by Mia Carson
“What’s going on now?” Iris asked, walking over to stare at them. They grinned at each other, enjoying their secret, and now she wished she hadn’t introduced them for a very different reason. “Sam, where’s he taking me?”
“You’ll like it, I promise,” Sam smiled. “But I should warn you, she’s damn good.”
Iris’s hands balled at her hips as she scowled at Sam, but he scowled back at her. When she turned to Alec, he smirked. “I hate you both right now.”
“We know,” Sam said cheerfully, “but not for long.”
Alec shifted forward as if to wrap his arm around her again, but his cell rang and he frowned. “Sorry, have to take this. I’ll just be outside,” he said and walked out, leaving Iris alone with Sam.
“I like him,” Sam said the second Alec was gone. “You should just make him your new boyfriend and be done with it.”
Iris sighed and messed up his hair. “It's not that easy. We only met last night.”
“Really? You don’t act like it,” he said with a glance towards the door. “Huh, just like Mom and Dad.”
“No, not just like Mom and Dad,” she argued and paced around the room, picking up his clothes and refolding them on the small couch in the room. “We’re just friends—acquaintances, really.”
Sam cackled, and she glanced over her shoulder to see him leaning back on the bed with his hands behind his head. “You were always a shitty liar.”
“Language,” she muttered halfheartedly. “Mom would chuck something at you if you spoke like that.” She put his clothes in a pile so they’d be ready to go tomorrow when she came to pick him up. “What did he tell you?”
“I’m not going to ruin the surprise,” he said. “It’ll give you a chance to blow off some steam.”
She wanted to keep bugging him, but Alec walked back in. The flash of anger in his eyes was brief, but it was there all the same. “Alec, everything okay?”
“Sorry,” he said and smiled, instantly transforming his whole face. “Nothing to worry about. Ready to go? I want to get where we’re going before it’s too late.”
“And you still won’t tell me?” she pushed, but he laughed as he held out his hand.
“Not a chance. Sam, it was very nice to meet you and I’m happy you’re in remission.”
“Thanks!” he said and waved. “Just remember, I’m watching you.”
Alec held up his hands and placed one over his chest. “Promise I won’t break her heart.”
The words caught Iris off-guard. She let him pull her out the door, knowing full well he was kidding, but the tone of his voice said there was more to it than that. Did he really like her that much after one day together? They barely knew each other. His hand slipped into hers, and Iris was drawn into his warmth. She turned to face him, wanting to ask him but not sure how to do it without coming across as desperate. Alec stared into her eyes intently, his lips parting on a breath, and Iris worried about what he saw when he looked at her. She was broken, tattered, and reaching the edge of what she could handle every day. She was not date-able, yet Alec had taken care of her last night—a perfect stranger—without question. He comforted her without even knowing it, simply by walking with her through the town filled with so many people who hated her.
“Alec,” she whispered, but the next words failed her.
He brushed his thumb over her lip again and leaned down. His lips slanted sweetly over hers, and she relaxed into him, kissing him in the hallway of the hospital. She reached up, running her hands through his hair before they latched behind his neck, dragging him closer, when someone cleared his throat behind her, and she jumped back. Dr. Wallace stood nearby with Brad by his side. Both men smirked as she hurried to fix her hair and introduced them to Alec.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Dr. Wallace said and shook his hand. His gaze slid to Iris from behind his glasses, and his smile widened. “Nice to see Iris smiling for a change. Keep it up,” he added and patted Alec on the back.
“Oh no, we’re not… It’s not like that…” Iris gave up and her head fell back as she shook it, staring in annoyance at the ceiling. “Never mind.”
Laughing, Alec reached out for her hand. “Come on. Time to really get this date started.”
She could only imagine what Alec had in store for them, but after that kiss, there was no hiding her excitement over his sudden appearance in her life.
