Her Billionaire's Murder Mystery - Stephanie Fowers Page 0,23

this?”

“I could ask the same of you,” she retorted.

“You think I’m a nice girl?” he asked, getting off script, but Mikey deserved that for writing these cheesy lines.

Her expressive brows rose, and he got lost in the softness of her gaze. She wasn’t his usual type. Lately he’d dated blondes and redheads... anyone but a brunette. And definitely no one like Tara.

Please say I didn’t keep away from nice girls on purpose.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Life mirrored fiction too much. The role playing was difficult enough with Aaron’s eyes on Charly’s, like he really was a tough undercover detective watching out for the poor Girl Next Door who was in way over her head. It felt ridiculously real, and it didn’t help that Charlize had felt this way since the moment she’d walked into the party.

“Just name your price, Mr. Mills,” Mikey shouted over the table at Aaron. He’d easily dropped that sweet British accent of his for one belonging to a gangster. It was pretty manly actually. “I want the finest paper clips you got, Mr. Mills. None of that cheap stuff, you hear?”

Following along on her script, she realized the next line was hers. “We’re not talking about paperclips, are we?”

“Forget about it, doll face,” Mikey said. “Cool your heels here a while. Your brother wants me to take good care of ya, and I aim to do it. I owe the guy a favor.”

“Her brother owes you a favor more like,” Dominic muttered into his drink. The man was getting ridiculously drunk. They’d have to prop him up in his seat soon.

“Cool the music. Cool the music.” The mayor tapped the microphone at the front of the room. The live jazz band in the corner cut off as he cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with his role. Charly wondered how this group had managed to talk Mr. Tweed into doing this. There must’ve been a lot of money involved, because the guy didn’t do favors for anybody. “I got an announcement to make!” the mayor said. “I invited some of my closest acquaintances to this party tonight. Over there at that table.” A spotlight followed the flick of his hand and suddenly brightened on them. Dominic squinted like he was in pain. Darcy covered her eyes with an angry cry; even Aaron grimaced. Mikey wasn’t surprised at all. He just dug into his food, finally finding time to eat while the mayor took the stage. “I’ve got something to say that none of you at the table are gonna like.”

“Tell me something new,” Charly muttered.

Aaron snickered beside her, and Charly covered her mouth. He wasn’t supposed to hear that. “Are you in character now or do you always cause this much trouble?” he whispered.

“Not as much as you do.” She lifted her brow at him.

He turned serious. “I hope you don’t believe the rumors.”

She studied his face, liking the feel of his arm against her shoulder. This close up, she could see he needed a shave. Yeah, there was smoke to this fire. “I only believe some of the rumors.”

“Which ones?”

Oh, no, she’d let him squirm. “Not telling.” She turned from him to watch the mayor make a fool of himself. It was the perfect revenge after Mr. Tweed had refused to let her mother make cupcakes for the Happy Days parade.

“Let’s just say that something stinks in this town and the culprit ain’t getting away with it no more,” Mr. Tweed said loudly. “You know who you are, you little creep, and I’ve got you wriggling like a worm. Enjoy your dinner, everybody... because it’ll be your last before prison fare.” The mayor left the stage and the jazz band picked up where they’d left off.

Charly was impressed with the script. She looked over at Mikey, who was quickly shoveling food into his mouth before the next part of the Murder Mystery unfolded. “Did you write this?” she mouthed to him.

He nodded, swallowing his food. His grin got even wider when he circled to a newcomer and broke character with an eager edge to his British accent. “You finally came!”

Charly frowned when she recognized the angry woman who had been in Aaron’s room last night. Mikey pushed away from the table and rushed to greet her. “Veronica!” He took both her hands in his. She was their REPORTER? Charlize’s stomach sank. Also Aaron’s girlfriend, most likely. Aaron must find firecrackers like her attractive. Veronica was made for the role with her long hair swept over her shoulder like a