I was out in the damn heat, sweat running down my back while I worked under the hood of some old Chevy. Sun beating down, metal burning hot, the whole shop smelling like oil and asphalt.

Then I heard it.

A truck rolling onto the lot.

I wiped my hands on a rag and glanced up.

Joel’s truck.

Except it wasn’t Joel stepping out.

It was Alice.

She jumped down from the driver’s seat like she owned the place. Blonde hair perfectly styled like always — that girl never looked messy, not even on accident. She pulled off her sunglasses slow, chewing gum like she had all the time in the world.

Low-rise jeans.

The exact kind her mom would’ve forbidden.

I crossed my arms, leaning back against the car, watching her walk toward me. One of my guys nearly dropped a wrench staring at her. I snapped my fingers at him without looking.

“Back to work.”

He cleared his throat fast.

“Shouldn’t you be home already, girl?”

She stopped a few feet in front of me. Still chewing. Still looking too calm.

yeah, she’s trouble.