The Green-Eyed Doll by Jerrie Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

here for you....”
    “No. I wish I had these trees in my backyard.”
    He tossed the T-bones on the hot grill. “How do you like your steak?”
    “Medium well, please.”
    Supper with her was a good idea. Sex would’ve been better. The visceral reaction he had whenever she got close sure screwed with his mind. Her low moan and then rapid pull-back stumped him. Hell. The more he thought about it, the surer he was...he’d scared the crap out of her. She’d sent a message before when she said she always left. Always moved on. She’d warned him not to get serious. He didn’t want serious. He’d done permanent and made a mess of two lives. But scared? Jesus. He’d never forget that look in her eyes.
    “Matt?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Want me to bring out the potatoes?”
    “Hmm?” He blinked a couple of times. “Not yet.” She’d caught him drifting, just like he’d caught her a few nights ago. “Sorry. My mind wandered.”
    “I understand. You look bone tired.”
    He walked over and squatted in front of her. She smiled and leaned away from him. Damned if he didn’t see a hint of fear. Again.
    “Catherine, I’ve never touched a woman and seen raw fear in her eyes. Until today. I’m sorry if I came on too strong. Understand this, no means no to me. I’ll never expect more from you than you’re willing to give. Nothing will happen without your expressed consent.”
    She held his gaze for only a second before looking away. “We need to talk.”
    “Talking’s good. We can do that while we eat.” Matt rose and stepped over to the grill to flip the steaks. His cell vibrated on his hip. He answered without looking. “Ballard.”
    Anger surged through his veins while he listened. Harness it, channel it, and find justice. It was the least he could do for Julia Drummond. He disconnected and turned to Catherine.
    “The missing woman’s been found. Dead. I’ve got to go.” His brain raced. How would he get Catherine home? She damn sure couldn’t come with him.
    “Of course you do. I’ll take care of the steaks and wait here.”
    She’d given him the answer to his problem. His heart popped him in the ribs. “You sure? I may be gone a while.”
    “I’m sure. Go.”
    Matt hit the house in a dead run. He grabbed his gun, hat, and keys, and then raced back to the yard. She was taking the steaks off the grill. “Catherine, I’ll be back as soon as I can. Might be a while.”
    She hurried to him, compassion written on her face. He leaned down, rested his forehead on hers for a moment before he hurried to his pickup. He glanced back at her standing in his driveway, and it hit him. She hadn’t pulled away from him.
    “Be safe,” she called out.
    He flipped on the siren, hit the lights, and raced down the highway. The faces of innocent victims who’d been murdered on his watch still haunted him. He’d left homicide years ago but remembered every case. Don’t take it personal , the chief had pounded in his head. The hell with that. Murder was personal. This was more personal than ever. The people in Crest County looked to him to keep them safe. And he’d failed Julia Drummond.
    He punched in Jake Foley’s home number. His wife answered. “Rose Ann, Matt Ballard. Sorry, but I have to speak to Jake.”
    “I’ll get him,” she said.
    Jake’s familiar voice came on the line a few seconds later.
    “This can’t be good.” Jake blew out a sigh. “Somebody found the Drummond woman.”
    “Yeah. Truck driver spotted her propped up in front of the old Culver cutoff sign on Highway 283.”
    “Damn,” Jake whispered. “I’m on my way.”
    Jake Foley had been a deputy in Crest County for eighteen years. In his late forties, with two teenage boys, Jake’s fair-mindedness had earned a lot of people’s respect, including Matt’s. Jake had been clear from the git-go, he didn’t want the sheriff’s job. More than once, he’d refused to run for office. Honorable and trustworthy, Matt respected Jake the way a