“I guess we should call it a night,” she whispered as she broke the kiss and took a step back.“We need to get up early for the next exciting mandatory fun event.”
Darwin took a deep, ragged breath, gazing down at Katrina with incandescent intensity.Then he nodded and took a step back, too.“That’s probably a good idea.If we started something now, we’d be up until sunrise.”
Now, that was definitely something worth looking forward to.
“Good night, Katrina.I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Darwin,” she said softly.
Going into her room, she closed the dividing door, then leaned back against it, replaying Darwin’s words about them making love until morning.
Maybe she should have stayed.Because something told her she might not get much sleep tonight anyway.
Chapter eight
“Whoa,”Darwinsaid.“Thishas to be the nicest shooting range I’ve ever seen.”
He resisted the urge to let out an appreciative whistle as he took in the polished hardwood counter that ran the length of the firing line, the expensive noise-cancelling earmuffs, and the super-realistic targets mounted at various distances across the range.There was even an awning mounted over the firing line so you wouldn’t have to stand in the sun.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Asher said with a laugh as he walked over to stand beside him at the counter.“Because honestly, no matter what this place looks like, I’m just eager to do some target shooting.I probably won’t be very good since I’ve never handled a gun before in my life, of course, but still.”
Beside him, Eli snorted.“You and me both.”
“Oh, it definitely isn’t a bad thing,” Darwin said, reaching out to shake hands with both men.“It’s just not something I’m used to in the SEALs.Our shooting ranges are a little more primitive than this.I’m kind of looking forward to seeing how rich people do things.”
“Especially with the people we’re going to be shooting with today,” Asher murmured, glancing covertly around the gravel-covered area, where other people planning to take part in the range day had started gathering.Just beyond them were more people, hanging out among a collection of umbrella-covered picnic tables.There were at least thirty people waiting with eager anticipation.
Darwin immediately recognized a few from yesterday’s games, but most of them were the business types he’d seen the first night, including Silas and Harold.As a whole, they seemed less interested in the opportunity to shoot than in the chance to continue networking.Well, at least they were consistent.
Surprisingly, neither Jameson nor Rhett was there.That probably bummed out whoever was looking to make a deal with the two of them.Darwin wondered if some of the people would leave once they figured it out.
Then he caught sight of Upton, looking around with an eager smile, and Darwin weighed if he should be the one leaving.A glance at Asher made him think the other guy was considering the same thing.
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re not exactly a fan of some of these people?”Darwin asked.
Which was a little surprising since they seemed to come from the same world as Asher.
“Probably because you’re right,” Asher said.“I’m not a fan of most of them, to be honest.I mean, I’m as much about making money as the next guy, but these people never know when to stop.It gets exhausting dealing with them.”
“If you’re not a fan of hanging out with them, why did you come today?”
Asher shrugged.“I didn’t have much of a choice.We knew that making an appearance at these events was part of the deal when Khloe wanted to have the wedding at the vineyard.I agreed to be available for networking purposes today while she’s doing the same thing at the spa this morning.Her father wants her to schmooze with the wives of several of his business associates.”
Darwin cringed inwardly.Katrina wouldn’t like that very much.She’d been looking forward to spending some quality time with her sister while they got pampered at the resort’s fancy spa.
“Does everything with Jameson revolve around money, networking, and making deals?”Darwin asked even though he was pretty sure he already knew the answer.
“Pretty much,” Asher said.“I’m just glad he considered me a good business match for his daughter, or I’m not sure we’d even be getting married.”
Darwin thought Asher was exaggerating, but part of him realized it might be a legit concern.Khloe and Asher were as close as you could get to an arranged marriage.He’d never understand rich people.
Luckily, he was saved from having to come up with something to say in reply when several men carrying stacks of gun cases came out of the building beside the shooting range and walked over to place them on the tables.One of the men then stepped forward to get everyone’s attention.
“Good morning, everyone,” one of the men said a few moments later.“My name is Ramiro Brock.I’m the senior shooting instructor and safety supervisor for this range.While the goal is to spend the next few hours having fun, you need to remember we’ll be handling weapons that will kill you or someone around you if you don’t use them properly.Which is why we’re going to start the day with a safety briefing.”
The next ten minutes were filled with the same kind of range briefing Darwin was used to hearing in the Navy, with emphasis on keeping the weapons pointed in a safe direction and fingers off the trigger until ready to fire.Based on the way Romero spoke, it was obvious the man had a military background.
“My fellow shooting instructors will be taking you in groups of eight,” Ramiro added.“The rest of you can wait at the tables at the far side of the break area.You don’t need to wear your earmuffs, but I’d suggest keeping the foam earplugs in, just to keep your ears from ringing.So, first group of eight, step up to the firing line.”
