by Peyton Banks
“I say she shoots better than them.”
“For us to settle this, it would mean all three of you would have to participate and shoot along with the recruits,” Brodie said.
The men of SWAT were downright competitive when it came to anything.
Today was no different.
Looked like Myles was about to enter a shooting contest with his sergeants.
“Let’s do it.” Declan said. “Myles is a sniper. Someone who has to plan and strategize to hit a target meters away. This is active shooting at the drop of a hat. You don’t have time to think.”
“Aim, pull the trigger, and hit the bull’s-eye,” Mac finished. He raised an eyebrow. “Think you can do that better than us? Bring it.”
“And the wager?” Brodie stepped back a foot, his gaze flickering back and forth between Myles, Declan, and Mac. He was officially the referee.
“If I shoot a better score than these two right here…” Myles tried to think of something. Their wagers were always somewhat senseless. They never gambled for money when competing. “My truck could use a good wash and detailing.”
Declan rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you just go off-roading?”
“Maybe.” Myles grinned. His truck had more mud on it that one would have trouble seeing what color it was.
“That’s fine.” Declan chuckled. “Mac, weren’t you just saying you needed to stain your deck?”
Myles groaned, running a hand along his head. Mac’s deck on the back of his house was pretty significant. It was able to accommodate the entire team once a quarter when they had their infamous cookouts at his home. “Okay, okay. That’s doable.”
“And if she shoots better than Myles…” Mac gave a dramatic pause. He scrubbed a palm over his jawline, his eyes shifting to the barn. He turned back and met Myles’s head-on. “If she does better than Myles, then he has to ask her out on a date.”
Myles’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“I have to do what?” he sputtered. Ask Roxxy out? Was Mac crazy?
Declan and Brodie fell out in a fit of laughter. Mac’s gaze was unwavering.
“You heard me,” Mac said. “She beats you, then you have to ask her out on a date. What’s the harm in that? With how you just insulted her, I’m sure the answer would be no anyway.”
“Come on, Mac, think of something else.” Miles groaned. There was no way he would be asking her out. As much as he secretly wanted to, he was sure there were some rules against one of the cops she was observing taking her out.
“What? Is Myles Burton afraid of a woman?” Mac goaded him.
Myles instantly stood to his full height. “Myles Burton isn’t afraid of anything.”
“Then what’s so hard about asking her out?” Mac shrugged.
“He got you there, Myles.” Brodie chuckled. He wiped the trail of laughter tears from his face.
Myles glared at him. They were supposed to be on the same side.
“I think Myles may have finally met his match.” Declan snickered. “When has Myles ever not wanted to go out with a beautiful woman?”
“Okay, okay.” Myles raised both hands in defeat. He would ask the woman out. Once Roxxy said no, then he would have held up his part of the wager.
But first, he wasn’t planning on losing.
He needed his truck cleaned and detailed.
“You motherfuckers got yourselves a deal.”
Chapter 5
Roxxy was fitted with the same gear as the recruits. A ballistic vest, protective eyewear, and a standard-issue Glock. Marching toward the group, she caught sight of Myles speaking with his fellow teammates, Ashton and Brodie. She tried to keep the scowl from forming, but it was a losing battle.
Did she know how to handle a weapon?
She arrived at the range where the men stood waiting for their instructions. The sky was clear, and the air still crisp. It was beautiful outside, and they couldn’t have picked a better day.
The recruits were lined up in front of their own aisle, where they would step up to the marker. Roxxy marched over to the empty row. Lucky number seven.
“Okay, here we are going to test your endurance with the shooting. We are going to put a little pressure on you. In real life, the bad guys will shoot you and not think twice about it.” Myles walked in front of them, pausing a few feet from her. His eyes darkened, and a smirk appeared on his lips. “We are not going to take it easy on you. We will try to distract you, yell at you, be all over you.”
Roxxy swallowed hard with the fantasy that appeared before her.
