Edge of the Heat 3 Read Online Free

protective, kind, gentle. He was too fair-haired for her taste though. She liked darker hair and smoldering eyes. Like Hawk. Where was he anyway?
    She looked around but didn’t see him. Maybe he wasn’t coming. She didn’t know whether to be glad or sad at the thought. On the one hand if he came she could enjoy watching his muscles move under his shirt. But on the other hand if he didn’t, she didn’t have to be worried about his constant rejection. It hurt.
    The patio door opened and Jerry came out with a blond woman Vivian hadn’t seen before. Vivian smiled. She got the idea that Jerry was something of a playboy. If he was, he was certainly sweet about it. Not in a nasty, misogynistic way. He just liked women. A lot.
    Jerry kissed Emma and shook Craig’s hand, then saw Vivian and waved. He made introductions to the woman all around and Vivian thought she overheard ‘sister’. Jerry’s sister?
    She got up and walked over, wanting to meet this sister.
    As she got closer, she could tell that Jerry’s sister’s hair was pink, not blond. It was a light pink on the top and to her ears, but the last 4 or 5 inches were a fluorescent, in-your-face pink. Emma was already picking up a curl and exclaiming over it.
    “Wow, your hair is gorgeous,” Vivian told her.
    “Thanks!” the bouncy, gorgeous, surfer-girl said. She stuck out her hand and grabbed Vivian’s, pumping it a few times. “I’m Jen, just Jen not Jennifer. Jerry’s my big brother.” She snuggled into Jerry’s chest at this and he smiled down at her.
    “Nice to meet you, I’m Vivian.”
    Jerry interrupted. “Ooooh Emma, you’ll never guess who I saw working with the rest of the peasants down in the E.R. yesterday after work.”
    “Who?” Emma asked.
    “Reece! Apparently he got a DUI and lost his head of department status and may even lose his job altogether!”
    Vivian saw her sister exclaim in surprise but she quickly swiveled to watch Craig’s face. His jaw tightened and clenched, like he was trying to chew nails. He didn’t like Reece one bit.
    Jerry turned to his sister. “Reece is a doctor who is a big fat jerk. He took Emma on a couple of dates and decided that meant he could help himself to her body. She had to set him straight with a head-butt to the nose.”
    Jen’s eyes grew big as saucers and she put her hand on Emma’s arm. “Ohmigod that must have been so scary!”
    “Serves him right,” Craig said. “I keep meaning to go and visit him. Maybe on Monday.”
    The group was interrupted by the patio door opening again. Three men came out to the porch at once. Vivian didn’t recognize any of them, but guessed immediately they were the leaving FBI agents. Everything about them said FBI. She was introduced to all of them but forgot their names as quickly as they were spoken. Her mind just wanted to know where Hawk was and it wouldn’t focus on anything else. She didn’t dare ask, not wanting to tip anyone off to her desperation.
    The night wore on and although Vivian kept watch for Hawk, she stopped expecting him to show. It’s just as well , she sighed inside her own head. With my luck I’d see him steal off with young, lovely Jen and make out with her in the corner. The thought made her want to cry.
    Dinner was burgers, hot dogs, steaks, brats, and chicken, with some watermelon and cake for dessert. Vivian tried not to eat till she was stuffed but she couldn’t help it. Between courses she caught Emma alone at the dessert table.
    “Oh Emma, I got the results back from my DNA test. There were no matches,” Vivian told her, disappointment leaking out in her voice.
    “Oh no! I thought for sure you would find something.”
    Craig came up beside them for seconds on cake. “What DNA test?”
    “Vivian is looking for our family and she sent some DNA in to an online database to look for matches.”
    Craig smiled at Emma and pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Oh, what database did it search?”
    Vivian shook her