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.
