structure, much newer than any of its surroundings. It was unmarked and blatantly out of place. The only signs of life were a handful of cars parked nearby and the occasional popping sound heard in the distance.
“What is this?” Kelsey asked as she stood from his Harley.
“Gun range. What does it look like?”
She raised her eyebrows, certain he wouldn’t want to know what she really thought. “A gun range, of course. What else would it be?”
He laughed a wonderfully boisterous laugh and slid his leg over the side of his bike. Leaning casually against it, he tugged her hand, pulling her body to rest against his. “My friend turned me on to this place. It’s a little unconventional, but you didn’t want anyone you know to see you. I guarantee they won’t see you here.”
She lost track of his words the minute her body pressed against his. “Sounds perfect,” she whispered. She looked up at him while gently rubbing her hands across the span of his chest.
He stilled her caresses by grabbing her wrists, and gave her a quick peck on the lips before putting some distance between them. “Let’s go inside, baby.”
“Aren’t we missing something, Nick? You don’t have a gun.”
“Follow me, Bright Eyes. I’ve got it all under control.”
She watched him slide a card through a metal slot, immediately unlocking the heavy, steel door. “You have a key?”
“It’s kind of like a membership. Shooting helps me relax, so I visit here often. It’s a hobby of mine.”
She followed closely as he walked down a long hallway and into a room filled with oversized lockers. After hanging their coats on a rack, he approached one of the lockers and began twisting the dial to the combination lock securing it. Once he opened it she stared at the collection of weapons inside, stunned by how many there were. “Are those all yours?”
“Yeah. I told you it was a bit of a hobby.”
“A bit? How many guns do you own?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t really keep count. My buddy has the paperwork for each stowed in the office. I collect them and he keeps me legal.”
“May I?” she asked, pointing to one of the hand guns.
“Go ahead. It’s not loaded.” He made sure the safety was engaged and handed it to her.
Kelsey had never held a gun. She was terrified of them when she was younger, especially when watching her brothers shoot. Her fears of them hurting someone had waned, particularly after their training. Today, they were each required to carry one at all times. In place of fear, she had a curiosity about weapons that had grown through the years, but she could never admit that to them. They’d never let her hear the end of it considering the nagging she’d done as a child.
As she took the gun, barely holding on to the very end of the handle, she was surprised by its weight. “It’s heavy.”
“Here, baby. Hold it like this.” He adjusted her hand higher. “You don’t want to drop it.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.” His smile put her at ease. “You carry the gun just the way you have it, and I’ll grab some ammunition.”
She had to admit it thrilled her to hold something she’d always considered taboo. She should’ve been frightened, but just like other moments she’d had with him, his demeanour made her feel comfortable. There was nothing to worry about—he’d take care of her.
He grabbed a couple of boxes and secured his locker before leading her farther down the hall. When he handed her a set of headphones, he must have sensed her confusion. “What’s the matter?”
“How am I going to hear you if I’m wearing these?”
“You’ll still be able to hear me. These are hearing protection headphones. They dull loud noises, like the gunshots, but you can still hear voices.”
“Oh. Okay.” She set the gun on the counter and fluffed her hair before sliding the headphones on her ears. “Well? How do I look?”
“You look perfect. I
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