Read Online Mayhem in High Heels by Gemma Halliday - Free Book Online
Authors: Gemma Halliday
Tags: General, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, cozy mystery, Weddings - Planning, Women fashion designers
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Ramirez was dumping me. A memory that, as evidenced by the vein starting to bulge in Ramirez's neck, hadn't faded from his mind.
"Felix," he hissed through clenched teeth.
"Jack, lovely to see you again," Felix said breezily, as if the two were old friends meeting for a pint at the pub. He was doing an excellent impression of a man unfazed by a pissed-off cop, though how much was acting, I wasn't sure.
He grabbed my left hand, holding up the two-carat rock resting there. "I hear congratulations are in order."
Ramirez's nostrils flared, his eyes shooting from Felix's face to his hand holding mine, then narrowing. I had the distinct feeling if I squinted hard enough I could actually see the testosterone crackling in the air.
I shook off Felix's grip, lest he tempt Ramirez into actually using that gun.
"Felix just dropped by to discuss Gigi's death," I said, trying to defuse the situation.
Ramirez tore his gaze from Felix's smirk (with obvious difficulty) to me.
"Of course, I told him I had nothing to add and that he'd have to go sniff out a link to the Loch Ness monster on his own."
I gave Felix a pointed look. Now would be an excellent time to make an exit, pal.
But he seemed pleased as punch to remain in the line of fire, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels.
"Oh, Maddie," Felix said, "don't you worry your pretty little head..."
Ramirez growled deep in his throat. Actually growled.
I rolled my eyes.
"...one bit about it. I've always got a Nessie angle up my sleeve."
"I'll bet," I mumbled. "Well, as fun as this has been, time to go, Tabloid Boy."
I grabbed Felix's sleeve and physically propelled him the three feet to the front door. All the while Ramirez staring him down as if he were a bug he'd like to put a boot to. They sidestepped past each other, and I held my breath, knowing just how easy it would be for Ramirez's fist to accidentally shoot out and catch Felix in the jaw.
Felix must have realized too, as, despite the cool grin still cracking his cheeks, he scuttled out double time.
"I'll see you soon, Maddie," he called over his shoulder.
Prompting another growl from Caveman.
I shut the door, internally sighing with relief that we'd avoided bloodshed.
"Care to tell me what that was all about?" Ramirez ground out.
I spun around to find his arms crossed over his chest, narrowed eyes now zeroing in on me.
"Oh no, pal. Don't play mad with me. How about you tell me what this," I said, gesturing between him and the closed door, "was all about?"
"What?"
"The silent pissing contest. 'Grunt, grunt, hands off my woman.'"
He softened his stance, uncrossing his arms. "I didn't grunt."
I raised a challenging eyebrow.
"Much."
Despite playing the hard-ass, I couldn't help a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
"Thanks for not hitting him."
"You're welcome. But no promises about next time."
"Fair enough." The way Felix had taunted Ramirez, next time I might hit him myself.
Ramirez sank down onto my futon and flipped on the TV, the tension leaking out of his shoulders and instantly being replaced by a look of fatigue.
"How did it go at L'Amore after I left?" I asked, settling down beside him.
"Fine."
"Fine? Like, fine how? Anything interesting at the crime scene? Any witnesses crop up?" I asked, trying my best at casual curiosity.
Unfortunately, Ramirez knew me better than that.
"No way."
"What?"
"There's nothing I'm willing to share with a nosey blonde who hangs out with tabloid reporters."
"Hey!" I stuck out my lower lip in a mock pout. "We don't 'hang out.' I was ambushed."
He grinned, tilting my chin up to face him. "You're a lot of trouble, you know that, Springer?"
I nodded.
"Good thing you're so cute."
I couldn't help my insides from doing a squealy girly thing. The hot guy thought I was cute.
"So... how about cluing the cute girl in on your case?"
Ramirez shook his head, but the grin remained in place. "All right, I give in."
My turn to grin.
"Cause of
"Felix," he hissed through clenched teeth.
"Jack, lovely to see you again," Felix said breezily, as if the two were old friends meeting for a pint at the pub. He was doing an excellent impression of a man unfazed by a pissed-off cop, though how much was acting, I wasn't sure.
He grabbed my left hand, holding up the two-carat rock resting there. "I hear congratulations are in order."
Ramirez's nostrils flared, his eyes shooting from Felix's face to his hand holding mine, then narrowing. I had the distinct feeling if I squinted hard enough I could actually see the testosterone crackling in the air.
I shook off Felix's grip, lest he tempt Ramirez into actually using that gun.
"Felix just dropped by to discuss Gigi's death," I said, trying to defuse the situation.
Ramirez tore his gaze from Felix's smirk (with obvious difficulty) to me.
"Of course, I told him I had nothing to add and that he'd have to go sniff out a link to the Loch Ness monster on his own."
I gave Felix a pointed look. Now would be an excellent time to make an exit, pal.
But he seemed pleased as punch to remain in the line of fire, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels.
"Oh, Maddie," Felix said, "don't you worry your pretty little head..."
Ramirez growled deep in his throat. Actually growled.
I rolled my eyes.
"...one bit about it. I've always got a Nessie angle up my sleeve."
"I'll bet," I mumbled. "Well, as fun as this has been, time to go, Tabloid Boy."
I grabbed Felix's sleeve and physically propelled him the three feet to the front door. All the while Ramirez staring him down as if he were a bug he'd like to put a boot to. They sidestepped past each other, and I held my breath, knowing just how easy it would be for Ramirez's fist to accidentally shoot out and catch Felix in the jaw.
Felix must have realized too, as, despite the cool grin still cracking his cheeks, he scuttled out double time.
"I'll see you soon, Maddie," he called over his shoulder.
Prompting another growl from Caveman.
I shut the door, internally sighing with relief that we'd avoided bloodshed.
"Care to tell me what that was all about?" Ramirez ground out.
I spun around to find his arms crossed over his chest, narrowed eyes now zeroing in on me.
"Oh no, pal. Don't play mad with me. How about you tell me what this," I said, gesturing between him and the closed door, "was all about?"
"What?"
"The silent pissing contest. 'Grunt, grunt, hands off my woman.'"
He softened his stance, uncrossing his arms. "I didn't grunt."
I raised a challenging eyebrow.
"Much."
Despite playing the hard-ass, I couldn't help a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
"Thanks for not hitting him."
"You're welcome. But no promises about next time."
"Fair enough." The way Felix had taunted Ramirez, next time I might hit him myself.
Ramirez sank down onto my futon and flipped on the TV, the tension leaking out of his shoulders and instantly being replaced by a look of fatigue.
"How did it go at L'Amore after I left?" I asked, settling down beside him.
"Fine."
"Fine? Like, fine how? Anything interesting at the crime scene? Any witnesses crop up?" I asked, trying my best at casual curiosity.
Unfortunately, Ramirez knew me better than that.
"No way."
"What?"
"There's nothing I'm willing to share with a nosey blonde who hangs out with tabloid reporters."
"Hey!" I stuck out my lower lip in a mock pout. "We don't 'hang out.' I was ambushed."
He grinned, tilting my chin up to face him. "You're a lot of trouble, you know that, Springer?"
I nodded.
"Good thing you're so cute."
I couldn't help my insides from doing a squealy girly thing. The hot guy thought I was cute.
"So... how about cluing the cute girl in on your case?"
Ramirez shook his head, but the grin remained in place. "All right, I give in."
My turn to grin.
"Cause of
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