Reckless Heat: A Hostile Operations Team Prequel by Lynn Raye Harris Page A

skirt, but by the time I think about changing again, Julie is here, waiting for me to get in the car and go.
    “Y’all be careful,” Mama says, frowning a bit as she looks at us. Julie’s boyfriend, Jack, is here too, dutifully standing with his hands clasped. Coming inside is points for him, so that’s good.
    But yeah, here we are, three teenagers getting ready to drive off into the sunset. Well not quite, as it isn’t dark yet, but it will be in another hour.
    “We will, Mama,” I say, kissing her before we turn and go down the steps and get into Jack’s car.
    I told her we were going to the lake, but really we’re going to Billy’s. The lake is a popular spot to hang out and the police patrol there. But a hunting cabin in the woods? Mama probably would put the brakes on that particular plan.
    I have my cell phone and Mama can call me, so I don’t worry she’ll go looking for me. Besides, there are people at the lake, no doubt. The ones who weren’t invited to Billy’s, the geeks and underclassmen and wannabes.
    I hate lying about where I’m going, but I have to see Matt tonight. He has one week left, and I’m not going to lose my chance to let him know we can be so much more to each other if only he’ll give in to it. I’m more convinced of that than ever after last night.
    I keep thinking of how I was startled awake, how I picked up the phone and answered it because the display said it was Matt—he must have programmed his number into my phone when he took mine—and how I thought I was dreaming at first. But no, it was really Matt. And he wanted to know if I would be at Billy’s tonight.
    Does it mean anything? Or not? I have no idea. I told Julie about it earlier this afternoon when she came by. She gave me a thumbs-up and a huge smile.
    “He wants you, Evie. Trust me.”
    I wish I could believe her, but who can tell with Matt? If I were any other girl in his life, yeah, I’d probably agree. But I wasn’t. Our relationship is different—and I don’t know if he called me because he was lonely and needed a friend, or if he was thinking about me the way he thought about other girls.
    “Omigod,” Julie says as we hit the road. “Can you believe we’re seniors now?”
    She’s excited as she takes a cigarette from Jack and fires it up. I haven’t thought much about it, but yeah, we’re the seniors now. Julie cracks the window open and blows the smoke out. I don’t smoke so I’m grateful. I don’t like the smell.
    My heart trips along the closer we get to the road leading to Billy’s. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I see Matt. Play it cool, I suppose.
    A prickle of dread slides down my spine. What if he doesn’t come? What if he changes his mind?
    Don’t borrow trouble. That’s a phrase Mama likes to say, so I repeat it to myself now. If he doesn’t show up, I’ll deal with it then—and I’ll think of a backup plan.
    When we pull into the grass near the cabin, there are people outside on the porch and a grill going a little ways from the house, smoke rising into the trees. I scan the cars for Matt’s Corvette, but it isn’t there. My stomach knots as I get out of Jack’s car and shut the door. The smell of grilling meat permeates the air, but I’m not hungry. I’m too nervous to be hungry.
    I left my hair down, and I push it back over my shoulders. It’s hot out here, and for a minute I wish I’d put it into a ponytail, but I didn’t because I thought of Matt sifting his fingers through it last weekend. My entire scalp tingled with every stroke, and my heart tripped along like a race car.
    Julie takes Jack’s hand and we walk up to the cabin. Billy Davis calls out when he sees us. Someone else asks if we want a beer. Julie and Jack accept. I hesitate, then take one. I might need some courage if Matt shows up.
    Jeanine Jackson’s gaze is frosty when I walk inside the cabin. It’s one big room, open concept, and she’s standing by the kitchen island, leaning over