Read Online The Next Accident by Lisa Gardner - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lisa Gardner
Ads: Link
they haven't tossed them into a dumpster by now."
"I'll take my chances. Name of the salvage yard?"
"Hell if I know. The insurance company handles all that."
"Officer…"
She gave him an intent look. He sighed heavily. "I suppose I could make a call…"
Rainie summoned her charming smile again. Officer Amity was a smart boy, though, because this time he merely grunted and shook his head.
"You should've opened with that, you know," he told her.
"With what?"
"That you used to be a cop."
"I was just a local. I'm surprised you could even tell."
"I got a good head for these things."
She nodded grimly. "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of."
6
Society Hill, Philadelphia
Bethie was nervous. She shouldn't be doing this. She liked her solitary lifestyle; she was comfortable spending her evenings alone. What had she been thinking? And did these earrings go with this dress? Maybe the earrings were too nice. Maybe the dress was too nice. Oh God, she was going to have to start over again and she was already five minutes late.
She changed from her little black dress to a below-the-knees black skirt with an electric blue satin top. More coverage; she liked that. But she kept the same tall, strappy heels. At her age she was proud of her calves and figured it didn't hurt to show them off. God knows she had a few extra pounds tucked in other locations, let alone what gravity had done to her butt. She had aged well, but on the eve of her first date in over two years, she still felt bitter about Father Time. How is it that men fill out with age, while women fall down?
Earrings. Which pair of earrings? Come on, Bethie, it's just a date. She grabbed the first gold pair she came to, told herself firmly that they were perfect and headed for the door.
She had not expected to have dinner with Mr. Shandling. It had started out as coffee yesterday evening. He felt so bad at having upset her, and she was too topsyturvy to resist. So he took her to one of South Street 's little cafes, plied her with cappuccino, and told her stories until the tears dried on her cheeks and she began to smile.
She stopped looking at his side so much. She started listening to his words more. Tales of travel to Ireland, England, Austria. Scuba diving off the coral reefs of Australia, shopping for precious gems in Hong Kong. He had a rich baritone voice, perfect for spinning fabulous tales and in the end, while she wasn't sure if one man could have really done all those things, she found that she didn't care. She liked listening to him talk. She liked watching the corner of his sparkling blue eyes crinkle every time he grinned. She liked the way he looked at her, as if his sole purpose in life was to make her happy.
He'd asked her to dinner the very next night. She hemmed and hawed. It was moving so fast, she really didn't know…
He was only in town for a week. Surely one dinner couldn't hurt… She'd caved in with a yes. He'd chosen Zanzibar Blue, a renowned jazz club and one of her favorite restaurants. She'd promised to meet him there.
Bethie was not a complete neophyte to dating; she read
Cosmo.
On a first date, always arrive on your own, therefore you can leave anytime you choose. Don't give out too much personal information, such as your home address, right away. Get to know the person first. Just because a man was well dressed and charming didn't mean he was safe. Just ask her ex-husband, Pierce.
Bethie flagged down a taxi, and took the short ride up to Zanzibar 's.
Tristan Shandling was waiting for her outside the club. Tonight he wore black pleated slacks with a plum-colored shirt and strikingly patterned silver and turquoise tie. In deference to the hot, muggy weather, he'd eschewed a jacket. With his hands tucked comfortably into his pockets, one foot crossed over the other, he looked dignified, handsome, and totally in control. Bethie took one look at him and promptly wished she'd gone with the little black dress. This man shouldn't be dating some
"I'll take my chances. Name of the salvage yard?"
"Hell if I know. The insurance company handles all that."
"Officer…"
She gave him an intent look. He sighed heavily. "I suppose I could make a call…"
Rainie summoned her charming smile again. Officer Amity was a smart boy, though, because this time he merely grunted and shook his head.
"You should've opened with that, you know," he told her.
"With what?"
"That you used to be a cop."
"I was just a local. I'm surprised you could even tell."
"I got a good head for these things."
She nodded grimly. "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of."
6
Society Hill, Philadelphia
Bethie was nervous. She shouldn't be doing this. She liked her solitary lifestyle; she was comfortable spending her evenings alone. What had she been thinking? And did these earrings go with this dress? Maybe the earrings were too nice. Maybe the dress was too nice. Oh God, she was going to have to start over again and she was already five minutes late.
She changed from her little black dress to a below-the-knees black skirt with an electric blue satin top. More coverage; she liked that. But she kept the same tall, strappy heels. At her age she was proud of her calves and figured it didn't hurt to show them off. God knows she had a few extra pounds tucked in other locations, let alone what gravity had done to her butt. She had aged well, but on the eve of her first date in over two years, she still felt bitter about Father Time. How is it that men fill out with age, while women fall down?
Earrings. Which pair of earrings? Come on, Bethie, it's just a date. She grabbed the first gold pair she came to, told herself firmly that they were perfect and headed for the door.
She had not expected to have dinner with Mr. Shandling. It had started out as coffee yesterday evening. He felt so bad at having upset her, and she was too topsyturvy to resist. So he took her to one of South Street 's little cafes, plied her with cappuccino, and told her stories until the tears dried on her cheeks and she began to smile.
She stopped looking at his side so much. She started listening to his words more. Tales of travel to Ireland, England, Austria. Scuba diving off the coral reefs of Australia, shopping for precious gems in Hong Kong. He had a rich baritone voice, perfect for spinning fabulous tales and in the end, while she wasn't sure if one man could have really done all those things, she found that she didn't care. She liked listening to him talk. She liked watching the corner of his sparkling blue eyes crinkle every time he grinned. She liked the way he looked at her, as if his sole purpose in life was to make her happy.
He'd asked her to dinner the very next night. She hemmed and hawed. It was moving so fast, she really didn't know…
He was only in town for a week. Surely one dinner couldn't hurt… She'd caved in with a yes. He'd chosen Zanzibar Blue, a renowned jazz club and one of her favorite restaurants. She'd promised to meet him there.
Bethie was not a complete neophyte to dating; she read
Cosmo.
On a first date, always arrive on your own, therefore you can leave anytime you choose. Don't give out too much personal information, such as your home address, right away. Get to know the person first. Just because a man was well dressed and charming didn't mean he was safe. Just ask her ex-husband, Pierce.
Bethie flagged down a taxi, and took the short ride up to Zanzibar 's.
Tristan Shandling was waiting for her outside the club. Tonight he wore black pleated slacks with a plum-colored shirt and strikingly patterned silver and turquoise tie. In deference to the hot, muggy weather, he'd eschewed a jacket. With his hands tucked comfortably into his pockets, one foot crossed over the other, he looked dignified, handsome, and totally in control. Bethie took one look at him and promptly wished she'd gone with the little black dress. This man shouldn't be dating some
Similar Books
