Page 38 of Ruining Him (McKinley Ranch Duet 2)

Josh

Emily stops me before we’re about to walk through the front door. “Josh, did you bet on me to lose? Because I can purposely lose if you need me to.”

“Fuck no, I didn’t bet on you to lose. Em, I bet on you to win. Although, I don’t really care if you win or lose. It’s just a bit of fun, Emmy. Relax.”

“Two million dollars is not a bit of fun, Joshua.”

“We make that in a day. It’s fine. You have shot a gun before, right? Do you need a quick rundown on what to do?” I’m not sure why I expect her to have range experience. She’s just always been the girl who can conquer anything she attempts.

She smiles at me. A mischievous smile. “I guess we’re about to find out.”

When we walk down to the basement, where my father had an indoor gun range built, we find everyone waiting. Bray is jumping up and down like a damn lunatic.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I ask.

“Just warming up the muscles. Where the fuck are your clothes?” He bounces around, punching the air.

“Who needs clothes when you look like this?” I ask, waving a hand down my bare chest. I probably should have taken Em to get dressed before we came in here; she doesn’t seem to mind though.

“You know you’re not getting into the ring, moron. You’re shooting a fucking handgun.” Looking at Emily, I whisper in her ear, “You are at least a thousand times smarter than him, babe. You’ve got this.”

“This is going to be fun.” She laughs.

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road. Hope you got your bank on standby, McKinley. Sorry, Emily, nothing personal, but you’re about to get beat,” Bray says, still jumping around like a fool.

“Well, that’s okay. It’s about having fun, right? Not winning or losing,” Emily replies in a sugary-sweet voice. A tone I haven’t heard since high school. I laugh. Whatever she’s got up her sleeve, it’s going to be good.

“That’s what all the losers say.” Bray laughs.

I watch as Emily walks off to the side of the room, and to the table that hosts a spread of handguns. She looks at all the choices, biting her lip. Fuck, she seems nervous and unsure. Maybe I overestimated her comfort level...

“Okay, you go first. Show me how it’s done, Bray,” Emily says quietly.

I pull her into my arms and whisper in her ear, “Em, you know you don’t have to do this, right? Just say so, and we’ll get out of here.”

“I want to do this. Follow my lead, okay?”

“Well, that’s easy. I’d follow you anywhere, babe.”

Her smile eases my mind. She’s okay; she can handle this.

“Bray, calm the hell down before you shoot someone!” Ella shouts.

“Don’t worry, El, if he shoots you, I’ll make sure he ends up pig food.” I wink at her.

“My hero…” Ella pretends to swoon.

“Ella, what the fuck? You are not giving my favourite brother title to him.” Bray points to me.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve never actually had that title. Has he, El?” Zac grunts from his perch on the couch.

“You know what? I don’t have a favourite brother. I hate you all equally.”

“Ouch, what’d I do?” I ask, pretending to be wounded.

“You orchestrated this whole charade. You knew Bray wouldn’t turn down a bet. You’re a sore loser, Josh. How are you going to cope if he wins and Emily loses?”

“Emily never loses,” I say confidently. Emily coughs behind me.

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