Couple weeks later

Monday May 23rd 2022

Joe was working the night so he had the day free for Kelsey. It was Joes turn to plan a date so, he was taking Kelsey to the range to target practice with him.

"I'm almost ready, I just have to spray my hair!" She said opening the door for Joe then heading back to the bathroom.

"Hey." He held his hands out in front of him loosely.

"Sorry. Hi." She gave him a quick greeting kiss and he hugged her. Before running off again.

"Take your time babe." He told her.

—

A couple minutes later she was ready, she looked bad ass with her tight black v neck tank top tucked into jean shorts.

"Phew." He whistled making her blush. Then they left

"So you've never done this?" Joe asked her on the car ride over.

"No I'm nervous!" She said laughing.

"Don't be nervous, it's just a .22 pistol, doesn't kick." He told her.

"Is it loud?" She wondered.

"Not with hearing protection." He told her.

"Do you wear hearing protection when you use it on the job?" She asked. He looked at her and laughed. She was kidding right? No, she wasn't.

"That would be super dangerous… and I don't carry a .22 on the job." he said trying to stop laughing, he didn't wanna make her feel stupid.

"Yeah true. Have you…" she stopped. Joe knew what she was gonna ask. She played with her bracelets.

"Have I used it on the job?" He finished for her. She looked at him, how'd he know?

"More times then I've liked yes." He said nodding. Kelsey swallowed hard. She for some reason wasn't expecting that to be the answer. She couldn't see Joe behind a gun and in his element.

"Sorry I asked." She said.

"Don't be sorry, comes with the job. Hope that doesn't freak you out?" He wondered, taking by her face she maybe was.

"No. I know." She said understanding. They stopped at a red light, Joe leaned across the console and kissed her.

"I am excited to see if you shoot as good as you kiss." She flirted.

"Hope that's a compliment." He said chuckling.

"It is. We should make a bet."

"You wanna make a bet when you've never shot before?" He said raised eyebrows.

"Yeah. How bout if I shoot better then you…you take me to your family dinner with the Reagan's Sunday." She suggested, Joe was surprised, they've talked about this not too long ago and agreed to wait for there relationship to be more stable and serious.

"Okay and if I win, you have to make ME breakfast in bed next time I stay at your place." He said laughing.

"Oh I see how it is." She laughed and playfully hit his arm.

——

They got to the range and to an open table to stand at. There was another guy there but he was leaving.

"Got the place to ourselves, that never happens." Joe said setting the stuff down.

"So these are your ear plugs, and safety glasses, and these are mine." He said setting them aside before opening the gun case to go over it with her.

"Alright. So. This is what your gonna shoot, it's not loaded yet, I'll show you." He picked it up and took out the magazine to show her, racked it showing her it's empty and let her hold it.

"It's heavier then I thought." She said.

"Yeah, they are. Most important rule, no matter what, always act like it's loaded and there's a bullet chambered. Always point it in a safe direction, to the ground, or up in the air, depending on the situation. You don't put your finger near the trigger unless your gonna pull it." He explained seriously.

"Your scaring me." Kelsey said as a reaction to his change of tone and everything.

"Sorry. I'm just being firm, this isn't a toy is all."

"I know that..." She said partially annoyed he thought she'd think that.

"Good. So let's hold it up and look through the sights, just for practice." He fixed her hands how they should be and brought it up in front of her, pointing out at the target.

"Okay so now what?" She asked.

"So if you close your left eye and see that green dot? Your gonna line that up between these two little pegs in this divet, I'll call it, and that's what you put on the spot you wanna shoot." He told her.

"Oh okay." She moved the gun slightly to do what Joe had said.

"Got it?" He asked standing behind her trying to see.

"Yeah, now what?" She asked.

"Now nothing, we have to load it remember?"

"Haha oh yeah" she laughed at herself. She brought the gun down and handed it to Joe.

"You'd make a good cop babe." He said sarcastically, all in good spirits.

"Shut up." She laughed. Joe opened a box of bullets and showed her how to load the magazine, chamber it and where the safety was. Once she was ready they put there ear plugs in, safety glasses on and let her give it a shot.

"I'm shaking." She said aiming at the target.

"You're fine." Joe stood with her and put his hands over hers, she was in fact shaking.

"Take a deep breathe, hold it and squeeze the trigger, don't let it surprise you." He told her.

BAM

She did what Joe said and shot. She smiled, which was good.

"Nice job." He let go of her hands.

"Can I do it again?" She asked lighting up.

"Yeah! You got 9 more shots." He informed her, then he stepped back and let her have at it. She looked super hot right now, Joe loved it. She shot the rest of them and then Joe got out his .45 and they shot a couple rounds together.

The last round was for the bet. Whoever had the closest groupings, could be anywhere on the paper, won.

"Wow, I knew I'd be bad but I didn't know I'd be that bad." Kelsey said when they pulled the targets and compared the two.

"Honestly babe for a first time ever shooting…it's not too bad!" He said bringing her in for a side hug. They cleaned everything up to leave.

"So what would you like to eat for this breakfast in bed event?" Kelsey asked on there way back to the car.

"Ha, whatever you want. If you really do wanna come to dinner though you can, I just thought you weren't ready for that." He questioned, taking her free hand in his.

"Well that was before I was 100% in love with you."

"Oh?" He said caught off guard stopping once they got to his car.

"I love you." She finally said back to him, he was over the moon. He's told her a couple of times he was falling in love with her, and even told her he loved her. She hadn't said it back though yet until now.

"You mean that? Really?" He asked with a smile, turning to face her, holding her hand still.

"Of course I mean it, I wouldn't say it if I didn't." She said smiling. Earlier she couldn't see him behind a gun…after today she got the whole picture of who he was and it was just what she needed. Joe smiled back at her and kissed her passionately.

————

Aww she finally admitted she loved him! I loved them during this whole chapter! He brought her out of her comfort zone, showed him a little bit of his life and she ended up loving it!