Chapter 6
Alec didn’t want to let go of Iris’s hand as they walked towards the outskirts of Lundy and the shooting range. All day, he caught glimpses of her pain, even though she tried to hide it behind strength. He knew the look well enough, had seen it plenty of times when he looked in the mirror. Now, though, his pain was fading the more he was around her, and the idea that Nikki had brought him to his knees pissed him off. She wasn’t worth his anger, not anymore. He was going to move on in this small town with Iris right by his side. If he could convince her to call this an actual date.
“It’s a date,” he argued again. “Our second date, to be precise.”
“That was not a date,” she said, exasperated. “Last night was a rescue mission, if anything, and you’re still not telling me everything that happened.”
He nodded and laughed. “Nor am I going to, not until I drop you safely off back home.”
“I can take care of myself, you know,” she muttered.
“Right. I saw that last night when I carried you halfway to your house,” he teased, and she stopped so suddenly, his arm was jerked back.
“You had to carry me? Jesus, how much did I drink?”
“I think you snuck a few shots when I wasn’t looking, but you had your reasons,” he assured her and cupped her cheek in his hand. “Why are you so against dates?”
She shrugged and tried to pull her hand from Alec’s, but he swung her around instead so she was pressed against his chest. He held her loosely in his arms as she stared up at him with those dark gray eyes, and he wondered exactly what she was thinking about.
“It’s not the dating I worry about,” she finally answered quietly. “It’s what might happen afterwards. It’s not like I have the greatest experience with men. Jenson’s about it.”
“You think I’m like him?” Alec asked seriously.
“No,” she said immediately, and from her firm tone, he knew she was speaking truthfully. “No, but my life isn’t a happy fairytale someone can just hop into and know everything’s going to be fine. I’m a bit of a mess, if you hadn’t figured that out yet.”
Alec kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly to him. When she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her palms against his back, he grinned and closed his eyes on a sigh. “You’re not the only one who has issues.”
“Oh, yeah? Like what? You’ve been nothing but perfect.”
“Ha! They’re there, don’t worry.” He stepped back and took her hand, leading her straight to the gun range. “Ready for the fun part of our date?”
She glanced at the shooting range and back at him, and her face lit up. “You’re taking me shooting? For a date? Damn it, Sam was right,” she muttered and rolled her eyes. “I’ll never hear the end of it later.”
Alec smirked as he held open the door for her. “I thought I read you right.”
They stepped inside his new, state-of-the-art shooting range, complete with a shop in the front part, four fifty-yard lanes, two one-hundred-yard lanes, and more out back. The room was complete with exposed, dark wooden beams, hardwood floors, and a hearth on the far side by the small café he’d opened as well. Iris hurried inside, going to the counters and eyeing the guns inside with a critical eye. She moved down the row, and he planted his hands on his hips, happy to see her smile—really smile.
“Hey, Mac,” he called out to the guy behind the far counter. “Seen August around?”
Iris turned around with a curious stare as Mac nodded. “He was cleaning up lanes five and six a while ago.”
“Thanks,” Alec said and sauntered over. “M
ind getting me some targets ready?”
“Sure thing, boss,” he said and saluted him with a grin before heading towards the back room where they kept the targets laid out.
“Boss?” Iris asked. “He called you boss.”
“I tell him he doesn’t have to, but they all insist on doing it anyway,” he said and nudged her arm. “Pick one, and we’ll go shooting. Your brother said you’d like it, so I’m assuming you have a favorite.”
Iris shook her head. “Why didn’t you tell me you owned the gun range?”
“I thought it was obvious,” he said and turned around, leaning back against the case. “It’s called Wolf Gun and Archery Range.”
She smacked his arm playfully, and he smiled widely. “So that’s why Sam said I was good.”
“Was he kidding?”
Iris walked slowly down the cases to the rifles and knelt to peer inside. “Nope. No, he wasn’t. Bet I can even best you, cowboy,” she said with wicked glint in her eyes as her lips curled in a smile.
“A bet, is it?” he asked and followed her. “I’ll take that bet. What are we laying on the table?”
