Page 25 of Shine: Sins of the Father
“I wouldn’t figure a dancer to be the outdoorsy type. Most I’ve met give me the impression they wouldn’t be caught dead walking in the woods.”
I smile. “Guess I’m unique that way.”
“And most wouldn’t be caught dead without their fake eyelashes and the whole works. But you look beautiful without any makeup at all. Not that I’m surprised.”
“Thanks.”
“I never get why women think men need all that to find them attractive.”
“Well, in all honesty, I do have a bit of makeup on,” I admit, bumping his shoulder.
“Well, it looks natural. You must be good at it.”
We walk quietly for a few moments, taking in the scenery. “It’s beautiful up here. Don’t you think?”
“It is. Some of the guys in my chapter have been up here, but I never have.”
“Why not?” I slip my hand into his.
He shrugs. “Club’s gotta leave someone at the clubhouse. It was my turn.” He frowns. “Daytona may have been doing me a favor. I think I’d told him my ma was sick that week.”
“Daytona?” I’ve heard of who he is, but I pretend ignorance.
“Our chapter president.”
“Is he a good guy?”
“Yeah. Ever heard of Charlotte Justice?”
“The singer? Yeah, I’ve got a couple of her songs on my playlist. Why?”
“That’s his wife.”
My mouth drops open. “No way.”
Shine chuckles. “Yep. You’ll never believe how they met.”
“How?” I ask, my curiosity piqued. Just then, a noise whizzes past us like a loud bumblebee. Followed by a loud crack. The next thing I know, I’m down on the ground with Shine on top of me.
“What was that?” I ask, adrenaline surging through me.
“Stay down. That was a bullet, and it came damn close.” He’s got us behind a tree, and he lifts his head to peer around it into the distance. I twist to look but don’t see anything.
“A hunter?”
“I doubt it.”
The words are barely out of his mouth when two more shots whiz past.
Because we were just on his bike, he’s still wearing his cut, and he reaches under it and yanks out a weapon. Then he digs into his boot and pulls out a smaller one and passes it to me.
“Ever shot a gun before?”
“Yes. My father taught me.”
“Keep the safety on until you need to fire.” He surveys the direction from where the shots rang out. “We need to get back to the cover of the cabin.”
“But the gunfire is coming from that direction,” I point out.
