Eat Prey Love by Kerrelyn Sparks

has been stumbling a lot.”
    â€œFine.” She kicked off her shoes. “What now?”
    He smiled slowly. “Your skirt’s too tight. It’s restricting your movement.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not taking off my skirt.”
    â€œDamn.” Phineas slapped his leg. “That was a good try, Carlos.”
    She snorted. “Do you have any useful suggestions?”
    â€œYes.” Carlos’s gaze lingered on her sweet mouth. He could think of a lot of suggestions. “Will you do as I ask?”
    She licked her lips. “Maybe.”
    He motioned with his hand. “Turn around. Face the target.”
    She turned her back to him and rested her hands on the counter, the gun still gripped in one hand.
    Carlos waved at Phineas to leave, but he just grinned. He wandered over to a chair and plopped down, obviously determined to enjoy the show.
    Carlos moved behind Caitlyn, placed his fingertips on her shoulders, and she flinched.
    â€œShh, menina .” He pressed her shoulders down. “You’re hunched up to your ears. You need to relax.”
    â€œHow can I relax when I’m holding a freaking gun? I’m not a violent person.”
    â€œAny person can be violent.” He leaned toward her and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair and skin. “Close your eyes.”
    â€œWhy?” She turned her head slightly, and her temple brushed against his mouth. She looked away, her muscles constricting under his hands.
    â€œRelax.” He gently massaged her shoulders. “Close your eyes, menina. ”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” she asked with a breathy voice.
    â€œI’m going to tell you a story.” He stroked his fingers along the tender skin of her neck and paused when she shivered. Merda. She was so susceptible to his touch. And she smelled so good, it took all his control not to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. “Close your eyes.”
    â€œI don’t trust you.”
    â€œCatalina,” he whispered. “You have the gun. You have the power. Close your eyes.”
    She lowered her head and her eyes flickered shut.
    He leaned close, his lips next to her ear. “You have a lover.”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Her shoulders rose, tensing again.
    â€œPlay along with me.”
    â€œYou wish.”
    He dug his fingers into her shoulders, pressingthem down, and she moaned. “You were madly in love with him. You gave him your heart, your soul. But then he did you wrong.”
    â€œHe kissed me, then acted like it was a mistake?” she muttered.
    Carlos winced. “Yes, that is exactly what the bastard did. Now open your eyes and shoot him in his black heart.”
    She lifted her head, clasped the gun with both hands, and took aim. Bam! She swayed back from the recoil, bumping against Carlos’s chest. He steadied her, holding her against him. The paper man shuddered with a hit.
    â€œYou did it!” Phineas ran up to the counter and pushed the button to activate the pulley that would slide the paper target close to them.
    â€œDamn, woman.” Phineas gave her a horrified look. “Remind me never to make you angry.”
    Caitlyn gasped as the paper came close enough for her to spot the bullet hole with her mortal vision. “Oh dear.”
    Carlos winced. She’d blasted the man right through his balls. “Well, I think we should be positive about this.”
    She looked over her shoulder at him with a grateful smile. “That’s what I always say. We should look at the bright side.”
    Carlos returned her smile. With a small mental jolt he realized his headache was much better. The scent and feel of her was so damned sweet.
    â€œThere ain’t no bright side,” Phineas objected. “The man’s got no gonads.”
    â€œBut she hit the target,” Carlos said.
    â€œThe man has got no gonads,” Phineas repeated