Her Billionaire's Murder Mystery - Stephanie Fowers Page 0,62

say Red wasn’t beautiful. She’s gorgeous.” That surprised them all, though Mollie seemed unaffected, almost suspicious. Janson pressed his lips together then shrugged. “I think you could use some color in those cheeks though. How about I take you out in the sun?”

Aaron tried not to groan at the pickup line. Janson was often surrounded by “gorgeous” women. It meant little to him who he had at his side at the moment. That’s why Mollie’s unexpected smirk would mean nothing to him. “Thank you for your concern,” she said, “but I melt in the sun.”

Charly smiled nervously.

Ahead of them, an MC wrapped up the bidding for the latest bachelor. “And Mikey Ladd goes to the woman in red!” she announced over the loudspeaker. Mikey smiled broadly at Veronica and bounded over the red carpet to her side, putting out his arm. Veronica took it, though she looked like a tangle of nerves as they left the spotlight. Aaron had a small taste of what she was going through.

Snickering, Janson broke away from the group to take Mikey’s place. Mollie stared after him, then her eyes rose to Aaron’s. “He’s your friend?”

“Uh... sorry about him.” Aaron was sweating. “He’s not as bad as he seems. He just needs to loosen up a little.” And suddenly he had a great idea. “I’ll back you a million bucks to buy that guy.”

“Why would I ever?” She drew herself up, then her brow creased and a smile lifted her lips. “What do you want me to do with him once I have him?”

“Anything you want.” He hoped he wasn’t doing the wrong thing again.

Mollie broke out into a laugh and stormed over to the tables to retrieve a bidding paddle.

Charlize worked her mouth before any sound came out. “A million dollars? Is that even real? You can’t just... you can’t...”

He touched her cheek. “It’s for a good cause. Remember, everything I give to charity can be a tax write-off; besides... I like to give back—and why not help out two friends while I’m doing it?”

“Yes, but... you realize what my friend can do to him? She’ll make him sorry he was ever born.”

Janson needed a challenge. Aaron shrugged with a grin. “I’m looking forward to it.”

She slid her arm through his. “Mighty big words for someone who isn’t in the auction himself.”

“I’ve got enough scandal right here.” He pulled her closer, hoping he made his meaning clear as he devoured this beautiful woman with his gaze. “And I’m having the time of my life with my scandal. Can you blame me for wishing a little of that on my friends?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Charly snuggled closer to Aaron to watch the show, though she didn’t trust that rebellious look in Mollie’s eyes. Her friend’s whole body was rigid with anger as she returned to them, gripping the bidding paddle. Dating Scooby had given Mollie a low tolerance for arrogant men. Aaron had no idea what kind of fire he’d started with his altruism.

Mollie started with a low bid and let the others try to bash it out, so that hardly anyone noticed she was a challenger. Charlize’s attention drifted to Mikey and Veronica relaxing next to the bar in the corner. Their heads were bent close to each other. Veronica looked glamorous in her signature red—a cocktail gown this time. She ducked from Mikey with a flirtatious laugh and Mikey touched her every chance he got. He pulled out a phone. He had contraband! Veronica leaned closer, her heart in her eyes. Charly didn’t get their connection at all; Veronica was tough as nails, a little rude; Mikey was the jolliest, kindest man she’d ever met—but Charly’s heart melted at their romance anyway. Perhaps Mikey would be a good influence on Aaron’s rude personal assistant. Mikey pushed the phone into his pocket, out of sight. Veronica’s expression had cleared of its usual venom, her eyes bright and happy.

Charly remembered what she’d overheard from Dominic and Darcy as they’d practiced their lines on the stairs above her last night. She giggled a little how she’d thought for a moment that Veronica might be a jewel thief.

“Oh no, Char Char!” Mollie nudged Charlize from her thoughts. “Sad. She dropped out.”

Mollie motioned at the scary lady with the overdone makeup. She’d dropped out after three thousand. Janson seemed visibly relieved. The auction to win a date with him was finally between two well-dressed women who playfully trash-talked each other. Obviously they knew each other from their social circles. The bids