Free Pistol: A Stepbrother Romance by Autumn Gunn Page A

during the short flight just adds insult to injury.
     
                  "What the hell was that for?"
     
                  I stared right into his eyes as he lifted himself up off the concrete.  When he got to his feet he slowly backed away and walked in the other direction.
     
                  "You okay?"

              Up close she was somehow even sexier.
     
                  "I'm fine."
     
                  "I have time to take you for a ride."
     
                  Her head was tilted slightly to one side.  Her neck exposed to me.  She looked me in the eye.  She was calm.  It was like she was either trying to read me, break my confidence, or decide.

              Girls can read me easily.  I don't give a fuck.  100% of the time.  I do what I want.  On my terms.  They eat it up.

              Break my confidence?  A guy in reddish hipster pants.  Sure.  Me?  Please.  Next question.
     
                  Decide?  She was deciding.
     
                  "What makes you think I want to go for a ride?"
     
                  "You're doing math.  It's 1:17 in the afternoon on the first warm day of May."             
     
                  Two barbie doll blondes were sitting at the table next to her.  They had seen the whole thing.

              "We want to go for a ride!"  The more platinum of the two said.

              I didn't break eye contact with the brunette.
     
                  "You only have one helmet."

              "You can borrow mine."

              "What about you?"
     
                  "You don't need a helmut in Colorado if you're over 17."
     
                  "I want you to have one.  It doesn't look safe."
     
                  "Sitting in a coffee shop on a warm spring isn't always safe.  Just depends on who you're with"
     
                  She paused.
     
                  I lived for adrenaline rushes.  Motorcycle racing.  Base jumping.  Black diamond snowboarding.  Pure speed.  If it went fast, I wanted in.
     
                  The Marine Corps was a natural choice.  Travel to new and exciting countries and blow up stuff.  Cause havoc.  In and out.  Stealth speed and destruction.  At least that's what a 17 year old testosterone fill boy though.
     
                  My mom was thrilled to sign the parental consent form for the Delayed Entry Program.  Finally I'd get some discipline.  I'd be surrounded by positive male role models.
     
                  Exactly one month after my 18th birthday and I'd be gone.  Out of here.  On to the yellow footprints of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.  I wanted to be special ops.  All or nothing.
     
                  My all or nothing right now was her.  Math homework girl.  I had three days until I was off to Recruit Training.
     
                  "OK.  But you have to drive safely.  Only a quick ride.  And I hold your driver's license.  Just in case you try something."
     
                  "Deal.  Hop on."
     
                  She put her books into her backpack.  Double tied her shoelaces.  Put on my helmet.
     
                  I handed her my license.  We were off.
     
                  I knew a beautiful mountain pass just outside of town.  I had taken a lot of other girls there before.  It blew them away.  About as close to a guaranteed lay as you can get.

              For some reason I didn't want to go there.  This girl was different.  I could tell.  She was making demands of me.  Standing up for herself.  Carefully optimistic, but realistic.
     
                  I wanted to do something unique.