Edge of Chaos (Love on the Edge #1) by Molly E. Lee Page A

glance my way.
    “What?” he asked, returning his eyes to the road.
    “That’s the extent of planning?” I asked.
    “We’ve got tons of routes mapped out already from the grueling prep work we did in the winter, but you can only plan so much before you have to make the call yourself.”
    “So you don’t depend solely on the radar?” I asked, shocked that he hadn’t checked one station model before picking this location.
    “No. I catch a lot of flak for it, but I use it more like a guideline. Once I set eyes on the storm . . .” His eyes sharpened, focusing on the dark clouds gathering in the distance.
    I loved when he got lost in the thoughts of a storm. It proved I wasn’t the only crazy one who found beauty in chaos.
    “What?” I finally urged him to continue.
    “It’s hard to explain. I just get a sense of where it’ll tighten into something bigger and head that direction.”
    “Why do people give you crap about it?” I asked, remembering how Professor Ackren had it out for him and the guys since day one. He always harped on them about the technical and scientific side of weather. I tried to answer most of the questions as quick as I could to take the heat off them.
    Dash shrugged. “I use more instinct than science, and to some people that’s reckless. Also, I’ve got more up-close images than some veteran chasers, and despite us working toward the same goal, it irks them. Some chasers say I’m only in it for the thrill and for selling my shots.”
    “I see,” I said, but it was hard to really grasp his lifestyle. “Does it bother you?”
    “Not really. I mean, sometimes it’s annoying because we take the same measurements others do. And next season we’ll have the probes to deploy, which will increase the data.” He changed lanes to pass another car. “Plus, the most useful area of study is where the tornado touches the ground, and because so many people are afraid to get that close, I’m one of the only people getting that information. If another chaser wanted the data collected from it, it’s not like I’d charge him for it. But I can’t deny the rush I get from capturing a storm, and I’m not ashamed of the money I make for it, either.”
    “Good, you shouldn’t.” I swallowed a lump in my throat. I’d always assumed from Dash’s shots he’d just had an expensive camera with an excellent zoom option. From his words, I had been sorely mistaken.
    “Thanks, but can I be honest about something?” he asked, glancing at me for a moment.
    “Always,” I said, focusing on him.
    “It would give our group a lot more credit if you became a stable part of it.”
    “Me? How?” I asked, shocked. “You all have way more experience than I do.”
    “You always sell yourself short, Blake. The way you interpret data in half the time it takes even me to do it, paired with the natural instinct you have when the sky darkens? It’s incredible. And the fact that you are more prone to check the science and use it to back your predictions like any good meteorologist would do could garner us more respect from those in our field that continue to question my tactics. We’d make a great team.”
    I swallowed hard, a flush dusting my cheeks. I smiled, not exactly sure how to convey the importance of his words to me. “Thank you. I’d love to be more involved,” I said and for a split-second thought about how much more involved I could be with him .
    Heat rushed to my cheeks and I quickly glanced out the window, wondering where in the hell that had come from. I took a deep breath and assured myself it was due to the gratitude swelling in my chest. Though he’d continuously noticed my abilities with storms and my passion for them, I was still getting used to being recognized for my talents, let alone praised for them.
    “Check it out.” He pointed at a gray wall cloud to the right. He took the next exit faster than I could blink. Once I laid eyes on the full expanse of the supercell—thick