I missed.
Vaughn hit two more in the time it took me to miss once.
“Damn it!” I glared over my shoulder at Cooper, who was shaking with the effort to control his laughter. “Are you happy?”
He just laughed harder.
“Here.”
I jumped because the word had been said right in my ear. Vaughn had put down his rifle and was standing right next to me. Right in my personal space. I could smell his cologne and see the silver striations in the iris of his eyes.
My body tingled all over at his close proximity.
“What are you doing?” I panicked as he slid in behind me, my ass grazing the top of his thighs. I tensed as he wrapped his arms around me, taking both my arms in his hands and adjusting me.
“You’re holding it wrong.” His voice rumbled in my ear.
I squeezed my eyes closed as I got a flashback of lying beneath him, feeling him move inside me while he whispered dirty things to me.
“Princess,” he murmured. “Are you listening?”
Why are you doing this to me?
“I’m holding it wrong,” I managed to wheeze out. “Okay. Show me how.”
“With pleasure.” His tone was filled with filth.
“The gun, Tremaine,” I bit out.
He chuckled, the movement causing his body to shift against mine. “Right.” He adjusted my stance for a few moments, his hands caressing me as he adjusted my hips, too. Frankly, it felt like an excuse to feel me up.
“You done?” I snapped.
He laughed again. “Sure. Try now. Follow the sight line. Yes, like that. Now wait. Hold it. You want to pull the trigger just as the tip of the hen’s face comes into the sight line.”
And my smartbuttery got the best of me. “I hope you don’t take the same advice in the bedroom.”
Vaughn leaned closer, the slight bristle of his cheek brushing mine as he whispered, “We both know for a fact that I don’t.”
I clenched my teeth. “Bastard.”
“You walked into that one.” He pulled back before I could dispute that comment. “Now follow my advice.”
I waited. I concentrated. I followed his advice.
And I freaking hit the thing!
“Whoop!” I spun around, and smacked him playfully across the chest. “I did it!”
“You did. But I still won.”
“I don’t care.” I shot Cooper a triumphant grin. “I hit the damn hen.”
“Yeah, you did,” he chuckled.
“It only took you twenty-nine years,” Cat added.
“You, Cat Lawson, are a party pooper.” I looked at Joey. “You want to play next?”
He shook his head. “I want to ride the roller coaster.”
“Cool.” I quirked an eyebrow at Vaughn. “What do you say, Tremaine? Want to hit the roller coaster? Or are you chicken?”
He gave me an exasperated look. “Really?”
“Well are you?”
“Roller coaster it is.” He started walking away. “Lead the way again, Joey.”
“You two are children,” Jess admonished, stepping forward. “And it would be funny except you haven’t even noticed that Rex has gone.”
My stomach dropped as I realized she was right. “What? Where? When?”
“About a minute ago, when Vaughn started using that”—she gestured to the rifle range—“to cop a feel.”
Guilt weighed on me. “I need to go after him.”
“Are you dating him?”
“No. We’re just friends. I told you that. I just . . .”
“We all know how he feels about you,” she said. “I know I’m pushing you toward Vaughn but I feel bad for Rex now. He looked upset.”
“Jess. Don’t. I’m already guilt-ridden here. I have to go. Tell Joey I’m sorry.”
“Doesn’t anyone want to claim the prize?” Ben asked.
“I’ll deal with it,” Jess said. “Go.”
Without another word I hurried away, running through the park and out of the main gates. That’s when I ran into a problem because Rex could have gone in either direction. I decided to head out the way we’d come in from Main Street. To my relief, just as I turned onto Main Street, I saw him in the crowds up ahead. Thankfully he was taller than the average guy, and he was wearing a red T-shirt with an album cover on the back of it.
“Rex! Wait up!”
But he either didn’t hear me or he was ignoring me. I shoved through the crowds, apologizing to those I pushed accidentally or bumped into. Finally I caught up with him.
“Rex.” I pulled on his arm, drawing him to a stop. “Where are you going?”
He stared at me, incredulous hurt in his dark brown eyes. “Really?”
“That?” I gestured behind me, indicating the moment at the park. “That was nothing. We were just needling each other. That’s what we do.”
“If you believe that, you’re in denial.”
“Rex.”
“No.” He cut me off. “I . . . I’ve asked myself what I’m doing these past few weeks. Convinced myself that you were what I wanted and that you were worth the wait. And I’m not saying you’re not, but I think we both know that I would be waiting forever for you.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you. If I knew what I wanted, I would tell you.”
“You do know what you want. You’re just smart enough to realize he’s an asshole, and that you should stay away from him.”