Page 53 of Hot Shot

Cass assesses the braids as she ties off the second one, unhappy with her work.

“It’s been forever since I’ve done French braids,” she admits. “I promise, I’ll get better.”

Cricket smiles at her. “You did great.”

“Hey, thanks, kid.” Cass picks up her coffee, taking a sip on her way to her purse hanging on a peg by the back door.

I frown, forking a triangular stack of pancakes from my plate. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Can’t. Too nervous. Aha!” She sets down her coffee and puts on lip balm. I watch so intently, she flushes.

My eyes flick back to my breakfast as I take a bite. I say around it, “Eat something. Want cereal?”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full. And no, thank you,” she insists. “Coffee is fine.”

“You’re gonna feel like sh—” I glance at Cricket. “…trash later.”

“Well, that’s my problem to deal with, isn’t it?” Cass says sweetly, taking another sip.

I shrug. “Just saying. At least take a snack with you.”

Cass adjusts Cricket’s braids, sharing a look with her. “And they callmebossy.”

Cricket giggles. I love Cass for the sound.

Noticing the time, I hiss a swear and shovel one last rude bite of pancakes into my mouth before scraping the rest off and dumping my dishes in the sink.

“Gotta go,” I say, sweeping through the kitchen, grabbing my keys and donning my uniform cap. When I swing by the island, I’m wearing a smirk, inspired by an idea. I lean down to press a kiss to the top of Cricket’s head. “Have the best day at school, kiddo. Will y’all come by the station after and tell me how it went?”

“Of course,” Cass answers, watching us with a smile.

“Can’t wait.” I straighten up and step toward Cass, slipping an arm around her waist. She divines the meaning of that smirk on my face too late. “You’re gonna do great. Don’t be nervous. And have a good day,wife.” I press a brief, chaste kiss to her lips.

The contact is electric, zinging through me, stopping my heart.

Her familiar lips are stiff with shock, but only for a millisecond of surprise. Then, she quietly melts.

By the time she realizes what I’ve done, I’m already gone, winking at her over my shoulder before leaving my girls until tomorrow.

And I’ll be carrying that kiss around with me like a prize until then.

CHAPTER 20

NEVER LIVE IT DOWN

CASS

That fucker kissed me, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Not as I get Cricket and myself out the door and drive to school. Not through the nerves of my very first day with my own class. And not when one of the kids jams the fire alarm, which is currently blaring overhead.

“All right, you’re all doing a wonderful job,” I say, counting my first graders as they file out of the building silently. The sweet little babies in my class walk toward the soccer field behind the school looking terrified, whites around their eyes and everything. Cricket hovers near me, pale faced, and I smooth her hair.

As my worried little first graders head into the heat, I put on a face like I know what the hell I’m doing. Fake it ’til you make it. Thank God I memorized all the kids’ names. I have flash cards with their pictures on them and everything.

I spot the new librarian looking unsure of herself, clutching a clipboard in both arms as she hovers at the edge of a river of children heading for the door where I stand.

She’s a sweet thing, barely over five feet, with blonde, chin-length curls. The big, bouncy, coils are bigger than a quarter and absolutely gorgeous. On her pert, freckled nose sits a pair of oversized glasses that seem to be in a perpetual state of sliding down the bridge. Her eyes are the brightest blue, like she’s lit up from the inside. Despite the heat, she’s wearing an oversized cardigan over a drop-waist dress.

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