Myles turned to his fellow teammate, who was also a proud Army man. Brodie had served and did two tours before his discharge. He was the youngest member of their team, having joined a few years ago. Myles had immediately taken him under his wing once he’d learned Brodie had served in the Army.
Army men stuck together.
“I think your teammate here was about to put his foot in his mouth,” Mac warned. The corners of his mouth edged up, and his eyes narrowed on Myles.
Both he and Declan adjusted their stance, facing Myles and Brodie.
“Not at all. See here, Brodie.” Myles put his arm around Brodie’s shoulder and laughed. “These two Navy men think that just because they are our superiors, we wouldn’t want to wage a little bet.”
“Is that so.” Brodie rubbed his hands together. “What are we betting on?”
Myles grinned. “You know the woman who is observing us?”
“How could I not?” Brodie gave a long, low whistle. “She’s a fox. All the guys have been talking about her since she arrived.”
Myles bit back a growl. All the guys?
“Well anyway,” he continued, shaking his head. Why would he care that the other men on the grounds found her attractive? Sure, she had a flawless, smooth light complexion, thick dark hair that he wanted to see flowing over her naked shoulders…
Myles blinked.
Naked shoulders.
Where the hell did that come from?
He had to push the fantasy of a naked Roxxy out of his mind quick.
“Anyway,” he repeated. “They are willing to wager how well Miss Sutton shoots. They say better than me, which we all know would be damn near impossible,” he scoffed.
Brodie barked a hard laugh with him. Mac and Declan glared at him, both folding their arms in front of their chests.
“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.
