Sparks fly between an amateur blacksmith and an outspoken professor with a passion for archery in this heartfelt contemporary romance from the author of Getting His Game Back and Not the Plan . Mo Sarda carefully guards his peaceful life from other people’s messy feelings. He co-parents his daughter with no drama, sits quietly at family gatherings, tends to his beloved plants, and volunteers to teach blacksmith skills at the local Folk School. No one seems to get him, except for his family, and that’s completely fine with Mo—there’s no one else he needs. Then along comes Jessica Anderson and her damn crossbow. After the unexpected death of her sister, Jess has made new roots in Michigan to move forward with her life. Her grief still stings, but she’s excited to start her professorship job and continue pursuing her passion for archery. Luckily, her new town has a Folk School with ample practice space. Then Jess has a combative run-in with Mo and all her plans to avoid complicated feelings start to crumble. No one should look that hot banging an anvil. Before long, the two are drawn to work together to save the beloved Folk School from closing its doors. The heat is on them to plan a Renaissance Faire to raise the much-needed funds, but the more worthy pursuit could be the fire growing between them—if only they would be willing to give each other a shot. “What a delight! Give Me a Shot is sweet, spicy, and thoughtfully tender.” —Chloe Liese, USA Today bestselling author of Two Wrongs Make a Right “A sensitive and sexy ren faire treat that is sure to delight fans of Jen DeLuca and Helen Hoang, Give Me a Shot is absolutely packed with heat and brimming with midwestern charm! Gia de Cadenet deftly balances humor and heart in this tender exploration of grief and vulnerability. It’s not to be missed!” —Ellie Palmer, author of Four Weekends and a Funeral “This humorous, contemplative romance features realistic, strong, but insecure, characters with relatable flaws and quirks. . . . Fans of romance with depth will clamor for this title.” — Library Journal , starred review Gia de Cadenet is the author of Not the Plan and Getting His Game Back . A Maggie Award finalist, BCALA Literary Award nominee, and lifelong romance reader, she is also a business school professor and former translator and editor for UNESCO. A native Floridian, she currently lives in France with her children. Chapter One Mo “Who. The Hell. Are You?” Mo did not raise his head. He took a slow breath in, noticing a few missed suds still glistening on his just-rinsed hands dripping over the sink. He willed his heart to slow after the shock of the unexpected voice behind him. He should have been alone in the empty workshop that shared a wall with his own. “I asked you a question.” The woman’s voice was cold, steely. No sign that she’d been hit by a wave of adrenaline like the one that was still coursing through his own body. “I’m Mo,” he said, his voice scratchier than he’d intended. “How did you get in?” she asked. While still hard, her voice had lost a bit of its edge, so he took the risk of lifting his head slowly. “I have a key,” he said. Between the harshness of the florescent bulb high on the wall and the large chunk missing from the mirror above the sink, he couldn’t catch a glimpse of her without making a sudden movement. Which he was sure wasn’t wise. “Why?” she asked. It occurred to him that it might be marginally safer for both of them if she could look him in the eye. He turned slowly, keeping his hands in view. Another blast of adrenaline cut his breath as he came face-to-face with a loaded crossbow, its arrow pointed squarely between his eyes. Months earlier, at his auto shop, Mo had interrupted one of his newer mechanics watching a video on the shop floor with one of the delivery men. They had been far too excited to show it to him, and Mo was subjected to the sight of a deer being taken down by a crossbow. The deer’s pain and terror had weakened his bones and forced Mo to look away. Now, at the business end of a bow that looked exactly like the weapon from the video, he was fully aware of the damage they could do. His Adam’s apple was as heavy as a billiard ball when he tried to swallow. “Is that . . . a crossbow?” he asked, slowly raising his hands. She lifted her chin, but the crossbow didn’t waver. “Yes,” she said. “A . . . a real one?” he asked. “Yes.” The silence was sharp and heavy. The absence of any other sound amplified the thudding of his too-fast beating heart. It clipped at the bottom of his throat. He wanted to shake the adrenaline burn out of his raised hands, but he didn’t dare move them. “So?” she asked. Her voice widened his vision beyond the crossbow, and it was only then that he began to see the person holding it. She was about five foot six. Her jeans were covered in dust, as was her black shirt. Her hair was dark and long, pulled into a ponytail that fell over her sho