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She did, settling the stock against her shoulder. Mac was close enough that she could feel the warmth coming off his whole body, and her mind immediately went back to how good it had felt being carried in his arms.

“Slow down a little.”

Jodie breathed in.

“Not your breathing. Everything.” His voice was quiet near her ear. “You’re rushing because you’re frustrated.”

Well, that’s embarrassing.

He was right. She’d been so determined to prove she still knew what she was doing that she’d started fighting the rifle instead of shooting it.

“Okay.”

Mac’s hand returned to her shoulder and rested there lightly. “Relax here.”

She let the tension go.

“Better.”

It stayed there for another second, then slid away. She missed it immediately but Jodie kept her gaze downrange.

Professional.

Then his hand settled against her hip again. Her breath caught.

Mac gave no sign of noticing. He was still looking at her stance. “You’re turning away from the ankle again.”

“I thought I fixed that.”

“You did. Then you got tired.”

That landed harder than it should have. Jodie frowned. “I’m not tired. And I can’t exactly sit down to do this.”

“I didn’t mean tired like you can’t handle it.” His tone stayed easy, without even a hint that he knew exactly where her thoughts had gone. “Your ankle’s injured. Your body’s compensating. The longer you stand here, the more it wants to protect itself.”

“Oh.”

There you go again.

Mac hadn’t called her weak. He hadn’t even come close. Dale had crawled into her head so thoroughly she was practically supplying the insults for him now.

“Try putting a little more weight here.” Mac gave her hip the slightest nudge. “Not enough to hurt. Just enough to get you centered.”

Jodie shifted.

“There.”

He left it there while she adjusted, warm and steady through the fabric of her pants. She could feel him behind her, close enough that if she leaned back even an inch her shoulders would be against his chest⁠—

Stop.

She swallowed and focused on the target.

“Does that feel better?”

“Yes.” Her voice sounded normal.

Thank God.