Blood Kiss (Savage Security Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

hadn’t talked down to her while he was explaining everything to her. Not once did she feel stupid for asking him a question. And she’d asked some pretty basic questions.
    Mike set the gun magazine down on the counter and stood. Alisha’s eyes flit towards him as he moved. He knew he was intimidating. That usually worked for him, but with women, sometimes he had to convince them that he wasn’t dangerous, at least not to them. “I’m actually heading over to the shooting range now,” Mike said. He leaned against the counter and rested one arm on top of the display case. “You really need some practice with the Glock.” He pointed at her new gun on the case. “If you’re willing, I’ll help you.”
    He wanted to help her. His conscience would gnaw at him like a rabid dog if he let her walk away. He intended to help her until he felt confident that she could handle the gun. Inwardly he willed her to accept his offer while he kept his outward appearance nonchalant and casual. She was already skittish. He didn’t want to scare her away by being too pushy.
    Alisha stared at him, unsure how to respond. He was a big guy. Not as tall as Scott but broad and well-muscled. His dark hair was cut short and tiny scars etched his face and arms. His t-shirt stretched tight across his broad chest and tattoos peeked out from his short sleeves. There was no way she was getting in a car with him. She didn’t come to the gun store to pick up an even more dangerous man.
    Scott fought the desire to smile at her ‘deer in the headlights’ look. She’d finally relaxed, but at Mike’s offer, her face went blank and she blinked a few too many times without answering. “He’s right,” Scott said, he lifted one shoulder casually in an attempt to encourage her to accept. “It’s a good idea. There’s a lot to learn about handling a gun, and you need to practice. In a real-life situation, it’s the muscle memory that gets you through when your mind goes into panic mode. Plus, Mike knows his way around guns. You couldn’t get a better instructor.”
    Mike read the concern in her eyes as he waited for her reply. He wasn’t surprised at her hesitation. She didn’t come in here to pick up a man. She came in here to defend herself from a guy who scared the hell out of her. And there was no way that he wanted to be lumped into that category.
    “We can meet there. It‘s a public range,” Mike added. “No pressure.” He smiled and shrugged his shoulder in indifference. “I’ll give you the address. You can decide in the car how you feel.” He’d say just about anything to convince her to accept his offer. She needed his help whether she realized it or not.
    Alisha smiled and gave a quick nod. “That works.” She did need practice, and she figured that he had to be better than a YouTube video.
    “Good,” Mike said. “I’ll carry the safe out to your car.” He walked around the counter, picked up the safe, and waited behind her as she gathered the rest of her stuff together. He smiled when she looked over her shoulder at him. Then she dug through her gigantic purse for her key fob. What the hell did she keep in there? It was bigger than his go bag.
    Alisha dangled her key fob and tried not to stare at his biceps as he held the safe. She’d struggled to lift it. She really did need to start lifting weights. “Thanks,” she said to Mike, nodding at the safe. Then she turned towards the store exit. “I’m right out front.”
    She figured the muscular arms that she did her best not to gawk at were either from hours of lifting weights in a prison yard or from training in the military. He was clearly not a man who sat behind a desk staring at a computer for eight hours a day.
    She felt his presence behind her as she walked towards the door. She didn’t know what she was thinking, to even consider meeting a man who clearly had more world experience than she did. She’d lived a good life, had been moderately sheltered, and