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We visited my car next to mile marker 402 on Highway 370. Gabe insisted on sliding down to it when I mentioned my favorite gloves were inside. Yes, he’s sweet as sugar and hot as a jalapeno.

Forty minutes later, we were inside the Bellevue Rod and Gun Club, each wearing goggles, as he handed me the 308 out of his bag. “Will this work for you? It’s the smallest I own.”

“I prefer a big one.” OMG, can you even believe me? Yes, we giggled like a bunch of girls for a solid minute.

“Alright, Fern Ethel Novotny, let’s see what you’ve got.”

He stood back as I took aim at the targets in the distance. I could feel his eyes on me and focused on deep breathing to keep my mind on what was in front of me as I picked off all but one of the targets.

“Nice going.” Gabe slid up behind me and put his hands around mine as my back rested against his chest. “I believe if you were about an inch over, like this, you’d get that last one.” One of his hands slid to my stomach. “And breathe in deep from here so you can concentrate.”

The last thing I was doing with his hands wrapped around me was concentrating.

I felt his breath on my cheek. “What are you going for, Fern? What do you want?”

I clenched the gun harder to steady my hands that were suddenly shaky.

What did I want? A man like Gabe in my life forever?

Maybe, but that wasn’t in the cards. Second choice?

Have him for the weekend. Could he guess?

I cleared my throat. “Let’s have a challenge.

” I took the shot and got the last target.

“A challenge? I must say you might have a problem with this competitiveness. You may need to seek medical attention.”

I could hear his smile. “Me? You’re a hockey player. There’s no worse competitive streak than that. It’s almost like a curse.”

“You got me there.” He scratched his head. “So Fern wants to have a contest here at the gun range. What shall the prize be?”

I shrugged.

His eyes flashed. “Well, how about a weekend pass option? Seventy-two hours?”

Clearly, he could read my mind. Had he reconsidered his hard no last night? Play it cool, Fern . “Interesting thought.”

“If we leave it up to the guns, it’s almost like it’s out of our hands. What happens happens, and we have to listen to the result.” He stepped closer and leaned down to me. “Are you in?”

I was in like a stripper dancing for the rent money due tomorrow. “Yes.”

“So how should we play this? We each get five targets and need to hit all five? Seems a little risky.”

This whole thing was risky for the obsession that was standing before me. “Four out of five?”

His grin screamed that he knew what I wanted, but I didn’t care.

“Okay, pretty girl. Do you want to go at the same time and see what’s left standing in the end?”

I nodded, and it was on. I took my shots more carefully that I’d ever before and focused on not looking at how he was doing. In a few seconds, I had all five. Yes! I put my gun on the table and took a step back as Gabe took his last shot, careful not to look at how he’d done.

He put his gun down and took a step toward me. “This hasn’t gone how I’d expected.”

My stomach hit the floor at the thought of him actually sucking when it comes to shooting.

Had I tried to play it too cool, certain we had this when, in fact, we did not?

Was my weekend pass with the man I found to be sexy, enduring, funny, hot, sarcastic, bad-ass, and adorable all at the same time, sailing off into the sunset without me?

Could I shoot the boat to slow it down, swim out, and retrieve it?

He stepped toward me and shook his head. “Maybe it wasn’t meant to be?”

My heart sputtered. “Maybe not.”

He pulled me close and kissed my forehead. Damn it! Was this really my idea? I stretched my neck around him to see all of his targets hit. I gasped while pushing him hard. “You are such a jerk!”

He grabbed my arms and yanked me to him. “Got you.”

“You’re definitely not funny.” I threw my arms around his neck, and he lifted me off my feet.

“Well, it looks like we won.” He kissed my cheek. “So, what now?”

“We hang until Sunday in any way we want, but nobody can know when the wedding party arrives. Then on Sunday, we go our separate ways and never to speak of this again.”

He wrapped his hands tightly around my waist. “So no hanging out at the wedding in a few weeks? Only this weekend?”

His eyes glimmered, and I knew my answer. Hard no . I’d be lucky to make it out of this weekend with my heart intact. Any more time with him might just scar me forever. “No, only this weekend.”

He popped a brow. “Let’s seal the deal, baby.”

My heart skipped a literal beat as he pressed his lips against mine. What in the hell was I doing? I didn’t hook up with people, especially one that was so perfect. I could try my best to keep my feelings in check, but this seemed extremely risky for little Fern.

I could back out of the weekend pass. I wanted nothing more than to be shagged and bagged by the sexy monster before me, but it might just be time for my brain to kick into survival mode and get me out of this.

No man I’d ever meet in the whole wide world would ever compare to the man who had me in his arms.

I’d go through the rest of my life a sad lady who was never able to find true love.

I needed to make a big girl decision, but I didn’t wanna make a big girl decision.

It’s more fun to not use my logical thinking skills.

Adult decisions were tough. I’d rather build a blanket fort and color. Could I do that?

Gabe gave me a little shake. “Hey, what’s going on with you?”

This was it. This was the moment I regained my self-control and put my ass back on the right track. Inhale. Exhale. It was time to spit out the words I must say. “Uh, I, you, see.” Sigh. Screw it. “Do you want to sneak in the bathroom and make out for ten minutes?” I wanted to bitch slap myself.

He pulled me even closer. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”