Dawn Endeavor 3: Julian's Jeopardy by Marie Harte Page A

Sheridan.”
    “Sheridan, let me introduce you to the team.”
    “Sheridan Keyes,” Jules repeated in a low voice. His silver eyes blazed as he studied her. “You look very, very familiar.”
    He ran a hand over his face; her grandfather's sapphire winked back at her.

    Warmth unfurled. He hadn't taken it off. Again, she felt the rightness of seeing it there on his finger. Something flashed in his eyes as he looked back at her, a glimpse of the beast beneath his skin. To her astonishment, her entire body locked up in a searing lust that made her feel very unlike herself.
    Good Lord, what is going on with me?
    Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes, though he took a step back from her. She didn't dare look below his waist, sure she'd see an answering response in him.
    Another woman entered the room and interrupted the tense atmosphere. This woman was even more attractive than the other one and made Sheridan feel like the proverbial third wheel nobody wanted. She had light brown skin and the prettiest face Sheridan had ever seen.
    The woman muttered in a husky voice, “Who's this?” The others returned their attention to Sheridan, silent, assessing. Dissecting.
    Mrs. Sharpe brought Sheridan into the middle of the room. “Sheridan Keyes, our new doctor, for want of a better term. I'd like you to meet the team of Dawn Endeavor. I see you've already met Julian Hawkins.”
    “Call me Jules,” Jules said in a husky voice Sheridan did her best to ignore.
    Mrs. Sharpe brought her in front of each person. “This is Kisho Hayashi and his partner, Morgan Reynolds.” The Asian and the green-eyed hunk. They nodded politely.
    Mrs. Sharpe continued as they moved along. “This is Ava, my assistant.” The brown-skinned woman who should have been a model. Unlike the others, Ava didn't tower over Sheridan. The one area where both of them were equal: height.
    “Hi.” Ava frowned, though she didn't seem unwelcoming. More like confused, and Sheridan had her own confusion to deal with.
    “Hello,” she answered before they moved in front of the handsome couple.
    “This is Jesse Fallon, and Jesse's wife, Olivia.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Olivia murmured. Sheridan had the urge to step back, though she couldn't have said why. Her psychic ability was limited to healing the flesh, but she could almost feel a hum of odd energy around the tall woman, and it scared her.
    Mrs. Sharpe, to Sheridan's good fortune, stepped between them before Olivia could hold out a hand. “And this is Gunnar Tersch. He looks mean, but he won't bite.”
    The others chuckled, but Gunnar scowled. Bite? He looked like he could devour Sheridan in one large gulp.
    “Thanks, Alicia. You're a peach.” He turned his gaze on Sheridan and winked.
    “Call me Tersch, honey.”
    Mrs. Sharpe rolled her eyes.
    Ava scowled, and Sheridan had the sense the woman had staked a claim. Not that Sheridan had any intention of honing in on the giant. She just wanted to be able to trust in her instincts once more and to get her ring back. Period. End of story.
    She cleared her throat. “Nice to meet you all. I hope I can be of help while I'm here.”
    “While you're here? You're not planning on staying?” Jules said from directly behind her.
    She could feel his body heat near her, and she itched to touch him again. Not to heal, to feel.
    Sheridan swallowed a yelp and coughed nervously. “Ah, yes, I'm staying. I just meant I'm here to help,” she added lamely. Oh boy. Put her in a laboratory with plants that didn't talk back or scientists who wanted to discuss meristematic cells and chloroplasts, and she was the life of the party. But socially, Sheridan couldn't hang. She wasn't shy, just inept at making conversation. An oddball even among oddballs.
    Mrs. Sharpe patted her on the back, and she flinched. “I know everyone can be overwhelming at first.”
    “Yeah, a party with five larger-than-life monsters is always a treat. Oh, sorry, Olivia, I forgot about you,” Tersch rumbled