guarding the front desk against more of your friends.”
He watched her leave, completely dumbfounded. It had been a long time since anyone had rejected him for a date. Maybe because she had him completely flustered, he’d been totally off on his game. He’d even forgotten to return her necklace. Well, there would be plenty of chances to see her again—he just had to figure out how to reach her. He attacked his eggs, trying to work out how to redo her first impression of him.
He was almost done with his breakfast when Mikey returned, grumbling as he eased down on the delicate seat next to him. “I just heard from Angelina,” he said mournfully. “She’s not coming. Get this. She says she’s sick... you buy that? I don’t.” He shook his head. Besides dragging in Aaron as a key player and securing a role for himself, Mikey had arranged for four others to act out the game while the rest of their friends watched and tried to figure out “who done it.” Mikey’s hands shook as he crumpled up his napkin. “Angelina’s got a new blockbuster role this summer, so she probably went in for more surgery. A nose job by the way she sounded on the phone. Are you listening?” Mikey exploded. “Angelina dropped out. Now we don’t have a ‘Girl Next Door’ for our Murder Mystery.”
Aaron finished off the rest of his eggs, his mind on other things. “Maybe we can make the plot work without her?”
“Are you kidding me right now?” Mikey was beside himself. As much as his friend had pretended earlier that he’d cancel the party at the drop of a hat, Aaron knew how much this meant to him. “The ‘Girl Next Door’ was the most important part!” Mikey cried. “Now what am I going to do? I already promised most of our friends I wouldn’t make them act. The ones who already have roles, I practically had to twist their arms to do it. Everyone here is far too rich to bribe.”
Mikey’s words startled Aaron to attention. “You need someone to play the ‘Girl Next Door?’” His eyes went to the door where Charlize had disappeared. He knew someone perfect for the role.
“No, no, no!” Mikey shook his head. “I’m not helping you into another disastrous relationship.”
The man was far too astute. “You met her,” Aaron argued. “You liked her. I can tell you thought she was great. You bonded over the stupid things I do.”
Mikey nodded. He didn’t easily admit he was wrong. “Yeah, she’s one of the good ones. The girl takes care of her mother. She’s down to earth. In another life, we’d be great friends.”
“So what’s the hold up? If you like her, then... wait!” Suspicion of Mikey’s true objections darkened Aaron’s mood like a thundercloud. “You think I’m the problem?”
Mikey shrugged. “I’ll put it this way—you break her heart, I’ll break your head.”
Astonishment ripped through him. He’d never hurt anyone. “I wouldn’t!”
“You say you wouldn’t, but nobody is as good as her.”
Once again, Mikey didn’t dare mention her name, but Aaron knew he was talking about Tara again. Only his best friend could get away with bringing her up. His insides felt torn up, like he’d been riddled with bullets. These constant reminders of the beloved woman who held his heart even after death were killing him. Even more astonishingly, Mikey was protecting Charlize’s welfare over the success of his precious Murder Mystery. Aaron took a deep breath to center himself. “I want to try to live again, okay?”
Mikey set down his napkin with finality. “Fine. I’ll give you a chance. Charly’s in.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“No!” Charlize told Barnett. “I’m not doing it.” Her insides twisted at the thought of taking a main role in this celebrity-studded event. There would be cameras and reporters and politicians and—she clenched her fists—Aaron Mills. She really liked him... and she shouldn’t. Oh! It was so confusing. He was such a womanizer, yet sweet and funny. Ugh. Probably why the ladies liked him. That was exactly why she shouldn’t be spending more time with him. “Ask Mollie to do it! She was voted ‘Most Dramatic’ in high school!”
Barnett rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me a hard time, okay? I need this week to go off without a hitch. If Aaron Mills wanted the Queen of England herself, I’d send someone to kidnap the old girl and bring her back here. Luckily, Aaron only wants you.”
Charly had no idea why, only that she had brutally