Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“Nope,” he answers.
My nose scrunches in confusion. “Then what are you looking at?”
“Just you.”
Feeling uncomfortable, I swivel in my chair. “It’s beautiful,” I say, looking out the window at the property surrounding the cabin.
“It is,” Gideon responds, but when I turn back to face him, he’s not looking outside. He’s looking at me.
Heat pools in my belly.
My cheeks warm at the thought of Gideon thinking I’m beautiful.
I’m treading in dangerous territory with this man.
I can barely think when he’s around, but when he looks at me with heat and want in his eyes, I’m rendered useless.
Needing a distraction from the way this man makes me feel, I tilt my head down toward my food and continue to eat.
Ten minutes later, I place my fork down on the plate. “Welp, now that you’ve fed me, what’s the plan?”
“I figured we could explore.”
“Lead the way.” I stand from the table, and Gideon’s hand lands on the small of my back as he leads me outside.
As soon as we are back in nature, the scent of early morning dew and damp soil infiltrates my nose.
It’s amazing here.
Taking in my surroundings, I can’t help but marvel at the beauty of nature: rich, emerald-green trees dappled with sunlight stand tall as far as the eye can see.
The distinct ripple of a nearby stream echoes around me.
I close my eyes and inhale deeply, trying to remember this moment forever.
“Come on. I wanted to take you somewhere.” Gideon takes my hand in his.
It feels like the world around us melts away. Our fingers interlock perfectly, like puzzle pieces meant to fit together. His touch is gentle and light, yet strong with assurance as I follow him.
It takes a few minutes to arrive at our destination, and when we do, I look up into his eyes and see him looking down at me. He smiles, and I feel my heart skip a beat.
We stand in silence for a few seconds. A gentle breeze that caresses my face. Finally, he drops my hand, and the moment he does, I miss his warm touch.
You’ve got it bad, Sasha.
“What are we doing here?”
Gideon turns to face me. There is a line between his brows. “I want to teach you how to shoot a gun.”
“What? No.” I shake my head back and forth.
“Sasha.”
“No, Gideon. How can you think I’d—”
“Firefly.” His hand reaches out and touches a piece of hair that fell forward. He places it behind my ear. “Someone is looking for you. I need to know you can defend yourself.”
“But a gun—”
“Against these types of men, unfortunately, a gun is the only thing that might keep you alive.”
“You’ll keep me alive,” I whisper, and I realize in my heart I believe that.
His gaze drops. “I might not always be there.” There is something sad in the way he says it, and it makes my heart lurch.
“Okay.” I roll my shoulders. “Teach me.”
Gideon reaches his hand behind his back. “This is a Glock.” He lifts it up, the black and metal gleaming up at me.
“I don’t know if I can do this.” My jaw trembles. I can’t shoot a gun. This isn’t who I am.
“It could be the difference between life and death, firefly.”
His words hit me square in the stomach. He’s right. It could be. With the threat looming, it’s highly likely it will be.
Gideon steps behind me, and then his free hands are touching my body. The air is heavy, and my heart beats frantically as he manipulates my arms to be in the correct position.
Once I’m in place, it feels hard to breathe. His body is so close, I can feel the heat radiating off him.
I feel warm and tingly.
“Now I want you to look at the tree. That’s your target.”
“Okay,” I breathe out, and my voice sounds husky with want. He’s too close, and I can’t think straight. I try to push away the thoughts of his touch, of the way he brackets me to him.
The way his breath fans the back of my neck as he places his head in the crook of my neck to make sure I’m perfectly aligned.
I feel like I might faint.
Taking a deep inhale, I try to concentrate.
“You got this, firefly.” He whispers, “Look at the target.”
I do.
“Pull the trigger.”
I do.
The shot rings through the air.
I can barely see where the bullet flies. My pulse accelerates to a breakneck speed clip.
“Beginner’s luck.” He laughs.
And that’s when I see I hit the tree.
Bull’s-eye.
28
GIDEON
So. About Minnesota… Wining and dining Sasha Lennox among fireflies? Not my finest moment. And not to be repeated now that we’ve returned.
Seeing as I’m five seconds from entering Joe Goldberg territory, I force myself to avoid Sasha, committing all my waking hours to work. Sure, one could argue watching her on twenty-eight surveillance cameras doesn’t constitute avoidance. But it’s progress.
Today, I’m back earlier to meet with my men.