“Good question. What is your heart’s desire?” she said lightly, fluttering her eyelashes at him and placing a hand over her heart.
He crossed his arms over his chest and pressed his tongue into his cheek as he thought it over. “A third date with you.” When her eyes darkened and her lips twitched in a smile before she quickly covered it up, he nodded. “Yep, a third date. That’s what I want if I win.”
“Fine,” she said and straightened. “If I win—which I’m going to—I get to come here for free whenever I want.”
“You do realize if you do that, I will make sure each time is a date with me,” he warned her and sidled closer, watching her breathing accelerate and her eyes narrow. Her lips parted as she licked them slowly. He followed the motion with his eyes, thinking of their kiss and how he’d wanted to go further. She had too, if her kiss was any indication. When he was barely an inch from her, he lowered his head, ready to kiss her again to prove this was not going to end as she and Jenson had, when someone knocked on the glass counter.
Alec’s hand fisted, and he whipped his head around. August was on the other side, grinning from ear to ear as he held his face up with his clasped hands, watching them as if he was falling in love. His eyes widened, and he pretended to swoon.
“Aren’t you two just romantic as ever?” August sighed, and Alec reached across the counter to grab him by the shirtfront. The former laughed and held up his hands. “What? Just pointing out the obvious.”
“As always,” Alec grumbled. Reaching over farther, he put his brother in a headlock, giving him a noogie like he used to do when they were kids. “Iris, this is my brother August.”
August held out a hand and with an over-exaggerated croaky voice, said, “Nice to meet you.”
Iris took his hand as she shook with laughter. “You too. I didn’t know Alec had a brother.”
“Younger—half-brother, to be precise,” August said.
Alec frowned and let his brother go, patting his cheek. “Full, I don’t care what anyone says. We’re getting ready to shoot on five and six. Care to watch me show this pretty little lady up?” He winked and pretended to tip a hat on his head.
Iris’s face was eerily calm as she pointed at the rifle in the case. “I’ll use that one, if you don’t mind, and you will be the one who gets shown up today.”
“Wait,” August cut in, waving his hands between them. “Did you bring her here on a date?”
“Yes, I did. Problem?”
August face-palmed. “You meet a pretty woman in the new town you’re living in and your idea of a date is to take her shooting? Wow, you’re more messed up than I thought you were. Nikki did a number on you.”
Iris turned to August. “Nikki?”
Alec glared at August and shook his head, but his brother was too busy pulling the black Howa 30-06 rifle out of the case and getting ready to unlock the trigger to see. “His ex,” he said casually.
“I see,” Iris said and turned to Alec with an eyebrow cocked. “Interesting.”
“We’ll talk about my past when you’re ready to talk about yours,” he countered.
Iris’s eyes narrowed to slits, and she threw her shoulders back. “Fine. Are we going to shoot or what?”
Inwardly, Alec breathed a sigh of relief and asked August to fetch his personal rifle from the gun safe in back. He said he’d be right along with it, and Alec led Iris back to the ranges. They donned ear and eye protection first, then headed to the two one-hundred-yard ranges. Mac was there with the targets, and he hung one up in each range, clipping them in. He waved at them both, then ducked out of the room. Iris set up the rifle on lane six and waited for August to arrive with Alec’s gun and ammo.
“You sure you don’t want to back out of our deal?” Alec asked.
She shook her head and tapped the ear protection. “These are nice. No yelling.”
“Only the best for my customers,” he told her. He adjusted the volume on his set of ear protection. The new gear would drown out the sound of the gun firing but allowed the shooter to hear if anyone spoke to him through a mic built into the sides.
August walked in, eyes and ears on too, and handed over Alec’s rifle. “Ammo for you both,” he said and set a box down for Alec and another for Iris. “Can’t wait to see this.”
