03 Solar Flare - Spark Series Read Online Free PDF Page A

You drive like a mad woman. Azor knows you won’t
listen to reason. You’re probably the only speeding ticket he’s
written in years. I wouldn’t doubt he followed you from the inn
just for that purpose.
    “If you ask me, he did us all a favor. He
doesn’t want to see you hurt, either.”
    “Ah, the sign of a true hero…lying in wait to
arrest his love. Look closely, you can see my heart flutter.”
Brandy touched a hand to her heart and batted her lashes.
    Gem sighed and looked out the window. “So,
are you seeing anyone these days?” Apparently she’d gotten tired of
pushing Azor’s virtues.
    “I’ve been looking on-line. I’ve had an
interesting conversation or two,” Brandy admitted, surprising her
sister. Her usual system was to dodge any questions of romance, but
lately she’d been feeling restless. Gem had moved on. Xera was
light-years away, across the galaxy with her alien husband. It made
for some rather boring, and lonely, nights.
    Gem actually smiled. “Well, keep me posted.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a date, there’s this nice guy out
on the farm—“
    “No farmers, sis. No miners, farmers,
laborers, etc. No neighbors or business associates. I can find my
own dates.”
    “Hey, at least I try.”
    “Don’t need you to try. You don’t know what
I’m looking for, anyway,” Brandy said firmly, remembering some of
the more memorable dates Gem had set up. She meant well, and Brandy
had felt like honoring her efforts in the past, but there was only
so much a girl could put up with. If she kept going that route, she
was going to end up hating men.
    With the exception of her husband, Gem sure
didn’t know how to pick ‘em.
    Out of the corner of her eye, Brandy could
see Gem fidget. There was obviously something on her mind. “What’s
with the twitch?”
    Gem sighed. “It’s nothing. I was just
thinking of mom.”
    Brandy glanced at her in surprise. Their
mother had died just after she was born, and they rarely discussed
her. Their father had been so vibrant, he’d taken up their whole
world. At least, that’s how it had been for her.
    Gem opened her mouth but seemed to think
better of it. “Maybe not while you’re driving,” she muttered.
    Brandy cast her a puzzled look, but returned
to watching traffic. This must be one of those discussions, then.
Whatever was on Gem’s mind, it smacked of a lecture. Brandy frowned
and hoped Gem would put it off for a good long time.
    Whatever it was, no doubt it could wait.
     
     

CHAPTER 3
     
    “You’re late.”
    Azor glanced at her over his shoulder. “I
didn’t know we had an appointment.” He popped the hood on her
transport and stuck his head underneath. He seemed to be wearing
the same beat-up clothes he’d played thug in. They suited him
better, made him seem more normal, approachable. They also showed
off his lean, fit body in a way his uniform couldn’t duplicate.
There was nothing like a well-worn pair of pants to showcase a
backside. He had nice legs, too. Great thighs, she thought a little
wistfully.
    Brandy realized she was looking a little too
closely and hastily averted her eyes. Azor was not fodder for
romantic inclination. He worked out—good for him. She focused
diligently on reading her virtual mail, grateful that her
embarrassed moments rarely produced a blush. She’d have had a hard
time explaining if he noticed and started asking questions.
    It was true, he’d loosely set the time for
after lunch. It was after lunch, though farther after than she’d
expected. She’d spent more time watching for him than she’d care to
admit, enough that she could have completed the chore herself. That
would have defeated the purpose of his coming, though.
    Her electronic tablet blurred, and she
realized she wasn’t focused. Since she’d decided to be hospitable,
she asked, “Would you like a drink?”
    “Iced juice would be nice,” he said
agreeably.
    “Redberry or spiky melon?”
    “Either would be