Her Billionaire's Murder Mystery - Stephanie Fowers Page 0,72
hardened gangster facing down the femme fatale in a film noir. “Sure.”
A slight smile danced over her mouth and she left with a sultry step. Aaron wasn’t sure how long it would take for the media to figure out how real their act had been, but meanwhile, the fact checking site, Snopes, would have a heyday with this night. Mikey approached Aaron and Charly cautiously. “What do you think? A play within a play.”
Aaron wasn’t amused. “If you ever keep anything back like that from me again, you’re fired.”
“Oh, come now!” Mikey elbowed him. His playful British friend had returned, though he looked properly humbled. “Your night locked away from the world in the old billiards room was pretty romantic too, wouldn’t you say? I also gave you a pretty great role in the game.”
Mikey had changed the script so many times he’d given them whiplash. Was that to bring out the villains of this piece in real life? Charly let out a nervous laugh. “I don’t think anyone is going to buy that ridiculous ending for our Murder Mystery.”
“You think my playwriting days are over, do you? I’ll have you know that I overheard a sweet old lady over there saying that she’d never had more fun.”
“Yeah.” Aaron touched his raw face, even as Charly worked on cleaning off the blood. Every part of him ached. A visit to Eureka Springs Hospital might be in order. “I hate to break it to you, but I’ve had better nights.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Mikey said. “You were very impressive.”
Aaron’s anger rose in ebbs and tides, but it was slowly subsiding, especially when he turned to Charly and saw she was still in one piece. The fringe on her dress was ripped, her cheek bruised, and she was never more beautiful. He ran his hand down her arm and tried to concentrate on his breathing. Things could’ve turned out worse, but they were all alive and well, and he’d met the girl of his dreams. “Charly,” he said finally. “I’m tired of living like a gangster. You want to go on a date with me in the real world?”
“Yes,” she answered, almost gratefully. “I’d really like that.”
EPILOGUE
—A Date in the Real World—
AARON MOVED THE CHESS piece across the board. Henry Wood sat across from him, grumbling something about how Aaron played a better game of bingo. Charly squeezed next to Aaron, and he glanced over at her with a boyish grin and she felt herself melt at his warmth. He might not be the world’s best chess player, but he was the world’s best boyfriend. He took her hand under the table, and she leaned against him for moral support while he got creamed at chess.
They were visiting her mother at Highbury Independent Living Center, and Henry was trying to teach Aaron the finer points of the game. So far, Aaron wasn’t catching on.
Mabel made a face as she passed them. “Maybe I should let him back in on bingo night.”
Charly’s mother crowed out in approval. “You just want to take him for all that he’s worth.”
“Maybe I do.” Mabel set up the bingo game on the table, her old fingers very nimble for someone her age. Aaron had been an instant favorite with the others at the facility, but it had taken her a few weeks to warm up to him. He came by often, sometimes without Charly, to check up on Henry Wood, who had a few ideas of his own as to what had actually happened at his Murder Mystery. The two had struck up a great friendship, especially after Mr. Wood had used his CIA connections to find a vetted charity to give their hard-earned proceeds from that night.
Charly’s mother beamed at Aaron, patting his arm every chance she got. She just couldn’t believe that her daughter had come in contact with her great hero. She thoroughly approved of him dating her daughter. “Aaron, when are you holding another one of your parties? Mabel and I think you should do one from the fifties. We’ll come by and give you a few tips.”
“Oh, no, no!” Charlize had to intervene. “I’m just not sure if he could do another without causing another scandal.”
Aaron feigned a hurt look, but she’d heard him say plenty of times he was through with parties for a while. “I don’t know,” he teased. “I found my best scandal at my last one.” His hands ran down her arms, and he searched her eyes with