Alec smiled but didn’t load his rifle. He motioned for Iris to shoot first. She hit the button on the sidewall, and the target zoomed back one hundred yards to the far end of the range. He hoped he’d be able to move in beside her and guide her hands where they needed to be. It would give him an excuse to get close again, but as he watched her, his lips pursed.
“I’ll be damned,” August said beside him. “That woman knows how to handle a gun.”
“She hasn’t even shot yet,” Alec argued, but he knew August was right.
Iris set up the bipod on the rifle, reached behind her, and pulled up the chair. Once she was seated, she pressed her eye to the scope, adjusting the knobs until she nodded and reached for the ammo. She loaded one bullet in the gun and made ready to shoot. Alec shifted so he was right behind her. Alec handed him a small pair of binoculars and waited, his eyes on the target one hundred yards away. A boom echoed through the room as Iris pulled the trigger, and Alec watched the target barely move as the bullet hit a little to the right of the bullseye.
“How many shots are we doing?” she asked without turning around.
“Best out of five,” he told her.
She chambered another round and pulled the trigger. Alec cursed under his breath when this one hit dead center. The next three tore the hole bigger, and when Iris clicked the safety into place and stood up to face Alec and August, the gloating smile on her face told Alec he was in trouble.
“Not bad for a little girlie,” she announced and brushed imaginary dust from her shoulder. “Your turn, hot shot.”
August took the binoculars from Alec and patted him on the shoulder. “You’re so screwed, man.” He backed away, and Alec pressed his tongue in his cheek as he nodded stiffly. He walked to lane five to set up his rifle, also a 30-06, a Winchester instead of a Howa.
He settled in his chair, placed his eye to the scope, and focused on his target at the end of the lane. His finger rested on the trigger, and he fired his first round. It was off center by two inches, and Iris whistled behind him. He hung his head for a second then loaded his second round. This one was off by three inches.
“Damn it,” he muttered.
“Do you need some help?” Iris asked. “I could show you a thing or two.”
August laughed loudly, but Alec ignored them both. His next two shots were closer and his fifth was finally dead-on. He stood and pressed the button to recall both targets as August collected the rifles and carried them out of the lanes to clean them.
“Wow, would you look at that,” Iris said as she held up her targe
t, peering at him through the hole she’d ripped through the middle with her shots. “I’m a better shot than the owner.”
He pushed the target aside and wrapped his arm around her waist. She gasped, but the light in her eyes told him all he needed to know. “Guess I’ll get to see you quite often now.”
“Guess you will,” she whispered, her chest brushing against his with every breath she sucked in.
“It’s getting late. I’ll walk you home,” he said and removed his arm reluctantly from her body.
They left the lanes, and Alec had her write her name on her target so he could hang it up on the wall behind the counter with the others. “Aren’t you going to put yours up?” August asked, and Alec glared at him. “What? Just asking.”
“Close up for me? I’ll see you at home,” he told his brother and walked Iris out of the gun range. “Who the hell taught you to shoot?” he asked when they were on their way back to town.
“My dad,” she said, her hand slipping easily into his. “He started when I was ten and took me hunting when I was eleven. Every deer season, turkey season, whatever season, we hunted.”
“Remind me never to piss you off,” he remarked.
“It takes a lot to do that these days, unless you’re Jenson,” she replied as her whole body stiffened. “You still haven’t told me what happened, and we’re at the end of our date.”
Alec stared at his boots as they walked, not wanting to ruin the moment between them, but she had a right to know if her ex was watching her and showing up at her house so late at night. “You’re not going to the bar tonight and get drunk if I do, are you?”
“What if I do?” she asked.
“I just need to know so I can happen to be there to walk you home again and make sure you get inside safely.”
“Alec, really, what happened? You sound like you want to strangle someone.”
He ground his teeth together before finally muttering, “He showed up at your house last night, was waiting on the sidewalk for me to leave. He wanted to know who I was and if I was dating you, then warned me to stay away from his girl.” His grip tightened protectively on her hand when hers shook, and she sucked in a breath. “Iris, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
