Texas Stand-Off: The Omega Team Novella (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Sable Hunter Read Free Book Online

snorted, unable to get the vision of her suckable nipples out of his head. “A deal with the devil?” An old Elvis song kept going through his mind, Devil in Disguise . “What do you have in mind?”
    She held his gaze. If she didn’t think she could do this job, if it wasn’t so important–she’d leave. “A contest. Let’s compete. If you win the majority of the tests, I’ll call Grey and tell him myself that I failed. If I win, you tell him I’m Omega Team material.”
    Deacon smirked. “Convincing me of your qualification will be hard enough, beating me will be impossible.”
    Putting her hands on her hips, she glared at him–the handsome ass. “Don’t count your chickens before they roost.”
    “Before they hatch.” He made a face. “Who taught you English?”
    “I’ve been to school and I watch a lot of American TV. So?” She waited, her stance emphasizing lush round hips.
    “Fine, Levin. It’s your funeral!” He threw up his hands. She wasn’t going to best him. He was a goddamn Navy SEAL. The fact he was also a cripple was his business. His handicap wouldn’t stop him from proving to her that women did not belong in dangerous situations.
    He stalked out of the room and she stalked behind him. Her heart was beating too fast and parts of her were tingling that had no business tingling. Before when she thought Deacon was gay, he was off-limits, like admiring an expensive sports car from a distance. But now it seemed the muscle-bound, sexy beast was way too close for comfort. Taz had an almost uncontrollable urge to reach out and touch him. But she wouldn’t. Deacon Jones might be aware she was a woman, but he clearly had no respect for her as a person.
    Deacon could hear her footsteps. She was too quite. Not that she normally chattered like a magpie, but he was used to her at least asking what was next. “Let’s see how well you can shoot.” He stopped by a narrow door with an electronic key pad on the wall next to it. “Turn around.” She did and he pressed the password and went in. Natasha didn’t move, but she could hear him opening drawers. “All right.” When she faced him once more, she could see he had a sling bag over his shoulder. Two rifle barrels stuck out the top. “Now, we’re armed.” He led her to an area some distance from the house to a practice range.
    Taz considered asking if she could use her own guns. She had a small armory under the bed in the RV, her father’s weapons. But making the request would entail having to converse with him, which she had no desire to do any more than necessary. Why he disliked her so much, she didn’t know. Clearly he got on well with Athena, her friend thought a lot of him. All Taz could conclude was that his antagonism extended only to her. Maybe he just couldn’t get past who she was–Mikhail Levin’s daughter. 
    “Okay, let’s get to it.” He stopped at a small shed, opened the door and held it so she could join him inside. “Here, load your weapon and we’ll do some target practice. Five hundred and a thousand yards. And this isn’t some precision guided firearm where you wear special glasses that work like some damn video game. You have to have real skill to compete with me.”
    Taz took the gun, familiarizing herself with its weight and feel.
    “What’s wrong with you? Cat got your tongue?” Deacon didn’t know why he was teasing her. Truth was, he’d love to be the cat in question.
    “Just ready to focus.” Following his directions, she stood behind the line at the closest mark to the target and got ready to fire. It was a good distance, but nothing she hadn’t done before.
    “Count of three, take five shots, then get ready to weep.” He winked at her, then raised his gun and aimed.
    Taz trembled at his flirtatious manner.
    “Ready, set, fire!” The volley of shots that rang out would’ve been deafening without hearing protection. When they were through, Taz accompanied him to see the results.
    “Well,