All over her?
Fuck.
What she wouldn’t give to have Myles Burton all over her.
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Myles turned around and walked back the way he’d come while he continued speaking.
“On my command, you will pull your weapon and fire at the target. We are looking for precision. Someone who can remain in control and hit the targets, because you know what?” He paused and glanced at each one of them. “The bad guys certainly won’t miss.”
“We are going to give a demonstration as always.” Mac stepped forward.
Roxxy took notice that other members of the team had come along. He, Declan, and Myles each moved up to the line in front of three of the targets.
Roxxy witnessed how the recruits were paying attention. They were focused, and a few of them, she could tell they really wanted to join the elite group. Conversations in the barn hinted at that. They all had much respect for the team that they were vying for a spot on.
“Pay attention, ladies and gentlemen,” Declan announced.
The tension in the air thickened. Roxxy was left in the dark, not knowing if they were indeed about to demonstrate because they wanted to, or if they had a little competition going on. She would think that one demonstration would be enough. Shrugging, she decided to ask later, but for now, she’d watch the show.
Two of the team surrounded Mac, who went first. His jaw hardened, and his eyes narrowed on the target. His fierce gaze had her glad she would never be on the receiving end of such a stare. The men goaded him, yelled at him while he pulled his gun from its holster and fired a full round at the target.
This time Declan went. Same deal. Two men stood on each side of him, antagonizing him, yelling, trying to break his laser focus. He, too, emptied an entire round without so much as a flinch.
“All right, Burton. Your turn,” Ashton called out.
He and the one named Iker surrounded Myles, who rolled his shoulders before bracing himself.
Roxxy was unsure why, but her breath caught in her throat. He whipped out his weapon and fired. He, like Mac and Declan, had a fierce focus. No matter how loud and obnoxious Iker and Ashton were, his gaze didn’t waver from the target.
The recruits clapped at the end of the demonstration. Roxxy joined them, impressed with the show of marksmanship.
“Anyone can shoot a gun,” Myles began. He turned while securing his weapon back at his side. His gaze roamed the recruits and landed on Roxxy. “As was stated before, we are looking for precision while under pressure.”
“Not bad, men,” Brodie announced, walking over to the targets.
“Who shot better?” a deep voice called out.
Chuckles went around. Roxxy tried to hold back the roll of her eyes. Of course, the men would be competing.
She should have known.
It didn’t matter that these were strong men who faced danger daily.
Put a gun in their hands, and a target a few feet away, and those men morphed into hormonally driven teens.
“Looks like the winner is…” Brodie walked back and forth between the three targets. “Myles.”
Myles grinned as he rotated. He brandished his biceps and flexed them, showing off.
Jesus, the man was cocky and built.
Even through his dark clothing, the well-defined muscles stood out. Each of the SWAT men were chiseled and built, but it was Myles who certainly
captured her attention.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She would love to be the one running her hands over the contoured lines of every ridge of his hardened body.
“Okay, now, recruits, your turn. Smith, you’re up first,” Myles called out, breaking through her carnal fantasies.
Roxxy waited, watching as each recruit was put through the strain of shooting. A few held themselves together, while others weren’t ready at all for shooting under pressure. They made her last since she wasn’t officially trying out, and she was okay with that. While they tested each person, she mentally took notes.
“Okay, Miss Sutton. You’re next,” Myles’s deep voice sounded beside her.
She met his gaze with a stubborn one of her own. She wasn’t going to let him intimidate her at all. His devilish good looks, muscles, and the fact she had to tilt her head back just to meet his gaze—she’d shove all of that to the side.
Focus, Roxxy.
He wasn’t going to distract her at all.
“Let’s do it, Officer.” She thickened her drawl on purpose and stepped forward to the mark where she was to stand.
