Chapter 8
REBEKAH
I stared at the phone in his hand like it was a snake poised and ready to strike. I knew that this man wasn’t handing me a phone like it was no big deal.
“The phone was purchased for health and safety concerns. As your boss, it’s my job to make sure you are safe. You can’t be safe without having a way to contact someone for help. Please, take it and don’t argue.”
Well, shit, how could I argue with that? He was right, I didn’t have a way to contact people for help, but it still didn’t change that this felt like charity. I reached out and grabbed the phone. Of course, it had to be the newest of new and not a cheap flip phone that I couldn’t break.
“You took the words out of my argument, so I won’t fight this time, but don’t expect me to always just accept things without a battle.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Beau smirked slightly. “Seth got everything ready to go. Every team member should be listed in the contacts, so don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you have any concerns.”
After swiping my finger across the screen to open it, I quickly flipped through the different sections of the phone, confirming that every one of the numbers was saved. I busted out laughing when I came across Seth’s contact; he’d saved himself under Sethalicious.
With a polite smile, I slipped my phone into my purse and turned back to Beau. I squirmed under his gaze as he stared into my soul like he was trying to harvest my deepest, darkest secrets. “Is there anything else in here that I can do for you?” I asked after a moment.
“No, I don’t think so. You finished organizing everything here?”
“Yep!” I said with a pop. “The only thing left to do in here is to file things as you are finished with them and move things when they are no longer needed.”
“Perfect, then no. Everything in here is done.”
I wasn’t sure what else I was going to do now that the job he’d hired me for was done. There was a knock at his door before a voice I recognized spoke. “Hey, Boss. Good morning, Bekah.”
I turned around and gave Josh a smile. There was just something about him that put me at ease. Almost like a big brother. “Hi, Josh!” I reply with a finger wave.
There was a growl behind me before I heard, “Is there something you actually need, or did you just come in here to be annoying?”
“Why can’t it be both? You know how much I love to drive you insane, Boss.”
I threw a hand over my mouth, trying to contain the laugh that threatened to spill out. “Don’t encourage him, Rebekah. He will be insufferable.”
“The real reason I came in here was to see if Bekah wanted to tag along with me and some of the other guys at the gun range.”
Oh, that sounded like fun. My grandfather had a lot of guns growing up, but I wasn’t ever allowed to shoot them. I bet they could help me learn how to shoot like a pro.
“I don’t know if that’s a great idea.”
I whipped my head around and leveled Beau with a glare. Who asked him what was a good idea or not?
“Actually, that sounds like a lot of fun. I would love to go with you, Josh,” I said, turning around to face him.
Josh let out a hoot before schooling his features. I could only imagine the look that Beau was giving him over my head right now. Either way, I didn’t care. He didn’t get to make decisions for me like he was my Daddy or something.
“Great! You can ride with me and Seth.”
I gave him a puzzled look. There was no way we were all going to fit inside Seth’s Mustang. “We are taking my car, Bekah, though it wouldn’t be a hardship to be pressed against you in the mustang.” Josh wiggled his eyebrows at me.
“Absolutely not!” Beau barked.
A full belly laugh burst out of Josh, sending me into giggles. “I’m just joking, Boss. You’re so easy to rile up.”
Wiping the tears out of my eyes, I turned back to Beau. “Did you need anything else from me this morning?”
“I guess not, but keep your phone nearby, and text me if any of those assholes get out of line.”
Nodding, I grabbed my things and skipped over to Josh. Giving Beau a small wave, I slipped my hand into the crook of Josh’s arm and headed to where Seth was waiting for us.
“Are you ready for this, Bex? Ever shot a gun before?” Seth asked as he helped me into Josh’s Jeep.
“Nope! I grew up around them, but never shot one before. I guess today will be a first for me!”
“Ooo la la. We are going to pop a cherry today!”
I rolled my eyes at Josh’s flirty comment, but he wasn’t wrong. This was one cherry I was ready to give up. The other one, not so much.
I set the gun down with a frustrated sigh. They made this look so easy in the movies and TV Shows. I have yet to hit the target once, and I was sure the guys were getting really tired of trying to help me.
“Just give it one more try, Bex. This time you will hit it, I just know it.”
I rolled my eyes at Seth’s statement. He’d been saying for the last twenty minutes that this round was the one. I was starting to question if we needed to get his head checked for delusions.
Josh handed me a reloaded magazine, and I slid it into the gun. I was going to try one more go, but if I didn’t hit the target this time, I was giving up for good. I would accept the fact that I just wasn’t meant to be a professional marksman.
As I raised the gun and squared my shoulders, I felt a presence at my back. Warm hands slid over my shoulders and down my arms before they settled on top of my hands. Hot breath blew over my ear as he spoke into it. “Allow me to help. Just relax a little, princess.”
How the hell Beau thought I was going to relax with his arms wrapped around me was beyond me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to calm my nerves. Opening my eyes, I let out the air in my lungs and then pulled the trigger like Josh taught me to do.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullet after bullet fired down the range as I stood in Beau’s arms, his hands directing mine.
Click.
After placing the empty gun on the table in front of me, I finally bravely looked at the target that hung twenty feet from me. My eyes widened as I noticed I had landed shots all across the abdomen. Jumping up and down, unable to contain my excitement, I turned around and gave Beau a big hug.
He stiffened beneath my hold before he relaxed. When I took a step back from him, his mask was back in place, and his mind was miles away from here.
Beau cleared his throat before finally speaking. “Well done, Rebekah. Uh, anyway, I’ve got to go. Josh, can you take her home after y’all are done here?”
“Oh, you don’t need me to do anything at the office?” I question?
“Nah, there’s nothing for you to do. Just enjoy the rest of your day.”
Beau turned and ran out of the building like it was on fire. What the heck just happened? Shaking my head, I looked at the rest of the guys, noticing that they were all as confused as me.
Casually, I cleared my throat and directed the attention back to my target. “Did you guys see that?” I asked, looking at Josh, Seth, Patrick, and Zack. “I finally hit the target!”
All the guys shouted and gave me high-fives.
I knew that I didn’t technically do it alone, but I was claiming it.
A win was a win in my book. Over the next forty-five minutes, the guys practiced while I sat back and sipped on juice and ate the chips that Zach had grabbed for me.
The rest of the afternoon was spent goofing off; the perfect way to end the week.
When we got home, Josh walked me to my door and made sure I was safely inside, just like a gentleman should.
After locking the door, I spun and dropped all my things on the kitchen table.
I’d been slowly collecting different furniture over the past two weeks, and my house was finally starting to feel like home.
Ping!
I looked around, puzzled about where that sound came from, before I remembered the phone that was in the bottom of my bag. It took five minutes of digging before I found the source of the noise.
Ping!
Damn, whoever was texting needed to hold their horses. I could only move so fast.
Beau: Did you make it home okay?
Beau: I saw that Josh dropped you off. I was just checking in on you.
This man was so confusing. One minute, he was cold and detached from me, and the next, he sounded like a concerned partner. I was starting to get whiplash.
Bekah: Hi! Sorry took me a moment to find my phone.
Bekah: I’m okay, home safe and sound. But you already know that.
Beau: I’m glad to hear it. Did you have fun today?
Bekah: I did! The guys are so much fun to hang out with.
Beau: They can be. Anyway, get some rest and have a good weekend. If you need something, don’t hesitate to text or call.
Bekah: Thanks, you too, Sir.
After clicking out his messages, I stripped off my clothes and headed to shower away all the gunpowder and sweat of the day. I think I was going to spend tomorrow in Middle space for some much-needed decompression time.