The ballroom at Mortimer Manor is dimly lit, a few pink and lavender stage lights swirl through the room, the music is loud, and there’s a throng of bodies cutting up the dance floor. Regina and I worked all day to pump out as many pizzas as we could in just about every variety. They’re not Nana Rose quality, but with the extra cheese and generous toppings, they’re turning out to be a crowd pleaser. And as soon as Opal and I have the funds, I’m gunning for that brick pizza oven.
Opal scurries my way with a silver sequin dress that catches the light like a seizure.
“Darling!” she elongates the word while giving the brown and orange tabby named Pumpkin in her arms a squeeze. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
Tilly pops up from behind. “You mean we’ve outdone ourselves.” She hops over and gives me a quick embrace. “I call the leftover pizza. I think I’ve actually found the one thing I could eat for the rest of my life.”
“You’re welcome,” I say as I bump my hip to hers and we start dancing to the rock song blaring overhead.
“Yes, well”—Opal gives a look around—“if we keep this up, I might actually have enough to add on that third wing.”
My mouth opens with surprise. “So you could take in boarders?”
“No.” She swipes at me with the kitten’s paw. “So I can expand my closet. It’s brilliant. You’re brilliant.” She wrinkles her nose at Tilly. “Okay, you’re brilliant, too. Keep up the good work, girls.”
Regina struts over in six-inch death heels and a black leather dress that looks as if it’s ready to cry for mercy as it stretches taut over her every curve.
“Shep’s here.” She hikes the skirt of her dress up a notch. “And he’s coming this way.”
I look over to see the stunning scribe heading in this direction in dark pants and a light blue dress shirt that matches his eyes.
“Ladies.” He offers a polite smile. “That was kind of you to open the mother-daughter dance to the entire town.”
Tilly nods. “We figured everyone had a mother at some point or they wouldn’t be here. And, of course, the daughters wanted someone hot to dance with.”
Regina scoffs. “Face it, you were after wallets. You don’t care if these people were hatched from an egg.” She swoops close to Shep and gives his silver tie a quick tug. “How about it, prince? You up for grinding your hips to mine on the dance floor?”
I scowl over at the flirty floozy.
“Actually”—Shep looks my way—“ I was hoping I could speak to Bowie in private.”
“Ooh!” Tilly grunts with glee. “Private is my favorite place to be with a handsome man on a moonlit night.”
Mine too, but I decide to play it cool.
“Sure,” I say before turning to Regina. “Don’t worry. Mud is out there warming the dance floor up for you. I’m sure he’d love your company.”
She snarls as Shep navigates me to the back of the manor and we end up in a secluded alcove under a weeping willow with the navy sky full of stars.
My vision!
My entire body straightens at the thought that Shep and I might be ready to share a genuine kiss.
Shep takes me by the hand and my mouth falls open as we step in front of a crystalline blue three-tiered fountain.
“There’s something I need you to know, Bowie.” He hitches the hair behind my ear and steps in close. His serious eyes penetrate mine and the tension between us is palpable.
This is it!
The kiss!
I won’t lie, my lips have been craving his ever since he laid that fake pucker on me. To be honest, for that reason alone, I’m starting to miss Hilary’s daily haunting.
“This is important and it concerns us.” He leans in, bringing his mouth ever so close, and I close my eyes, my lips pursing ever so slightly. “I’ve decided to take a consulting position at the Woodley Homicide Division.”
“What?” I inch back to get a better look at him. “A consulting position?” What about my kiss?
“Yes. That way I can still write—and I have my PI license. I can take on cases if I need to without it infringing.”
“Huh.” I give an indignant huff. “Well, it looks as if you’ve got it all figured out.” I lick my lips absentmindedly as my heat index rises.
Shep washes those pale eyes of his over my features and his lips curve with approval as if he likes what he sees.
“I have something else to share with you, Bowie.” Any trace of a smile glides right off his face. “I got a text from an unknown number this afternoon.” He pulls out his phone and flashes the screen my way. “I don’t know if this has anything to do with you, but in the event it does, I thought I’d share it.”
Dear Mr. Wexler,
I am watching you.
A breath hitches in my throat at the sight and I quickly pull out my own phone and show Shep a picture of the note I found pinned to my door last week that reads the very same sentiment.
Someone is watching us.
More to the point, I bet it’s me they’re watching.
It looks as if my days in Starry Falls are numbered.
And Shep and I are over before we ever began.
*Thank you so much for reading! We hope you enjoyed the ride! Need more Starry Falls? Hop on over and pick up the next book in the series! Click here—> A Claw-some Affair
Fall is in the air, and to celebrate there’s a masquerade ball at the Mortimer manor where socialites and dapper men abound. But when someone drops dead in the middle of the dance floor, fingers are pointed at everyone—including the deceased.
Shep is as ornery as ever. Whoever keeps sending me those threatening notes has grown far more brazen, and