She bit back a smile, sensing his gaze on her back. She pushed her protective glasses up on the bridge of her nose. He arrived at her left while Brodie stood to her right. Focusing on the target, she rested her hand around the cold steel of the issued Glock. “Ready when you are, sir.”
Myles stiffened next to her.
Roxxy knew she had him.
Her heart rate decreased while she concentrated on the bull’s-eye. Being the only one of two females amongst all these men was enough stress as it was.
She blew out a deep breath.
It wasn’t as if the fate of all womanhood rested on her shoulders.
She just had to shoot a gun and hit the targets.
And not think of Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome next to her.
“Shoot the target, Sutton,” Myles ordered.
Willing her heart to slow, she gripped the Glock and drew it from the sheath. She brought it up in front of her and held it steady in her two hands. She aimed and pulled the trigger. She was ready for the recoil of the weapon after it fired.
“Where’s she learn to shoot a gun, cheerleading practice?” Brodie snapped.
He and Myles continued to berate her, trying to throw off her concentration.
She filed that first comment in the back of her mind for later. The two men tried to get under her skin.
But she was Earl Sutton’s daughter.
Her hand remained steady while she continued firing the weapon.
“No cheerleader I’ve ever known would be caught dead with a gun in their hands.” Myles laughed.
“With your reputation, I’m sure you know a lot of cheerleaders.” Brodie snorted. “Remember that time you were telling us the story of—”
“Done.” Roxxy cut Brodie off. She stood straight and secured her borrowed weapon.
He had a reputation with women.
Of course he does. Roxxy held back an unladylike grunt.
“Good job, Sutton,” Myles remarked. He gave her a short nod and stepped back away from her.
“Thanks,” she murmured. Her skin tingled from the eyes of the men surrounding her.
“Nice shooting, Miss Sutton.” Brodie jogged over to the targets.
Roxxy patiently waited for Brodie to announce what she already knew.
“Holy fuck!” Brodie exclaimed as he examined her target sheet.
“Well.” Mac strolled toward them. “We’re all wanting to know.”
Roxxy glanced at Mac, unsure why they would all want to know what she’d shot. Her gaze landed on Myles, who was not hiding the fact he was staring at her. Turning her attention back to Brodie, she waited again.
“She hit the bull’s-eye on every shot but one,” Brodie called out.
She shrugged with a glance at Myles.
No one was perfect.
She hadn’t liked the fact that he knew lots of cheerleaders. That little bit of knowledge threw her off. She was unsure why, but she was ready to gouge out the eyes of every single cheerleader he knew.
The applause went up in the air. Roxxy gazed around with pride filling her chest. She smiled and nodded to the men as they gazed upon her with admiration and respect.
The one female cop gave her the thumbs-up. Her smile widened, having shared a brief moment with her fellow woman.
“Seems like she does know how to handle a gun.” Declan laughed. He slapped Myles on the back and shook his head. “Hell, you looking for a job?”
Roxxy smirked at the sight of Myles rolling his eyes.
“Not at the moment, but if I ever get bored with what I’m currently doing, I’ll keep you guys in mind.”
“Let’s give it up for Myles leading today’s tryouts.” Mac clapped.
The team joined in. Myles nodded to each of his men.
“We had a good group this year. I thank each of you for coming out to participate,” Myles said. Even though it was required for each team member to join in the observation process, he knew his men would have been there anyway. Choosing a new member of SWAT was a group decision. Every man had to be sure about the new member.
This decision was to be made together.
“I want you to think long and hard. Anyone you think should deserve a shot at an interview?” Mac asked the group.
They stood in a circle away from the barn as the recruits returned their gear.
Myles’s mind was filled with Roxxy and her determined glare. The way she held the gun in her hands and her almost perfect aim. He almost wished she needed help with aiming. He would have loved nothing more than to stand behind her and wrap his arms around her to show her how to hold a gun properly.
“Burton!” a voice snapped.
Myles blinked and turned to Declan. “What?”
“Did you even hear what we said?” Declan cocked an eyebrow high.
