smile graces his smooth, stubble-free face. Refusing to get lost in his stare, I dip my gaze to his mouth, trying to avoid being swallowed whole by his piercing eyes.
Well, that’s not any better.So I zero in on his chiseled jaw and the way his Adam’s apple rolls when he swallows.
I redirect my attention and snap a pic, texting it to my brother, and giving him Johnny’s instructions. His reply comes almost immediately.
Micah: I KNEW IT! It was the dimples, wasn’t it?
Micah: KIDDING! Be safe. Johnny’s company did our reno. Uncle Dexter says they are great guys.
A sense of peace fills my soul when he says this because I trust my brother’s judgement.
I hand him back his license, our fingers brushing as our eyes lock. Bravery propels me forward as I smirk. “Johnson Michael Givens huh?”
A chuckle rumbles from his chest as he drinks me in with a glimmer in his roving glare, neither of us letting go of his ID. “You can call my Johnny.” His fingertip brushes my knuckle lightly as his words, smooth like silk, fill me from within. Heat flares and whizzes from my hand, up my arm, and straight to my cheeks. I let go of his ID and as I watch him pocket it, I immediately realize I didn't look at his date of birth to get his age.
Dang it!
I blink before dipping my chin and huffing out a laugh of utter disbelief in myself and my poor decision-making. “Okay. I’ll follow you there.”
At this point, I will follow him anywhere.
3
You Know Where to Find Me
Rachel
Before I know it, we are lying in the bed of his truck on some blankets, gazing at the most beautiful brilliant sky I have ever seen. It’s a perfectly clear night, and I swear every star ever created shines in the sky.
It’s breathtaking, and I get why he brought me here.
My big coat and his hot body help with the frosty night air.
We lie here, stargazing as we talk, with him pointing out a shooting star every so often. Never have I had a conversation flow the way that it is with him. It’s as if we have known each other for fifteen years and not fifteen minutes.
It’s refreshing, easy. And scary.
The temperature takes a nosedive as a cool breeze brushes across my body, and I know this will wreak my joints. It already is. My elbow is stiff and resists bending, while a dull ache throbs in my knees.
The night air is seeping into my bones, causing me to shiver. Johnny turns, noticing. “Are you cold?”
“A little.”
“Okay, stay right here.” As if I'm going anywhere, he jumps to his feet, causing the truck to rock some as he opens the back window and heaves out a huge wool blanket. He returns and, with extra care, covers my body, the warmth of the wool already taking the chill away.
Gratitude fills my heart. “Thank you.”
He nestles back down and adjusts the blanket to cover both of us. He stretches his arm behind his head, staring at the heavens. “Okay. I’m ready.”
My eyes grow wide. “Ready for what, exactly?” Because if he thinks THAT’S happening, he’s crazy.
“For you to read me. You’ve had enough time.” His gaze never leaves the expansive sky as he wiggles his body and settles in. “Hit me.”
