Free Gunnin' for You (Rolling Thunder series Book 4) by Pj Fiala

she looked up into his face to see him looking down at her.
    Softly, Emma said, “I was afraid.”
    Taking a deep breath, Gunnar whispered, “Josh’s mom?”  
    Emma sighed and let out a breath. “I had been at a parade in Green Bay for the Packers. I went with some friends from school and we were cheering the Packers on for a game, I can’t even remember what game or the circumstances. Anyway, we were walking back to our cars when Josh’s parents walked up to me and started screaming at me that I had no right to be there, cheering and having fun while their son was cold and in the ground because of me. It was horrible, and the only thing I could think was to move away so I could go out in public and not have to worry about being accosted by his parents.  I know it was running away, but I was only nineteen years old.  I was scared. I was devastated that I had hurt someone else and the looks on their faces was more than I could bear. I finished tech school a month later and moved to Chicago as soon as I could find a job there. I didn’t come back very often, and when I did, I went to Ashley’s and didn’t leave the house much.”
    Gunnar squeezed Emma and held her against his body.  
    “Hey, you gonna neck on the sidewalk all day, or can we get going?”
    Gunnar chuckled and looked down at Emma. “I guess Uncle Dayton is a little anxious to get moving. You okay?”
    “Yeah, I’m good. I didn’t mean to get all maudlin on you. It’s been a great day, Gunnar. Thank you.”
    She squeezed him again then pulled back, her brows furrowed.
    “Are you…do you carry a gun?”
    He raised his brows then furrowed them in confusion.
    “I just felt something hard when we hugged. Do you?”
    He chuckled first then said, “Yes. We all carry.” Extending his arm toward his family. “All the time. Does it bother you?”
    “No. I just haven’t noticed it before.”
    “Last night we were out and I thought I might have a drink or two. That’s the exception. We don’t carry if we drink. It’s against the law and it isn’t safe.”
    “Okay. Thank you for being safe.”
    “Always. And if you think you want to learn to shoot, Ryder has been teaching Molly and she’s going to get her concealed carry soon. You could to. Up to you. Okay?”
    ”Okay.”
    The ride back ended far sooner than Emma liked. They were welcomed into Jeremiah and Joci’s house and offered drinks as soon as they hit the kitchen.  Gunnar, still holding Emma’s hand, pulled her to the back of the house to Maddie’s room to take a peek at her.  She was sound asleep, but Gunnar bent down and kissed her little cheek as she slept.  He adjusted her blanket and felt her head to make sure she wasn’t cold. Emma grinned, watching him take care of his little sister. As he stood, he noticed Emma’s expression.
    “I can’t help it. I just love touching her and holding her. As soon as Mom found out she was pregnant, well, once we knew she wasn’t going to lose her, I kept dreaming about her. I was excited to have a sister.”
    Emma stepped forward and wrapped her hands around Gunnar’s arm and leaned her forehead against his bicep. “I know what you mean. When Ashley called me to tell me she was having a baby, I couldn’t wait for him to arrive. I was freaked out as we were walking into the hospital and I was in the room when he was born, which freaked me out even more. But as soon as I saw him and held him, I was in love.”
    Gunnar looked down at Emma; his heartbeat kicked up and his nostrils flared. Having her near him, touching him, and sharing her feelings about her nephew, made his stomach flip and his breathing stagger.
    Emma looked up into his eyes. She stood on her toes and wrapped her palm around the back of his neck and pulled him down gently to her lips and kissed him. It was the first time she had initiated a kiss.  His lips formed a smile as he kissed her, which caused her to smile in return. They both started giggling. Gunnar raised