Her Billionaire's Murder Mystery - Stephanie Fowers Page 0,24

red wave and a glamourous red dress to match. How many red dresses did this woman have?

Mikey’s eyes rounded appreciatively. Even he was under her spell. He gulped nervously then somehow delivered the rest of his lines with finesse. “I don’t remember inviting this tough dame to my establishment.”

Veronica swung around. Her gaze swept over the assembled group at the table and lingered on Charly with an unwavering glare. “You didn’t invite me. The mayor did, just like he invited the rest of you. I’m sure you’re all dying to know what he’s up to... or maybe you’d kill to know.” She pushed a newspaper to the middle of the table. “Take a look.”

Darcy snatched at it first and read it probably three times before relinquishing it to Aaron. Charly peered over his shoulder to see the headline. “Blackmailing Mayor; Criminal Scum of the Century.” Aaron passed it onto her. His fingers brushed over hers.

He was shameless. She tried not to react with his girlfriend standing right there. No way would she play into this game. Trying to ignore the sudden rush of her heart, she read the first sentence of the article. “Mr. Tweed has every thug in this town under his thumb, but not how you think. Breaking evidence shows these ruffians helped Mr. Tweed gain prominence because the mayor has dirt on them all. He’s blackmailing everybody.”

“That story’s going to the presses tomorrow!” Veronica announced loudly over them.

Mikey put his hand to his heart and mouthed something that looked like, “You’re fantastic.”

Veronica’s eyes softened on him, the only sign that she wasn’t as tough as she pretended to be, before she straightened her milky white shoulders. “I don’t know what he’s got on all of you, but the word on the street is he’s gonna sell you out to the highest bidder.”

Aaron leaned over Charly to turn the paper to the last page. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m looking for the retraction to the story on page fifteen in small print.” Aaron must be talking from experience. Laughter bubbled up inside Charly, though the last thing she wanted to do was enjoy any of his jokes. He dragged the paper closer. “There’s only something about a beautiful farm girl who broke all the cowboys’ hearts when she left to find work in the big city. She hoards food from Amigo’s and got in a cupcake war with the mayor.” Charly elbowed him to stop his impudence, and he caught her hand when she tried to pull away. “You’d better give me the inside scoop on that cupcake war someday.” Her breath caught as he proceeded to trace every sensitive spot on her palm. Nothing in his gaze revealed to anyone else what he was doing. She hoped he couldn’t see in hers how much she was softening towards him.

She licked her lips. “I don’t believe it... unless the article says she’s planning on taking this town by storm.”

His meaningful expression told her that he appreciated her playing along; in fact, the way he watched her warmed her to the very core. “This town won’t know what hit them,” he whispered. Her heart melted a little. He was adorable when he put his mind to it. Why did he have to have a girlfriend?

“Sorry!” Veronica appeared between them, looking annoyed. She rested her hand on the back of Aaron’s chair. “No retraction. It’s all real. You’d better get out of town while you can.”

Charly slid her hand from Aaron’s warm grip. Regret filled her when she did. Her hand felt so empty without his. Get a grip on yourself. Anger twisted her insides next—what kind of man played two women like this? She should definitely leave Aaron to his girlfriend. She tried to concentrate on the game and scanned the paper, seeing that she was supposed to go out to the Balcony Restaurant to the al fresco dining. “We’re splitting up?” She was disturbed that she was so disappointed.

As if sensing that Charly was trying to pull away, Aaron drew closer. “You wanna come with me? I’ll keep you safe from all these ruffians. You never know... the mayor might try to give you trouble for those cupcakes.”

“No, no, no.” Mikey shook his head. “You go where your script tells you to go, and if the two of you happen to meet up there, fine. If not, that isn’t what your character is doing. Now go.”

Drinking in the sight of Aaron’s probing eyes before she turned away,