Reckless Heat: A Hostile Operations Team Prequel by Lynn Raye Harris Read Free Book Online

she’s admitting that. I remember it now that I think about it. I wasn’t that drunk. Well, okay, I was drunk and things are a little fuzzy, but I remember most of it.
    “You said you could drive a stick.”
    “And I can. Just not very well it seems.”
    I want to laugh but I don’t. “Why did you bring me to your house?”
    “Because it’s closer. If I drove you all the way out to Reynier’s Retreat, I might have wrecked your engine or something. And even if I didn’t, I’d have had to call Mama to come get me. Seemed easier to come here.”
    I can’t fault that logic. Plus I’m glad we’re here. There’s something sweet and simple about Evie’s house. It’s small, but it’s more of a home than Reynier’s Retreat can ever be.
    I reach for her hand. She doesn’t pull away from me, and that makes me happy. Content. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
    “I know how much going to West Point means to you. If you got pulled over while drinking… Well, I think that might be a problem.”
    I squeeze her hand. Fucking hell, I adore this girl. She really is the best friend I’ve ever had, and I’m kind of sorry I spent the past few years pushing her away.
    I had to do it though. She’s been growing up, growing pretty, and I didn’t want to ruin our friendship by preying on her feelings for me. Because that’s the kind of asshole I’m capable of being.
    And then there’s Candy and my stupidity of falling for her. No one knows about that, but if Evie and I were still close, I might have told her just to have someone to talk to.
    I’m pretty sure that’s not a good idea. What would she think of me if she knew?
    “You’re the best, Evie-girl. I owe you.”
    She pushes her long hair back over one shoulder and sighs. “Keep your promise to stay in touch with me when you’re gone. That’s the only thing you owe me.”
    I will. Of course I will. How can I ever forget Evie?

Chapter Twelve
    EVIE
----
    “ W ait a minute … He didn’t even try to kiss you?”
    I shake my head as Julie stares at me in disbelief. It’s Monday and we’re on our way to school in Julie’s old Chevy. We’re at a stoplight and she’s grilling me about the party and what happened after Matt and I left.
    “He was drunk, Jules. I took him home and put him to bed.”
    “Oh for fuck’s sake, Evie. He would have kissed you if you’d encouraged him! He was looking at you like you were a giant chocolate cake. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you! And when he threw Jimmy across the floor? Whoa, I thought for sure that was it.”
    My ears are red. Yeah, it all sounds awesome, but it just didn’t pan out that way. Which means Matt hadn’t really been looking at me like I was cake. More like I was his little sister who needed saving. He pulled Jimmy off me the same as he would have done if it had been Christina.
    He wouldn’t have danced with Christina after that, but so what? It wasn’t much different, really. I was his friend. His little sister in his eyes. That was the extent of it.
    He’d been drunk, kissing Jeanine like she was made of the whiskey he’d been drinking and wanted more of, and yet he’d never tried to kiss me. Not once.
    Yeah, that really makes me feel special. Even drunk he wouldn’t touch me. How can I ask him to be my first after that?
    “Well, it wasn’t. Matt’s not interested in me.”
    The light turns green and Julie presses the gas. “Could have fooled me. Could have fooled a lot of people actually. I thought Jeanine was going to lose her shit when Matt started dancing with you.”
    I recall the look on Jeanine’s face when I told her to get lost. Yeah, if Jeanine remembers that, it’s not going to be a great day at school.
    Thankfully Jeanine’s a senior, which means this week is the last I have to be around her on a daily basis.
    I sigh. Holy crap, I had Matt Girard in my house, in my bed, and he still hadn’t attempted to kiss me or anything. He held my hand and wouldn’t let go while he