“Oh yeah? Seeing the way you shoot, I think I made a mistake joining the marines. I’m Noah.”
“Lena.” She nodded to her gun. “I’d like to shoot another round—”
“Great job!” A beaming Georgia moved to the marine’s side, resting her hand on his arm a
s Hero pushed past them. The golden retriever stood by her side, his body pressed against her legs as if he wanted to reassure her that he was here for her. But Hero’s gaze was fixed on Noah.
“I’ll have to bring you back here again,” Georgia continued. “But right now, I think we need to head out. Your boys are getting restless.”
“My boys?” Lena searched her friend’s face, looking for a clue.
Georgia nodded to the viewing area where Chad stood with his arms folded across his chest, no sign of his charm-your-pants-off smile. Maybe Noah hadn’t learned the look from Chad. Maybe he’d stolen it.
Hero dropped the well-chewed duck and licked her hand, reminding her of her other “boy.”
“He wanted me to give this to you.” Georgia held out a folded scrap of paper with the local gas station logo on the front.
Lena unfolded the receipt and read the neatly printed words on the back.
Take what you need from me, beautiful. Give the orders and I’ll follow you wherever you want to go. But remember when you come, I want to hear you scream my name.
Heat rose in her cheeks as she quickly folded the paper, hiding his words. She glanced at the window. Chad hadn’t moved an inch, but he wasn’t staring at her now. He was looking at Noah as if he wanted to have a conversation that started with threats and ended with She’s mine.
But she wasn’t his. It was only an illusion. Chad understood the boundaries, didn’t he? Possession wasn’t part of their pretend relationship.
Or maybe he was worried she’d jeopardize the charade.
“I’ll get my gun,” she murmured, picking up the revolver and the box of bullets Georgia had given her when they arrived. After everything Chad had done for her in the past few days, she refused to throw a wrench into their plan. “You’re right, I think the shooting is making Hero nervous.”
“Next time leave your boys at home,” Noah said. “Be my guest and we’ll shoot a few rounds. Army versus marines. We’ll see who comes out on top.”
“Thanks, but I don’t go anywhere without Hero,” she said.
“Noah, if you need someone to prove the army’s better,” Georgia jumped in. “I’m in.”
Noah laughed, shaking his head as he headed back to his position between the left and right sides of the range. “Georgia, I’ve seen the way Eric looks at you. It’s not much different than the pissed-off ‘boy’ behind the glass over there. And while Chad Summers isn’t the possessive type, I can’t say the same for your fiancé.”
“Eric knows I can look out for myself,” Georgia said, her hands on her hips.
Turning to the small structure that housed the viewing area, Lena left them to their argument. She opened the door, the words “not the possessive type” fresh in her mind. One look at Chad’s stern expression and she wondered if this town had sorely misjudged him.
“I’m ready to head out,” she told Chad.
“This is your night, Lena,” he said, his attention focused on her, not the range safety officer. “You can stay for another round.”
She shook her head. Through the open doorway, she could hear Georgia giving the marine shit. She walked up to Chad and placed her hand on his chest. “I’m not going to give anyone a reason to question what’s between us. We’ve started enough rumors, Chad. I know you want to get up in the air, flying your helicopter over the forest. And I understand dreams. I know what it feels like to want something that is held just beyond your reach. So until you are back in that helicopter, living and breathing your dream, I’m yours.”
She stepped closer, dropping her voice just in case Georgia chose that moment to come back inside. “You don’t need to play the part of the jealous boyfriend. I’m going home with you.”
“I’m not the jealous type.” He raised his hand, covering hers.
“Are you sure about that?” She stepped closer, invading his space in a way that sent her pulse racing. Hero pressed against her legs and whined. But she refused to back down. She knew what she wanted. And she’d come too far to fail now. Normal was within reach. She could feel it, brushing her outstretched fingertips. One step forward and she could grab ahold of it.
“I saw the way you looked at the pretty pink toy you bought me,” she added.
His sour attitude vanished, replaced by wanting. “I’m not going to lie. I want to be the one inside you. But I stand by what I said before, you call the shots, Lena. I’ll follow your lead, wherever that takes us.”
“Chad?” She leaned closer and whispered, “No more toys.”