Page 97 of The Retaliation You Deliver

“With who?” His question comes out all low and growly.

Chuckling to myself, I stare out of the window at the frat houses as we pass.

“My law textbook. No need to go all caveman on me.”

“Well, I’m sorry for ruining those riveting plans.”

“Prior to you, I never had any riveting plans.”

“Even hanging out with Nate?” he asks.

I smile to myself, knowing that he probably thinks he slipped that question in all smoothly.

“We either hang out working or shooting people.”

“Shooting people?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty hot with a gun, don’t you know?”

“You’re talking about Xbox, right?”

“Can you really see me at a shooting range?”

“No,” he says, glancing over at me with heat in his eyes, “But I’d like to. You looking all badass with a gun is certainly something I can get on board with.”

“I’ve never held one. You?”

“Yeah, once or twice. Dad used to take us. You might be surprised to hear that he wanted us to be the best at that too.”

“Surprised you never turned it on him.”

“Trust me, Red. The temptation was real.”

“Where are we going?” I ask when he heads to the other side of town.

“Wait and see.” He turns to me and winks before taking a left that leads toward the community center I spend my Monday nights at.

He pulls up just down the road from where he was parked that first night he found me here and kills the engine.

“Here?”

“Yeah. Come on.”

I climb out of the car and he scowls down at me when he meets me.

“I was going to get that.”

“Who knew Leon Dunn could be such a gentleman.”

“Absolutely no one. It’s even a shock to me.”

Closing my door for me, seeing as I screwed up the chance for him opening it for me, he slides his hand into mine, twisting our fingers together before pulling me in the opposite direction of the community center.

A smile twitches at my lips, my mouth watering and my stomach growling when I realize where he’s taking me.

Paulo looks up the second the bell above the door rings with our arrival.

“Miss Macie, what are you doing here on a Saturday afternoon?”