The Naughty List (The Naughty List #1)(17)

On top of that, we’d suspended Corey Panchilla’s investigation even though the stakeout had already been planned. Sometimes our clients got cold feet. I didn’t fault them for that, but it did make our job a little harder. Especially when Leona had already bugged his place.

Plus, we’d gotten a new assignment. It was a good thing I’d let Kira keep the Society of Smitten Kittens’ phone yesterday. I was in no shape to organize a mission. She promised to meet with the girls after practice and give them the skinny.

Kira was really improving. Last year, she was a pill. Totally boy crazy. Sort of easy. But I let her join the squad because I could see her potential. I was talented that way: seeing the good in people. And after a few months, she was a total Smitten Kitten. Polite. Sweet. Great at herkies.

Now if only I could find her a nice guy. I’d thought it was Darren. He was handsome, talented, and friends with Aiden, who had even helped get them together. But Darren cheated, and I couldn’t understand why. Kira was a natural blonde. Who cheated on a natural blonde?

That reminded me—I still didn’t get how Aiden hadn’t known about Darren’s extracurricular activities. I knew everything about my squad. In fact, I even knew that Izzie was menstruating this week!

A quick flash of suspicion flooded me, but I pushed it away. Just because Aiden had seen him talking to Charlie Meyers, didn’t mean he knew they were messing around. No. Aiden would never keep something like that from me. SOS was making me overly suspicious, and it was seriously warping my senses.

By the time Aiden came over, I was feeling better. Not a 100 percent, but easily 95. He appreciated it. He practically attacked me the minute he walked in. He was so cute when he had to be away from me.

“I’m missing the uniform right about now,” he said as he looked me over at the front door.

I laughed, dragging him by the T-shirt into the house. “I’m not going to practice, remember?”

“Yeah,” he said, stepping close to hug me tight. “But I like looking at your legs.”

“You need to calm down, Wildcat.”

He grinned, then stepped back. “I’m sorry, baby. You’re right. I’ll behave.” He straightened up, looking very controlled. And outrageously hot.

“Good,” I said. “I like it when you behave.”

Aiden bit on his lip, staring into my eyes before reaching out to take me by the hand. “No, you don’t, Tess. No, you don’t.”

My stomach fluttered. He was right.

SOS

Dear Cathy Hazard,

Thank you very much for your donation. SOS is a nonprofit organization, and your donations go directly to assisting others with their relationship needs by giving us the funding for the latest surveillance equipment.

We are especially grateful for your inclusion of photographs of you and your new college boyfriend. It truly warms our hearts to see our clients happy.

Once again, thank you for your generosity, and we wish you all the happiness in the world. Have a great day.

CHAPTER SIX

MY POM-POMS RUSTLED ADORABLY OVER MY ribboned ponytail as the crowd quieted. The gym was packed, and the smell of perspiration hung thick in the air. The Wildcats were winning at halftime. I saved a very special basket toss for moments like this, mostly because up until this season, the team had rarely won.

“We’ve got the spirit!” I called, backing up and stepping on Kira’s thigh as I climbed the length of her body. “We’ve got the soul!” Izzie pushed my elbow as I moved from one shoulder to the next, now three cheerleaders high.

“Let’s beat the Beavers!” Leona hoisted me up so that my foot fit in her palm while I held my other sneaker close to my face. The crowd was in awe. “What is our goal?”

“Playoffs!” the crowd shouted back.

Showtime. I took a deep breath and with a boost from the squad, I twisted up in the air, shaking my pom-poms before crossing my arms over my chest and landing in the weave of arms.

Phew. That was a rush. I was a little shaky as they stood me up. The entire gymnasium was on its feet. Leona had set up the sign that my parents had made before they left near the scorer’s table. It read, “The Wildcats Are Grrrrrreat!” in maroon and gray puff paint. They were so dedicated.

My sneakers squeaked as we crossed the wood floor back to the sidelines just as the buzzer sounded. We plopped cross-legged on the floor, and the players trotted in from the locker room. Aiden winked at me as he ran past, and I felt little butterflies. I loved him after a game. All sweaty and panting. My body tingled. I couldn’t wait to get out of here.

“Psst.”

I sat a little straighter on my rear.

“Hey, Tessa,” someone called from behind me. I turned. It was Christian, just a few rows up, wearing a maroon Wildcats T-shirt. His sister was next to him in a black tube top, watching me with a bored expression. I tried to smile politely.

“Hi,” I said, not sure what other sort of greeting was appropriate.

“You were great out there,” Christian said. “Like … amazing. I’m impressed.”

Oh, now that was just too sweet. “Why, thank you, Christian. It’s awfully kind of you to say so. Wasn’t Kira great, too?” His attention was on the wrong Kitten.

“Uh … yeah,” he said. “Nice.”

Uncomfortable with his seemingly reluctant compliment for Kira, I darted a glance to Chloe. She gave me a thumbs-up, but she didn’t smile. In fact, I think she was mocking me. I turned around.