Page 18 of War

He nodded to indicate he’d heard but he wasn’t discussing any more with all the ears listening right now. He wasn’t airing his dirty laundry and it wouldn’t affect his performance on the security job. Remington cleared the course and looked at her score. She kicked the edge of the board walking toward the exit. She’d had a phenomenal time and record. Why was she unhappy with her stats?

“Rem was a little slower with that switch up in the course. Was that your idea?” Winnie’s glare at him would’ve had a lesser man shriveling but he held his ground.

“It wasn’t me.”

“Cannon and I decided it was a good idea to switch up some of the course pop-ups. We do this course weekly. While the placement of the targets changes, the actual faces haven’t been changed since we opened. Getting stale could have ramifications. We can’t compromise the safety of our clients or the members of our team.”

Jesse had an excellent point. War nodded then headed down the stairs for his turn. He kept his eyes off the course as it was reset. No way was he giving Remington any ammunition for teasing him that he was cheating. If he was going to beat her, and he was going to try his hardest, he’d win fairly.

Remington was waiting for him inside the locker room.

“Good run.”

“Yeah, they got me having that picture of you, but I understand. Here’s your gun and your course safety gear. You’ll go out this door, holding at the yellow line. The light will change from red to green along with a loud buzz when your turn starts. There should be about twenty targets that pop up as you make your way through the course. There are a couple of choices as you go through. Some have more targets. Some have less.”

“Got it. Thanks.” He watched her leave, admiring how her tactical pants highlighted the curve of her ass, knowing he didn’t have time to admire her ass when he was here to practice for their security detail.Fucking focus, War.

He hadn’t run a course since they’d been home and he’d been so focused on his case before he left the department, it had probably been a year since he’d run one. He’d kept up on his range time, but he’d been slacking. Time to see how he stacked up to Remington.

~**~

REMINGTON SMILED ATher sisters and the guys exchanging money. She and War had finished with a tie between the two competitions. Bear was the one winning all the bets and was actually sporting a small grin. It had done what she needed. War had seen her skills and she’d analyzed his. She was confident they could work together on the detail in two weeks.

Cannon had said she’d been a good girl doing the course even with the changes and shown her his purchase but said he could order a second if she was interested. The Beretta 80X Cheetah was a beauty with the bronze grip and the optics slide was perfect. She told him to hold off on ordering it. She’d bought a new gun three weeks ago and should wait for any new toys.

She was starving and some of the time they all met for lunch but right now, she needed a break from her sisters. Maybe she could heat up leftovers at the house, although today the diner had meatloaf on the menu. He only offered it once a week and it was one of her favorites.

“Hey, I feel like I got us off on the wrong foot. Besides hurting, I’ve been a little put out about all the things I didn’t know. I’d like to take you to lunch and apologize. Maybe you could help me out by giving me a rundown of some of the major changes.”

She’d steeled herself to be around him for the hours on the course and now, he was wanting to extend it. His hopeful tone seemed at odds with the War she’d been encountering lately. It was the absolute last thing she wanted to do but they would be working together soon. Maybe she should. Maybe being around him would help her to not focus on how his full lips looked nestled in his beard and how they’d feel against her. Seeing his tattoos across the table from her might help her quit imagining tracing them with her tongue. Maybe she just needed to be exposed to him a little more and his attitude would turn her attention from everything she thought about him at night.

“Okay.”

The look of surprise on his face most likely matched hers because she’d answered before she even realized what she was doing.

“Do you want to ride on my bike?”

At that, she smirked. She’d taken her bike today for their competition because it was one of the few sunny days this week and she’d needed the calming drive to prepare for today.

“Thanks, but mine’s out front. It will be easier to follow you then leave directly from there for my next appointment. I don’t want to have to backtrack to here.”

She put her helmet on, fastening it, then started up her baby, a 2009 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe, and followed behind War out onto the road leading to the highway. She appreciated he wasn’t taking the back way. It had been dry and with the road being dirt, she would have been coated in the fine red dust. If she didn’t know War better, she’d think he was disappointed she wasn’t riding with him, but he wouldn’t care. He was making nice with her because they would be working together. Plus, she was positive Regina had probably had a little chat with him after last Sunday’s lunch. Sunday was the only time Regina demanded all the MC be there for lunch. They were her family whether by blood or choice and she used the time to check on them.

When her mom was alive, their family would join the MC at least once a month for Sunday lunch. After they’d lost her mom, Regina had been the one helping her hold the family together. They’d all been adults when they lost her, but her dad had gone into a deep depression. Regina had worried about all of them and made the rule they would all be at Sunday lunch unless they were sick or gone on a job. It had been one of the best things for them. It gave Regina a chance to check on each of them and help them through the grief process. Baron and Rascal had taken it upon themselves to be there for her dad.

She backed into the parking space that the diner kept out front for motorcycles. He had six spaces specifically for motorcycles. As a biker himself, he wanted them to know they were always welcome. His diner had been around back when the MC formed in 1977. Some of the townspeople hadn’t been quite as thrilled but most had come around when they saw all the good the MC did and the protection they provided as a courtesy to their neighbors. He and Regina had been partners in the early years, but he’d bought out her share when Regina had decided it was too much when she was pregnant with her and Baron’s fourth child.

She followed War up to the diner door where he held it open for her. When was the last time a man opened the door for her? Sure, she could open it herself and she wanted to be seen as strong when she was working but if she went out on a date, she wanted the guy to treat her a little special. Today wasn’t a date but War’s holding the door was nice.

She waved at the owner as she grabbed her favorite booth. One side allowed you to see the front door and the other allowed you to see the door from the hallway which led to the back parking lot. When a couple of the other businesses on the street complained about the diner taking all the parking, the owner had bought the lot behind him and turned it into a parking lot. On Saturdays, rain or shine, he allowed the townspeople to set up booths to sell their items whether it was food, crafts or thrift. He had a whole system set up to give everyone a chance. She loved how he gave back to the community. War gave her a questioning glance when she allowed him to choose which side he’d rather have.

She slid into the seat and leaned forward, whispering, “I’ll tell you my secret if you promise you won’t share. I don’t want my favorite booth always taken.” At his nod, she continued. “Your side obviously can see the front door. About five years ago, he added a back parking lot and a door in the hallway to it. This booth is perfect because either side gives you at least one of the entrances and as long as you trust the person with you, then you’re always covered.”

“Noted. I won’t share your secret. I appreciate you trusting me with your back. Now, it’s been a while since I’ve eaten here. What’s his special now?”

“Today is meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy and rolls. Thank goodness we got here early because it sells out at lunch every week.”

Instead of the waitress, the owner came over to take their order.

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