Page 16 of Yours To Take
Willow’s eyes light up. “Okay!”
“You think I can get a bullseye?” Blake asks me.
“It’s that center thing, in case you’re wondering where to aim.” I snicker.
“Wow. No one has any confidence in me. I’ll prove you both wrong.”
Blake sets his feet, takes aim, and fires. The arrow hits the ground a few feet in front of the target. Willow’s giggling next to me as she runs to collect the arrows.
“Damn. I at least thought I’d hit the target.”
“Everyone has to start somewhere.” I grab an arrow from the quiver and step up next to Blake. He smells like cinnamon. It reminds me of Christmas morning.
“You notched the arrow right,”—I grab his hand—“but your stance was off. May I?”
Blake nods. Standing next to him, I mimic the move for shooting and help him into position.
It’s hard being this close to him. His muscles are hard under my hands. I want to feel every inch of him.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt anything like this for another person. There’s not even been a brief stirring of something like interest. All the guys I dated over the years were mediocre at best. After my high school boyfriend turned out to be a cheating ass, it made me wary of new guys.
There’s something about Blake that sucked me in from the minute I first ran into him.Literally.
I shouldn’t be so taken with him. He’s a guest. Guests always leave.
“Is this better?” Blake asks. His voice is barely above a whisper. It sends shockwaves through me. How can one man’s voice be so delicious?
“Yes.” My own voice sounds gravelly to my ears. I step back, taking a breath of Blake-free air. “Pull back, hold for a second, and then release.”
This time, Blake lands it on the target. Not anywhere close to the bullseye, but he made it on.
“Hey!” A huge smile greets me when I look at him. “That was pretty badass!”
“That was great!”
“Aunt Gemma is a really good teacher!” Willow chimes in. “She taught me!”
“No wonder you’re so good.” Blake ruffles her hair. “Maybe she’ll give me some private lessons.”
The wink Blake sends my way has my cheeks flushing again.
Is there a limit to how many times one can blush in front of the same man? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve rocketed right past it.
“Only for my favorite guests.”
“Something to strive toward, I guess.”
“Since you didn’t get the bullseye, does that mean I get a sundae?”
“It sure does.”
“Can we have it now?” Willow turns hopeful eyes on me.
“Don’t you want to shoot some more?”
“I want to make a sundae with Blake.”
“Only if your aunt says it’s okay,” Blake tells her.
