Page 61 of Brew
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
It’s only when the chamber is empty do I realize his hands left mine and I did it by myself. He takes it out of my hands, then switches the safety back on, laying the gun flat, pointing away from us.
He lifts my earmuffs clean off. “Shall we see how you did?”
I nod, unable to speak.
He leans to the side of us and pushes a button. The paper target moves toward us. As it comes into view, I see my erratic shooting, but one is close to the middle.
“Very good,” he tells me. “I’m impressed.”
“At least I hit the thing,” I agree.
The thing.
His hands at my hips, I’ve never wanted anything so bad in my entire life. “Did you like it?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “More than I expected, but I still don’t think carrying a gun is for me.”
“Don’t have to carry one, but knowin’ how to protect yourself is never a bad thing.”
He spins me in his arms.
“I feel a ‘but’ coming on?” I try to make light of it, but it’s like he can see right through me.
He stares at me like I’m the only thing in the universe. It’s unnerving.Does he look at all women like this?I guess I have nothing to compare it to because I’ve never seen him with a woman at the clubhouse, or anywhere for that matter.
“Nope. But what I would like to know is why your heart’s beatin’ so fast?”
“It isn’t. And in any case, how would you be able to tell that?”
“I’m an ex-Green Beret remember, I know things.” His hand brushes my hair back off of my face, and I’m locked in his gaze. The annoying son of a bitch has me in his grip, and he knows it.
I play the game. “Like what?”
“You wanna know my trade secrets?”
“Yep.” I pop the ‘p’.
“Your cheeks flush whenever I touch you, and your breathing accelerates.”
“Observant.”
“Always.”
Wait, is that a hint of a smile?
“I like that,” the words fall out of my mouth. His face falls in question and I add, “when you accidentally smile.”
He pauses for a beat, then says, “Who says it’s an accident?”
“You’re not the only one who’s observant, Brew.”
