Page 13 of Macaron Massacre

Everett tips his head back, deep in thought. “A stunning brunette…” He shakes his head to no avail. “She could have been anyone.”

“But don’t you think it was funny that she didn’t reference you as Essex?”

“Not really. She might not have thought you knew me that well.”

“You’re right,” I say. “She certainly looked shocked to hear we were together.”

Cormack’s black vest vibrates as she bubbles out a laugh. “Who could blame her? You’re certainly not typical when it comes to the women Essex is accustomed to. Come to think it”—her finger outlines Noah’s lips—“you’re not typical for the big Boss Man, either.”

I roll my eyes at the ridiculous moniker she’s gifted him. Cormack doesn’t mind calling Noah Boss Man ad nauseam.

“Not true.” Everett snaps his glasses on. “You’re the exact woman I’ve been looking for.”

Noah folds his enormous arms across his chest. “Lottie, I can assure you that you’re the perfect woman.” He picks up my hand and drops a kiss to the back of it. “Now, let’s get that gun in your hands so you can fire at the nearest target. Everett, I’ve got a bull’s-eye you can wear for fun.”

After a lengthy safety talk, Noah shows us a ten-minute video on gun safety before meticulously outlining every detail once again. He takes us to the shooting range outdoors since the warm weather is permitting. Apparently, there’s a smaller indoor range they use in the winter. About a dozen men and women are already out under a smooth blue sky firing away at docile cutouts of men with targets over their chests about a dozen yards away.

The warm air gives us a hug as we make our way across the dusty field. The sun is high, and the perfumed scent of the evergreens in the distance lights up our senses.

Noah outfitted each of us with earmuffs that make this entire scene feel as if it’s unfolding secondhand. But each time a gun goes off, I can hear it just fine. In fact, I can feel the power of the discharge vibrating right through my chest as if the bullet struck my own body.

The gun Everett and Noah teamed up to buy me is about six inches with the wordsGlock 26 Gen4printed on the side. But none of that means much to me. I don’t care how small it is or how many words it has printed on the side. The entire thing scares me to death.

Noah said the ultimate goal today was to teach us all to be responsible armed citizens. I truly hope Cormack does not plan on arming herself. And to be truthful, I’m fully prepared to dance in the event she points her barrel my way. As much as I wish she would do a disappearing act, it wouldn’t surprise me to find her wishing the same for me.

Noah sets Cormack up on the end, and she dutifully observes the men next to her.

Good. I hope she falls hopelessly in love with one and they run off to the Caribbean together.

Noah comes over and helps me with my stance, feet apart, shoulders back and squared just the way he taught us. He takes my hands and helps me hold that baby gun up and point it at the floating dummy at the end of the range dressed in a black and white target.

My entire body shakes and my hands tremble so hard, Noah has to hold my arms up just to steady them.

I glance over at Everett observing from the side. “I don’t think I can do this,” I shout up over the noise.

Everett offers a reassuring nod. “You can do this, Lemon. Relax and breathe out.” I all but read his lips.

“Okay, Lottie,” Noah shouts as he tucks his head next to mine, his back warming my body from behind. “On three. Remember what I said about mentally preparing for the kickback. The gun is small but mighty.”

“Got it,” I shout back. But I don’t have anything, least of all the confidence to unleash the power this brute beast in my hand has waiting for me.

“One”—Noah starts, and I shake all the more—“two,three!”

Noah helps me pull the trigger, and the sound is deafening. My right hand jerks loose from the weapon as the gun blows back into my chest as if it were sucker-punching me.

“Oh my God,” I pant as I look over at the target, only find the farthest right corner blown off. “I did terrible.”

“You did great.” Everett nods my way. “Let’s see you do it one more time.”

Ironically enough, I’ve heard Everett say those very words to me in bed.

“Fine.” I assume the position, and Noah helps me once again. And I fire. I do it again and again until it feels as if I’ve beaten myself up with the butt of my gun—although my aim is getting better.

After a good long while, Noah takes us over to another part of the range, and I appreciate the walk in the warm summer sun. I take off my hat, and both Noah and Everett shout my way.

“Thegun.” Noah gently removes it from my right hand. “You were pointing it right at me.”

“Good try, Lemon.” Everett’s chest rumbles with thunder. “I would have covered for you.” He gives a sly wink.