Page 51 of About that Fling
“Absolutely.” Had the woman lost her mind? “It’s also illegal, at least in the city limits. Or were you planning to rob a liquor store? I think that’s an entirely different level of illegal.”
“No, not like that,” she said, bouncing excitedly in the wool socks. “At a shooting range. Come on, it’ll be fun.”
Adam glanced at the bedside clock. “It’s eight thirty on a Friday night. Where are you going to find a shooting range that’s open?”
“Oh, please—it’s Portland, Oregon. The weirdness capital of the world. You can wander out at midnight and get a bacon-wrapped donut, take your dog into a bar, and see a parade of naked cyclists all on the same block. I’m positive we can find an open shooting range. Actually, I think it might be ladies’ night at Guns-a-Go-Go.”
“In case it escaped your attention, I’m not a lady.”
“Trust me, it didn’t escape my attention.” She shot a pointed look at his crotch before smiling up at him. “You’re still allowed, you just have to pay a little extra for your ammo. Have you ever been to a shooting range?”
“No,” he said, a little surprised to realize they were even having this discussion. “Not really my idea of a great date.”
“Exactly! That’s why it’s perfect.” She clapped her hands together, looking so giddy with excitement that Adam had to laugh.
“Okay, fine. A shooting range. Aren’t you forgetting one thing?”
“What’s that?”
“The kiss. The one we’re exchanging just to get it out of the way in hopes it’ll be awful and we’ll have the closure we need to move forward with our platonic friendship.”
“Right.” She planted herself back on the edge of the bed and nodded. She made an exaggerated production of sidling up beside him, pretending to brace herself for something unappealing. “Okay, I’m ready. Pucker up.”
She closed her eyes and made an absurd kissy face he knew was supposed to crack him up. But honest to God, he’d never wanted her more than he did in that moment.
He slid his hand into her hair, tangling his fingers into the damp strands and pulling her close. Jenna opened her eyes, and a startled “oh” passed her lips an instant before his mouth found hers. Then he was kissing her hard and deep and wet.
She moaned and arched against him, changing course as quickly as she’d changed into his sweatpants. He curved his palm around the nape of her neck, angling her against him so he could deepen the kiss. He felt breathless and dizzy and so desperate to keep kissing her that he would have given his left testicle to never have to leave this room.
When he finally drew back, Jenna looked as mind-whacked as he felt. He took a shaky breath and sat back on the bed.
“Was that awful enough for you?” he murmured. “Bad enough to call it closure?”
She took a shaky breath and slowly shook her head. “Not even close.”
Walking out of that hotel room without tearing her clothes off—or or Adam’s—felt like smacking her spleen with a hammer.
The fact that Adam was right behind her helped some, but all she really wanted to do was launch herself back onto that flawless white duvet and beg him to make love to her.
Instead, she turned her attention to their plans to blow some paper targets to smithereens. “Why don’t we swing by my house first so I can change clothes?” she suggested, bouncing up off the bed and away from the temptation of Adam. “My aunt isn’t home tonight, so we’ll be able to slip out without anyone asking questions.”
“What about the risk of seeing someone we know at the shooting range?”
She shrugged. “I don’t have any friends who shoot. Mia hates guns, and I can’t imagine anyone else from hospital administration who’d want to spend Friday night with a .45 slimline Glock. I think we’re safe. Worst-case scenario, we’d tell them it’s a precursor to some team-building workshop you’re doing with us next week.”
He raised one eyebrow. “I’ll be introducing the principles of nonviolent communication.”
“I take it that doesn’t involve handguns?”
“Not usually.”
“Okay then,” Jenna said, feeling oddly chilled by the shift to a work-related conversation. It was probably the splash of cold water her libido needed, but still. It was a helpful reminder why she had no business taking her clothes off in front of Adam. Or kissing him in a way that left every nerve in her body shrieking with desire.
“This is good,” she said. “We’re working together. Keeping things professional.”
Adam gave her an odd look, but nodded. “Let’s get your car.”
They reached the shooting range a little after nine thirty, with Adam looking curious, if a little uncertain. She tucked her keys in her purse and laid a hand on his arm.
