A Perfect Trifecta: Delta Heat, Book 3 Read Online Free

shove.
    “Hey, you bunch of badge bunnies! Quit flirtin’! It’s time to play,” Sorensen yelled from the middle of the field.
    “I’ll show you flirtin’,” Craig said, cracking his neck before following his teammates to the field.
    What was supposed to be a friendly game of flag football between his police substation and the local firehouse had devolved into a much rougher game over the past few weeks. Not that anyone was complaining. Those who played upheld the honor of their uniforms—and earned a chance at a morning off, because both departments ensured the best players represented their departments.
    Craig, Gus and Jackson had all played high school football together and still worked like a team on the field. Beau and Mondo, whom they had added to their inner circle when they met at the academy, were agile and fast due to their martial arts training, and they melded well with the team on the gridiron.
    The game started after the flip of the coin gave Craig’s team the ball. Several skirmishes later, they had inched their way toward the goal line.
    “Hut, hut…”
    The ball snapped and Craig ran long, skirting the scrimmage line then running deep into the end zone.
    The ball soared and he jumped high, but a long arm stole the ball.
    Aiden gave him a smile and darted past Beau to run toward the opposite end zone.
    After brushing dirt off his backside, Craig followed Aiden, not stopping until another player forced the big brute to step out of bounds—but not before a twist of Aiden’s body delivered a slam which knocked Craig on his butt. The ref’s whistle stopped the play.
    Craig glared up at Aiden. “What was with the body check?” he growled. “It’s touch football.”
    “Sorry. Didn’t see you there.” Aiden held out his hand.
    “Right.” He accepted the help up, but the other man’s grip was hot and strong. Craig felt a flush climb his neck as he sprinted away.
    Since all the players worked offense and defense, the lineup didn’t change.
    Craig crouched, then jerked his head up when Aiden bent opposite him.
    “I’ll try not to hurt you,” Aiden said softly, but the smile on his face was anything but reassuring.
    Craig felt another stirring in his loins. “Don’t hold back on my account,” he muttered.
    Aiden nodded. “I won’t then.”
    The snap caught Craig off-guard, and Aiden plowed right through him, shouldering him out of the way as he rushed past to guard the quarterback, who ran with the ball.
    Craig bounced up and followed, but Aiden was quick for man his size and kept stride with the quarterback. Gus, who was in position in the backfield, ran for the quarterback, elbowing past Aiden to catch the flag waving from the quarterback’s rump. A whistle blew.
    When Craig bent in the huddle, Jackson gave him a dark look. “Keep your head in the game or they’re gonna beat our asses.”
    “Maybe that’s what he’s hoping,” Mondo bit out, giving Craig a glare.
    “You did see he’s gettin’ physical, right? How come the ref’s not callin’ him on it?”
    “Lonnie’s too busy flirtin’ with Jenn to notice your boyfriend.”
    “Ha-ha, very funny,” Craig said, snarling and getting a little worried that the rest of the team, not just his close friends, had picked up on the tension rising between him and Aiden.
    The huddle broke. Beau slapped his bottom. “Don’t worry. They’re just teasing.”
    “I’m not worried. There’s nothing goin’ on.”
    “Sure. Wanna change positions with me?”
    Craig went to the right of the line and hunkered down. A moment later, Aiden faced him again, the knuckles of one hand digging into the grass. “Trying to avoid me, Eason?”
    “I wasn’t thinkin’ anything about you.”
    The snap sent the lines into motion. This time, Gus plowed into the quarterback and the ball went rolling. Craig leaped over the quarterback and dove for the ball. A large body slammed into him, taking him to the ground. He didn’t need to glance back to