SEE HIM DIE Read Free Page B

morning, yet the idea had formed in his brain and apparently his right foot had reacted.
    He’d stopped. She couldn’t have prevented hitting him if her life had depended on it. If she weren’t so upset, she might realize she’d been set up. Guilt nudged him. He ignored it.
    Whatever it takes
.
    “Julie,” she said quickly. “Julie Barton.” She started to dig around in her purse. “I can give you my address and phone number. I’m over on Sullivan Avenue. Royal Court Apartments.”
    A different kind of tension ratcheted up inside Blake. No way would any of the Bartons be caught dead in a place like Royal Court. He knew the area. When had Austin Barton’s wife relocated from his Mobile Bay mansion?
    “You get the estimate for damages and I’ll take care of it,” she said, dragging him back to the moment. “I... I really don’t need the hassle with the police.” She looked up at him, her pretty face full of worry. “I mean, I don’t want my insurance rate to go up.” She smiled, but the effort didn’t reach her eyes. “This is my first accident and I don’t want the bad mark on my record.”
    Blake sighed loud enough for her to get the impression he was doing her a favor and dropped his phone back into his pocket. Might as well put her out of her of misery before she worked herself into tears. A weepy female was something he just couldn’t take. He supposed that’s what happened when a guy grew up with three older sisters and one baby brother. He learned firsthand exactly how well women could use those tears. Tears or no tears, he wouldn’t trust this woman as far as he could toss that old Buick she was driving. Didn’t she have a Jag?
    “All right,” he relented. The lady didn’t have a job other than warming Barton’s bed. Still, for the purposes of his cover, he added, “I’ll need your work number, too.”
    As if he’d just informed her she was under arrest, she bit down on her lower lip and those incredible blue eyes grew shiny with emotion.
Oh hell
. She was going to cry.
    “I’m...” She swallowed tightly. For a second, he was completely mesmerized by the movement of delicate muscle beneath satiny skin. “I’m between jobs right now. But don’t worry. I will take care of the damages. You have my word.”
    He nodded as if he understood despite being completely confused. “Fine.” Dipping into the interior pocket of his jacket, he withdrew a business card. “Here’s my number. I’ll give you a call as soon as I have an estimate.” He passed her the card.
    She nodded and dropped the card into her purse. She fished around in her designer bag and drew out a pen and a Walmart receipt. She jotted her information on the back of the receipt and thrust it at him. “I really appreciate you helping me out, Detective.”
    “Protect and serve. That’s what we do.”
    To his surprise, she smiled and her eyes sparkled. “Thanks for putting a good spin on a crappy morning.”
    She really was gorgeous when she smiled like that. Damn. He gave himself a mental shake. Julie Barton wasn’t the only one who’d had a crappy morning.
    “Have a good day, Ms. Barton.” He looked from her to his rear bumper and back. “I’ll be in touch.”
     
    Julie watched Detective Duncan fold his tall, lean frame into his hot sports car before she climbed back into the ancient Buick. Thank God he’d agreed to keep the accident between them. Dread pooled in her belly all over again. If Austin had taken her off his policy already, she was without insurance. Did they put people in jail for driving without insurance? At the very least, she could lose her license.
    She sighed, weary and disgusted. How was she ever going to get her life back on track? A decent place to live, automobile insurance, a job. What about health insurance? She didn’t even have any life insurance. If she died right now, how would she be buried?
    Shaking off the depressing thoughts, she started the Buick and shoved it into Drive.