security and she gave a silent groan, deciding to wait it out while Darcy let Dominic have it. “This is your fault. She’s guilty as sin—there were no excuses! Let’s just turn her in for stealing it and end this. Aaron will thank us.”
Dominic snorted. “He’s a little busy playing with his shiny new toy.”
Charly stiffened angrily. No one ever heard anything good about themselves while eavesdropping, but this was out of her hands.
“I have no idea what he sees in her,” Darcy said and grunted out angrily. “Or you! Idiot. This is bad. Real bad. You were supposed to be watching Veronica, and you just let her slip past you.”
“Aaron has his security all over me.”
“Because you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself!”
Dominic didn’t immediately answer back. He finally broke his silence. “We lost our evidence, okay? We have to find something else.”
“We’re running out of time.”
This was beginning to sound like Dominic and Darcy were undercover agents trying to catch a jewel thief or... or they were practicing for the Murder Mystery. Could that possibly be true? Replaying the part about Aaron and herself, she realized it could also apply to the detective and the good girl gone femme fatale. Charly let out a breath, feeling like an idiot. Her mind had explored all sorts of crazy scenarios.
“She’ll cause more trouble tomorrow night if she goes free,” Darcy said. “You know how many important people there will be at the Barefoot Ball? And wearing Autumn Molinero jewels?”
“And after stealing the Royal Czech ruby necklace?” Dominic asked. He almost sounded hopeful. “Everyone will know what she’s doing.”
“Yes, but we need that necklace back. Until then... we try something else. You saw Veronica’s face at the table when I told her to watch out.”
“I did,” Dominic growled out. “Maybe we do have her.”
They turned silent and Charlize was tempted to clap at their great performance. Up until now she had wondered why Mikey had cast the two in his Murder Mystery, but they were great. Too bad Mikey switched their lines around so much or they might’ve gotten standing ovations every night. The two retreated into the hotel the same time Aaron returned outside onto the balcony. He took her hand and slid her closer. “We’re going to need lots of security for our party tomorrow. It’s going to be a good one. We’ve got our Barefoot Ball in the ballroom and the bachelor auction downstairs in the speakeasy. You should see the donations in that silent auction tomorrow—all sorts of rare gems and artifacts bringing money you won’t believe into our charity. It’s going to be a night to remember.”
She sighed happily. “I need my script.”
“Why?” His eyes probed hers. “You want to practice lines?”
Yeah, she kind of did after hearing Dominic and Darcy. She wrapped her arms under his and nodded.
He grinned. “Sure, but we should practice our stage kiss first.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Leave your shoes and phones at the door!” Aaron slapped his friend on his shoulder. Jett stared around him, the sweet Hannah on his arm. These were just a few of his friends he’d invited to the final night of the Murder Mystery party.
“What about legs?” Jett asked with a laugh, leaning down to take off his shoes. “I can leave that too.” His friend had lost his leg in a climbing accident, and he had learned to walk and climb again with the help of his physical therapist. Now the two were engaged to be married.
Hannah laughed and leaned against Jett as soon as he stood. “You’re not getting out of dancing that easily.”
Streams of celebrating people flowed around him in the halls of the Basin Park Hotel for the Barefoot Ball. Some were Aaron’s personal friends; others came from Eureka Springs. Most of the guests dropped by to enjoy a few dances before leaving for the main action in the middle of the town using the hotel as its social hub.
Aaron was curious to see what invention Jett had come up with for dancing—his friend had built all sorts of attachments for his prosthetic. “What’s your leg look like today?”
Jett clenched his manly jaw. He was a beast of a man, tall and athletic, with bright green eyes that shone against his olive-toned skin. He was made for action. His accident had almost destroyed him until he’d met Hannah. She’d tamed his wildness. He pulled up the leg of his trousers and showed Aaron a metal attachment with a bionic ankle. “It’s not going to