“I guess. Sorry. I was thinking about something else,” he said, as he sipped his coffee. “Perfect,” he laughed.
“Well, I guess that’s the next step,” she smiled.
“What’s that?”
“Observing and learning about each other,” she lightly touched his hand.
“And I thoughtIhad to teach you a few things,” his dark eyes smiled at her.
“I’ve been on undercover assignments before, but nothing this elaborate and I didn’t have to have afakelover.”
“I know it will be difficult, but I think, after last night, that we can do this.”
“I know this is where we’ll be staying, but is it like a safe house, or will others be coming here?”
“I don’t know. After we get the hang of this and are comfortable, we’ll start being in public. Why’d you ask?”
“Well, this place needs to look a littlelivedin. There aren’t any pictures on the walls. We’d at least have our pictures on the wall. We’d also need to make one bedroom like a master. Lovers don’t usually have separate bedrooms.”
“Oh, I guess we should take care of this place, too. You’re right. You’re so smart,” he lightly touched her cheek.
“So, whatwereyou thinking about?” she leaned in.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” he said, as he stared at his coffee cup.
“You can tell me. I know it’s something,” she said.
“I guess I’m still embarrassed about what happened last night,” he said.
“Why?”
“It happened, well, ratherquick,” he said.
“Like you said, it’s been a while. Don’t be embarrassed. You have nothing to be embarrassed by.”
“I just thought … I don’t know … it would’ve taken a little longer. I mean, I was enjoying … and then … I’m sorry,” he sipped his coffee.
“Don’tbe embarrassed. Did you enjoy touching me?” she asked.
“Definitely. I’m sorry it took a little while for you… you know… it’s been … well… I never had to satisfy a womanthatway before. Usually…” he cleared his throat.
“Usually, you have sex for the ultimate satisfaction, right?” she smiled.
“Yeah,” he grinned.
“Well, now you know what I like. It didn’t take as long as you think it did, I was just enjoying it,” she smiled.
“Oh, as long as you were,” he grinned.
“Iwas,” she smiled. She stood up and cleared the table and set the dishes in the dishwasher. “What did you have planned for us today?”
“The shooting range.”
“Where’s my weapon?”
“Weapons,” he took her hand and led her down the hall towards the den. He walked over to the desk and opened the large case. “Now, we have a high-powered rifle with a scope. There are also four side arms. Not sure what you’re comfortable with. I have a nine, a .38, a .45 and a .22 caliber.”
“What do you carry?” she asked, as she sat on the desk.
“I carry a .45 in my side holster and a .22 in my ankle holster.”
“I’ll take the nine and the .38 for my garter holster,” she smiled, as she lifted her skirt and exposed her thigh.
“You have thought this out, haven’t you?”
“Yup. Usually, I’m a jeans and T-shirt kind of person. I’m not girly, but I am and can be a Lady, too.”
“I can see that about you. So, this is a new wardrobe?”
“Yeah, it’s OK. I can get used to it. I’ve dressed up a few times, like forcourt,” she laughed. “I do feel weird without the badge, though.”
“I know. I’m sorry about that. I understand. I feel weird without mine, too.”
She hopped off the desk and picked up the nine. “Untraceable, right?”
“Yup, no serial numbers.”
“Good,” she walked over to the window and touched the glass. “Um, I know that I can’t be in my old life, but I still have an apartment full of my stuff.”
“Your apartment has been packed up and all your things are in storage. Did you need anything specific?”
“Yeah, I do. There are sentimental things that I want to have with me. If this is going to be our home for a while, we should personalize it.”
“I’ll have those things sent here, later, after the range,” he said. “There’s something different about you, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“You were so angry about your life being changed and now, you just seem calm and focused.”
She turned and faced him. “At first, yeah, I was angry, but then I thought about what you said. You were right. I didn’t have much of a life. My life was about the job, ever since Ed died. I worked 18-hour shifts and then went home for a few hours. That was it, unless I was working out or shooting something. Parker, have youever seen my shots?”
“No, I did hear you were a good sharp shooter in the Marines.”
“Yes, I was. I was a sniper. I killed a lot of people for the good of our country.”
“I understand. Just think of this job that way.”
“How do I know that any kill is not going to land me in prison?”
“Trust me,” he said.
“I’m learning to. I guess we’ll have to prove to each other that we can trust each other.”
“We will. Now, let’s go to the range. We’ll take your car,” he walked over to the desk and closed the gun case. “Ready?”
“Yeah, let me grab my jacket,” she said, as she headed down the hall towards her bedroom.