Page 80 of Missile Strike

And froze.

God, he was beautiful when he smiled. White teeth. Eyes bright with humor, the corners crinkling. Effortless, dangerous charm.

If only things were different.

She faced forward again, giddiness draining fast as truth settled heavy in her heart.

Talia was right. He would leave. Men like him weren’t built to stay.

She should run as far in the opposite direction from him as she could. It was the smart choice. The safe choice.

But right now? She’d never felt more alive. More capable.

And that was because of him.

Maybe she could take what she wanted while she had the chance, knowing it wouldn’t last—even if it hurt like hell later.

The memory surfaced of how he’d worshiped her body on the cold, sandy beach even as he’d been grieving. They both had.

No other man had come close to replacing him in her dreams.

She could make new memories with Danny. And when he moved onto his next adventure and left her behind, she’d figure out how to move on as well.

Without being told, she reached for the ammunition and reloaded the magazine.

Focus.

“Again,” Danny said.

Lifting the gun, she squared her shoulders and stared down the target.

Her father had always tried to shelter her. Danny was giving her the skills and the freedom to be in charge of her own destiny.

Chapter Nineteen

He was so fucked.

Danny stared through the windshield as he drove Bella home, replaying the moment at the range when he’d almost kissed her.

Before Bella, he’d never had a problem remaining professional on the job. Easygoing? Yes. Maybe a bit flirtatious when the situation called for it. But he didn’t cross lines.

He hadn’t needed to put his arms around Bella to show her the firing stance.

That hadn’t been need.

It’d been a want.

Then she turned in his arms—eyes wide, daring him.

He’d almost taken her mouth right there. Made a scene. Broke every safety rule in the place.

And he wouldn’t have cared.

“Are you okay?” Bella studied him from the passenger seat where she was curled up.

Like she belonged there.

The thought unsettled him.