Edge of the Heat 2 (Westwood Harbor Corruption) by Lisa Ladew Page A

her brother-in-law who works there. So I was just sitting there in the microfiche room waiting for Beth to come back and I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. From the back she looked like my kind of woman, you know? And then when she came up to the desk we locked eyes and her eyes are the same color as yours Em. I’ve never seen anyone with eyes that light blue color other than you so I stared at her. I thought she was going to get offended but I still couldn’t tear my eyes off her. Instead she smiled and then came over and talked to me.”
    Emma laughed. Typical Jerry, meeting women everywhere he went. His lean runner ’s body, paramedic uniform, and completely bald head apparently lured them in like flies to honey. Emma had seen it with her own eyes many times.
    “ I asked her out after my shift and she agreed. She’s just in town doing research. We went out to lunch and she’s really amazing and interesting, but I just keep feeling like I’m out of my league with her. I mean, I went out and bought these pants today so I wouldn’t wear jeans again!”
    Emma stopped eating long enough to lean forward and try to encourage Jerry. “ Look Jerry, any woman would be lucky to have you, even a rich theoretical physicist. If you like her, then don’t worry about it,” she told him, trying to telegraph the same thing with her eyes.
    Jerry sighed. “ I know, that’s what I keep telling myself.”
    Emma laughed around forkfuls of cottage cheese.
    “She’s actually going to meet me here at 11:30. That’s why I have to go. We are going wine tasting.”
    “ Wine tasting?” Emma had never seen Jerry drink wine. “At noon?”
    “ Yeah, I know right? Apparently that’s the best time.”
    Jerry started to look around, watching for his new friend. “ You tell me what you think of her when I call you later Em.”
    “ OK Jerry, you know I will.”
    Jerry h opped up in his seat. “There she is!” He waved his arms. “Vivian, Vivian, over here!”
    Emma craned her neck, very curious about this woman. Vivian smiled and waved back at Jerry, revealing a flash of white teeth. “ She’s gorgeous Jerry,” Emma whispered.
    “ I know, way too gorgeous,” Jerry whispered back.
    She looked to be about Emma ’s height, with long, brown, wavy, hair held together in a loose clip over one shoulder. She had a perfect, light complexion and wide-set, large eyes. As she got closer, Emma was immediately struck by the sense of class and grace she exuded. Emma could see what Jerry was talking about right away. Everything about the woman said money . From her movie-star body to her perfectly shaped eyebrows plus her expensive silk scarf and black, leather knee-boots over dark slacks. Her makeup was simple though, and her only jewelry was small gem earrings in each ear.
    She made it to the table and gave Jerry a small kiss on the cheek, then turned to Emma.
    “Vivian, this is my best friend in the world and partner, Emma Hill. Emma this is Vivian Dashell.”
    Emma winced at the word partner, but shoved it out of her mind. She wanted to soak up impressions of Vivian to share with Jerry later. She smiled and held out her hand.
    Vivian grasped it lightly, but didn’t shake it. “Emma, dear, I’ve heard so much about you. I am so happy to finally meet you.”
    Emma was struck with how much Vivian ’s eyes did exactly copy her own unique shade of light blue. “Hi Vivian, it’s nice to meet you too. Can you sit down?”
    Vivian looked at Jerry, eyebrows raised. “ We do have to go to get out to the winery by noon, but maybe we have a few minutes.”
    She sat down and smiled. “ Emma, what are you doing here in the hospital? Are you working here today?”
    “ No, my, uh, boyfriend is in the ICU. He got hurt at work a few days ago.”
    “ Oh no, that’s horrible, is he going to be alright?” Vivian’s eyebrows drew together in what seemed to be genuine concern. Emma liked her already.
    “ Yes, I think he is,” She leaned back and