Page 8 of Second First Kiss

Sure, she still wore army boots, lots of shredded black clothing, and her hair in an edgy style that made her look like a badass Cinderella, but that body of hers packed enough womanly curves to make a man want.

And he wanted.

Badly.

What had started out as a little high school crush had turned into an obsession last year when he’d caught a peek of her in those pajamas. Never in a million years did he think it was reciprocated—until she’d kissed him. She was too busy busting his balls for any kind of connection to happen. In fact, it was like she thrived on making him sweat.

Back in school she’d been as wild as a bobcat and had the claws to prove it. But he saw a gentler side beneath that pulled him in. He’d considered asking her out so many times he’d lost count, but he knew he wanted to be a federal agent and his career goals didn’t allow for a partner with a record. She’d already tested the waters with hacking into a corporate database for shits and giggles; he couldn’t risk his dream on a wild card.

She was still a wild card and he was now a federal agent. And her claws were still as sharp. But there was that soft underbelly that he’d seen on occasion that called to him.

“Well, try harder,” she said, walking past him and shoulder-checking him hard in the process. He reached out and grabbed her elbow and a spark ignited that damn near lit up the night sky.

She whipped around and cut to his gaze, shock in her own. Those emerald eyes of hers flickered with unwelcome heat.

’Bout time you joined the party, babe.

“I get it. Your sister is out there and you’re worried. But I will bring her back to you safely. However, I can’t do that if you’re traipsing around the woods. With a horse.” She seemed to consider this and when he saw her teetering on the edge of compliance, he added, “I promise.”

“I’m not really good with promises,” she said quietly.

“Good thing I am.” He put his hand on her lower back, ushering her through the woods. “Now go sit in your car. Lock the doors. And wait for me.”

He saw the moment she gave in. Her gaze moved from the woods to him and then behind her toward the parking lot. “You’ll get Tessa?”

“I’ll get Tessa.”

She opened her mouth to say something when suddenly a pounding of feet raced directly toward them. A stampede of feet reminiscent of a herd of rhinos.

Putting himself between the danger and Kat, he hollered, “Armed officer. Slowly come out with your hands in the air.”

Only the feet didn’t slow, they picked up speed and before he knew what was happening, a mass of teenagers burst through the trees.

“Stop!” he called out. “Stay where you are. Running will only make things worse.” When that didn’t work, he added, “You’re surrounded.”

Kat snorted. “Like they’re going to fall for that crap.”

He started to argue, but she was right; not a single person stopped. A few kids hesitated briefly, eyes wide and skeptical, before realizing he was alone and breaking off in different directions.

“Shit!”

There must have been twenty kids, going every which way. He opened his mouth to shout again when a loud, ear-piercing whistle broke through the night.

“One more step and I will call each and every one of your parents personally,” Kat yelled, her voice like an air horn. “Then I will call your coaches at the school, followed by your grandparents, and any other people who should be apprised that you’re out getting drunk at the falls. And I don’t have to see your faces to know who you are. I wrote down each and every license plate number in the lot!”

She lunged left, just as a kid in a sweatshirt raced past. She grabbed him by the hoodie and yanked him back. The kid landed on his ass. “Hey, Jason Talbot. How’s that study group working out for you?” Before Jason could answer, Kat yelled, “Thomas, Will S, Will D, Monica, Ashley, and Daniel, your ass is already grass so take a seat next to my car or you’ll be in even deeper shit. And Tessa Rhodes, don’t you even think about hightailing it home!” She paused and took a breath. “Get up,” she said to Jason, then tugged him by the scruff of his sweatshirt.

If Nolan weren’t so focused on finding a particular face in the crowd, he might have found her tactic funny. But this wasn’t a laughing matter. By the time Nolan and Kat rounded up three more kids and made it to the parking lot, another ten minutes had gone by. Certain that the partiers had disappeared into the night, he was shocked to see the majority of them sitting on the ground next to Kat’s car, more scared of her than law enforcement. He shouldn’t be surprised. Pissed-off Kat was terrifying—and exhilarating.

“No one got hurt,” Tessa said, her voice quivering with emotion.

The once-dark parking lot was now flooded with red and blue flashing lights. There were at least a dozen law enforcement officers on the scene. From US Forest Service SUVs to the local sheriff department cruisers. Some of the officers were questioning kids while others had disappeared into the hills, likely combing the woods for stragglers.

“Good thing for you guys that’s the truth. Now, who fired the gun?” Nolan asked, and Kat’s warning system went on high alert. There were a dozen kids there, and yet he’d singled out Tessa.

Kat put a protective arm around Tessa’s shoulders, which were trembling. Partly it was due to the headband she’d repurposed for a skirt, but mostly her sister was terrified. Kat didn’t blame her. Tessa might have been acting out lately, but she’d never been in trouble with the cops before. Good thing Kat had had plenty of experience with causing trouble growing up.

She may not have been that same wild, hot-headed kid desperate to prove she was tough enough to take on the world, but she still had those impulsive urges and the need to go a little crazy on life every once in a while. A need she kept firmly in check. She had to. Everything was riding on Kat’s ability to appear responsible.

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