“He’s probably trying to figure out how to ask Roxxy out.” Ash grunted.
Chuckles went around. Myles rolled his eyes and stood straighter. He could take their teasing. He was a big boy.
“Honestly, I was thinking of Gizzy,” he murmured. He swept a hand over his jaw.
Ash narrowed his eyes on Myles. Gizzy was Ash’s single sister, who was a teacher at a nearby school district.
“Excuse me. What did you say?” Ash took a step toward him.
Myles couldn’t help but bust his friend’s balls. “You found love at an elementary school. I think I may take a crack at it. What grade does Gizzy teach again?”
Myles barked a laugh when Ash dove at him. Zain and Iker caught him by the arms. He wasn’t afraid of his friend. It wouldn’t be the first time one of the men on the team got into a squabble.
“That’s enough, men,” Mac barked, irritation lining his face.
“He’s just messing with you,” Iker laughed. He pushed Ash back into Zain. Iker glanced over at Myles. “Tell him you’re pulling his chain.”
“Ash, man, you know I love Gizzy like a sister.” Myles chuckled and shook his head. She was as cold as her brother. There were no sparks between Gizzy and Myles. He considered her one of the fellas. “None of us would dare to go near your sister.”
“We’re good?” Declan asked Ash.
“Yeah. We’re good.” Ash shook Zain off him and straightened his clothes. He sent a frosty glare to Myles before turning his attention back to their two sergeants.
Myles rolled his eyes, knowing he’d have to personally apologize to his friend.
“Back to what I was saying. We need to decide if anyone deserves to move forward with the interview process.” Mac folded his arms in front of his chest. “Zain. What do you think?”
“I think Knight has potential. I liked her form. She transferred in from Atlanta from what I know,” Zain responded.
Myles thought of the new woman and mentally agreed with Zain. Jordan Knight was new to their precinct, having transferred sometime las
t year. Myles didn’t know much about the patrol officer but had been impressed by what he’d seen out on the field.
“I second Zain.” Iker raised his hand. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about Knight. She’s solid. When I knew she was trying out, I put in a couple calls with a few friends over at her old precinct. Everyone had great things to say about her.”
“Myles. What say you?” Mac directed his attention to Myles.
“I liked what I saw today. Knight seems like a solid gal. Cracked a few jokes. I say, let her move on to the interview process.”
Once a cop was able to advance to interviews, they turned the heat on. Everything in their file would be combed over. The person would even be allowed to train with the SWAT team which would allow them all to really feel out the recruit.
They continued around the group, with each man speaking about the potentials. It seemed like everyone felt something good about Officer Knight.
“All right then. Looks like we have our answer.” Declan clapped his hands together. Murmurs of agreement went around. “Now, our Myles lost a bet.”
Myles groaned, scuffing a hand across his cheek. “I didn’t actually lose the bet.”
“If I recall, there was a stipulation that if she shot better than you…” Brady shrugged.
Myles glared at him. They were supposed to be on the same side.
“I’m sorry,” Brady mouthed back to him.
Of course, they would want him to approach her now.
Mac gave a low chuckle and pushed his sunglasses on top of his head. “I mean, if you are too chicken to complete the mission, Burton, I’m sure some of our other single team members won’t hesitate to—”
“I’m going to do it,” Myles ground out. The thought of another man approaching Roxxy had him wanting to slam his fist into any of his teammate’s faces.
He paused.
Where the hell this aggression come from? He glanced around and found each of their eyes on him. Zain, Iker, Ash, Dec, Brody, and Mac, all staring at him in shock.
“Look who’s walking out the barn now.” Ash nodded toward the building.
Roxxy sauntered out, speaking to Reeves and Brown. Myles narrowed his eyes on the way she held her clipboard to her chest. The smile that graced her lips was being wasted on the two men beside her. They were practically salivating on her as they held on to whatever she was saying.