Slow Burn: A Texas Heat Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

number.
    “Girl!”
    “Hallooo darling!”
    Harper laughed at Emerson’s fake British accent.
    “Hey sunshine, you made it home yet?”
    “Yeah, I was in town all of two minutes when I got pulled over.”
    Her voice sounded so irate, Harper could just picture the cute strawberry blonde with the pixie face. Pulled over?
    “For what?”
    “My music.”
    “Oh that stupid noise ordinance. I swear the city council has collectively lost their ever loving minds.” Harper huffed. “They’ve passed a bunch of so called laws lately. I wanna bash them all over the head.”
    Harper leaned against her rig, ambulance 41. She loved being outside, feel the sun on her face, watch the small town come to life. Tourists strolled in and out of quaint antique shops. The Red Hat Senior Ladies Club were having brunch in the park gazebo.
    Emerson said, “Hey back to my cop or should I say yours?”
    Harper growled, it was a reflex reaction. “Thor?”
    “Yup, why didn’t you tell me how freaking gorgeous he is?”
    Harper inwardly groaned. “Eew, take that back.”
    “Donavan McClain is fine as vintage wine.”
    Harper didn’t know how to handle the burning jealousy that felt like a kick to the stomach. “That’s it, you’re fired. I’m rescinding my friendship effective immediately.”
    Emerson wasn’t fooled. “Harper, when was the last time you really looked at him?”
    “When he yelled in my face just the other day, he’s a Neanderthal, a caveman, a f-ugly Viking.”
    “Forget I said anything.”
    Harper grunted. She pressed her rig’s siren. “Oh, gotta go, see you babe.”
    “Bye sugar.”
    Harper ended the call. She leaned against the ambulance and tried to breathe. She could handle the Kimbers of this world but if Donavan took up with her good friend she didn’t know how to cope with it.
    Donavan decided it was high time someone shook up the unflappable Mayor Dylan Chambers. They were really close back in high school. Ever since Dyl went into politics he became lifeless, there was no fire in the belly. Donavan remembered how it was between Dylan and Emerson back in the day. He wondered if the spark was still there? Only one way to find out. He mischievously crashed Dylan’s lunch date with his mother.
    Donavan strolled on in to The Dixie Pixie. The bell chimed over the door. The waitress, Miss Viola, waved a greeting. “Hey Officer McClain!”
    “Hey Miz Vi.” Donavan pulled up a chair to their booth, uninvited.
    “Good afternoon Mrs. Chambers.”
    “Hi Donavan sweetie, how are you?”
    “Mighty fine.”
    “And your dad?”
    “Fat n’ sassy.”
    She smiled. “Give him my regards.”
    “Will do.”
    “Hey Mr. Mayor.”
    “Don, what’s up?”
    “Guess who I just pulled over?”
    “Who?” Dylan asked.
    “Oh, someone famous?” Ava chimed in. 
    Dylan took a long sip of sweet tea.
    “Emerson Riley.”
    Dylan choked. Donavan pounded him on the back. “You okay bro?”
    “Who’s Emerson Riley?” Ava asked.
    “Nobody,” Dylan said a little too quickly.
    “Oh really?” Donavan drawled.
    Dylan flashed him a warning look.
    Donavan gleefully ignored it. “Well Mrs. Chambers, Dyl was crazy about this girl in high school.”
    “Amber what’s her name?”
    “Noooo,” Donavan said, “Her name is Emerson Riley, cute as a button, we called her bookworm.”
    Ava stopped eating. She looked at her son wide eyed. Dylan had that football, quarter back look on his face, the one that said he was about to crush anyone in his path. Donavan grinned as if to say, anytime bro.
    “So nobody knew how Dylan felt about her until the senior prom.”
    Dylan glanced at his watch. “Will you look at the time? Don’t you have criminals to catch?”
    “Nope,” Donavan said pleasantly.  
    Ava looked from Dylan to Don. “I’ve never heard of this girl before.”
    “There was nothing to tell,” Dylan said, his tone clipped. He shot another - shut the hell up - glare at Donavan.
    “I should’ve known