On the Fringes — L.J. Garland

Giving in to their unrelenting curious nature, humans have spread out into the universe, encountering alien life forms and colonizing new worlds. Those who reside on the fringes of civilized space are a mix of intrepid settlers, cunning con artists and highly trained Peacekeepers...and races of beings never before encountered. Each has an agenda, though some are more obvious than others. When daring master thief Sabien Kroll learns of an alien plan to eliminate the human race, he feels compelled to do something - even though his loner-by-nature instincts tell him not to get involved. Crossing paths with Hillia Ryjil, the sultry and resourceful Peacekeeper hot on his trail, finds Sabien more trouble than he thought possible. The trick will be to save humanity without losing his life...or his heart.