Defending Morgan (Mountain Mercenaries #3)(89)

She reached up and took the card from his hand, staring down at it for a beat before looking back up at him. “Okay . . . um, thanks.”

“I mean it,” Black said. “Call me.”

Harlow pulled her hair back with one hand, then sighed, leaning on the counter. “Do you give your number to anyone who wants to learn how to use a gun?”

“No,” he said succinctly.

“Then why me?” Harlow asked.

Black put his hands on the counter between them and leaned toward her. She didn’t pull back, and it made his pulse speed up with anticipation. “Because I like your hair.”

“You gave me your number because you like my hair?” she asked skeptically.

“That, and anyone who’s more concerned about the people who live here than her own safety is someone I want to get to know better. Besides, we were friends once, right?” he asked.

“I’m not sure I would say we were friends,” Harlow said with a small grin.

“Sure we were. We survived that yearbook club together, didn’t we?”

She nodded. “Yeah. If you’re serious, I’ll call.”

“I’m serious,” Black said, willing her to read between the lines of what he was saying. He was interested in Harlow Reese. There was something about her that drew him in. If he had to use his job as an excuse for her to call him, he would. He’d teach her gun safety and how to shoot, but he hoped in the process he could convince her to go on a date and get to know him better as well.

Deciding he’d talk to Rex about the situation at the shelter, just in case, Black smiled at Harlow. “It’s a date then.”

She blushed again, but nodded.

Black straightened and smiled at her. “Don’t wait to call, Harl. I’m looking forward to it.” And with that, he winked at her and headed out of the kitchen. Suddenly, he was more than glad it had been his turn to volunteer at the shelter tonight.

He’d wait a few days for her to call, but if she didn’t, he wasn’t going to let this go. He knew where she worked—he’d just come up with an excuse to come back to the shelter so he could see her again. It had been a long time since he’d been as excited about a woman as he was right now.

Even though he’d known Harlow when they were kids, he didn’t know anything about the woman she’d become. But he had a feeling when he did, she just might change his life.