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Tripp leaped back.
Not fast enough.
The front bumper struck him in the thigh. Another cry rattled from Alexia’s throat as she gained control of the vehicle.
But Tripp was down.
On the ground.
Damn, damn, damn!
Panic swept through her veins like a stiff wind coming off the mountains. She threw the car in park and leaped out. When she reached the front and saw the big special operator crumpled on his side on the icy pavement, her heart gave a hard pulse.
He looked up at her, face flushed with what could be cold or pain. But one look at his brown eyes told her that it was fury.
Long fingers clamped around his thigh. “Are you fucking nuts? You hit me with your car!”
“You were running.”
“So? The plan wasn’t to meet. It was supposed to be a video call,” he bit off through clenched teeth. His bulky muscles were locked with tension. “Why are you in town?”
She set a hand on her hip. “Why were you running?”
“I ran because a crazy chick was chasing me with her car!”
She looked him over, appraising his physical health. While hewasgripping his thigh, the leg didn’t appear to be at an odd angle that would indicate it was broken.
“I was trying to make you stop,” she told him.
“You could have rolled down your window and asked.” Irritation rang out in a growl.
Another car backed out and whizzed from the parking lot, tires spinning slightly on the icy coating.
Alexia needed to regroup. “Look, are you okay? Can you get up?”
“As soon as I do, I’m going to call my lawyer.”
Anger threaded through her. She’d probably made a poor choice to chase him with her car, but hewastrying to get away. For a few fleeting seconds behind that wheel, she did what Eric expected of her. She held the position of power.
Except she’d lost it the minute she clipped Tripp with the car.
She issued a sigh that turned into a frosty puff of breath on the air. Resigned, she walked over to Tripp and held out a hand to him. Not a peace offering exactly, but what was she going to do? Let him lie there?
He glared at her hand with so much venom that she was sure he was hoping her hand melted off. Then his gaze flicked to her face, dark eyes narrowed and blazing. “Are you even strong enough to help me up?”
She shifted her weight to her other foot. “Should I call an ambulance?”
He shook his head. “No. My team will help me.” He groaned louder this time. “I hope I don’t need to be airlifted…”
Jesus, this guy. He was seriously trying to play her.
Alexia eyed him, taking in his long limbs that appeared to be in working order. In fact, she didn’t see a single scratch on him. Only a guilty man would run away rather than speak to her in person.
Tipping her head, she contemplated him. “Too bad you’ll need that rescue from your team. If you didn’t, you could go with me to the crime scene. But only if you could walk.”
He planted his hand on the pavement and pushed into a sitting position. “I’ll manage.” He grunted as he shoved to his feet, making aspectacularshow of being injured.
Once he straightened to his full height, she found herself staring at a very hard, very broad chest covered in military green cotton.
