Alibi in High Heels Read Online Free PDF

week."
    He raised a blond eyebrow, suitably impressed. "Really?"
    "Yes, at the Le Croix show. All the models will be wearing Maddie Springer originals."
    "I should say you've finally arrived then." He looked down at my one polka dotted ballet flat. "This from your collection?"
    "No. Thanks to the broken leg, I'm on a no-heels diet."
    "No heels?" He did a mock gasp. "Good God, how will our Maddie survive?"
    "Ha, ha. Very funny, Tabloid Boy."
    "Well, congratulations on the show. I'll look forward to seeing you there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm afraid I'm keeping Auntie waiting. Good to see you again, Maddie. Uh..." He gestured down to Wonder Boot. "Need a hand getting up to your room, love?"
    I squared my shoulders (not an easy thing to do while holding onto a pair of crutches, by the way). "No, thank you. I'm quite capable of taking care of myself."
    Again with the grin. "Suit yourself." Felix did a little bow, then took off in the direction of the hotel's restaurant.
    I watched his retreating back. He'd traded in his usual uniform of a white, button down shirt and rumpled khaki pants for a more sophisticated look of tailored slacks and a soft gray blazer. The color of the jacket brought out the highlights in his blond hair, the line of the slacks accentuating his long, lean form. I had to admit, it looked good on him.
    Not, mind you, that I was looking.
    I turned and hit the elevator button, immensely relieved that for all his teasing, at least Felix hadn't mentioned The Kiss. (Accidental as it was.) I'd expected some snide comment, but he hadn't even hinted. In fact, it was almost as if he'd completely forgotten all about it. Good. Perfect. Me too. What kiss? See? It never happened. Completely forgotten.
    The carriage arrived and I awkwardly hobbled into the elevator, glancing briefly toward the restaurant as Felix disappeared inside.
    I had to remember to ask Ramirez if he owned a blazer.

    * * *

    I opened the door to my room and immediately spied a note on hotel stationary slipped under the door. Ditching the crutches with a clattering thud on the carpet, I leaned down and picked it up. "Went to Moulin Rouge. Don't wait up. Mom." Mom and Cancan dancers. Now there was a combination.
    I hopped over to my ruffled four poster bed on one ballet flat and flopped down on my back, spread eagle. I closed my eyes, and lay there contemplating the back of my eyelids. One day down, six more to go until Show Day.
    I was hovering in that place somewhere between semi-consciousness and dead-to-the-world sleep when the "William Tell Overture" started singing from the region of my purse. I groped, refusing to open my eyes as I fished by brail for my cell. "Hello?" I asked as I flipped it open.
    "How's my favorite designer this morning?"
    Ramirez. Despite the tired ache in my limbs a smile lifted the corners of my mouth at his smooth voice, sounding deceptively close.
    "Evening. It's eight o'clock. I'm beat."
    "Aw, poor girl. Slide a little closer, I'll give you a massage."
    I grinned in the dark. "Don't tempt me, it's only an eleven hour flight."
    "Paris is that bad, huh?"
    I sighed. "No, actually it's wonderful. Absolutely amazingly exhaustingly wonderful."
    "Good. I'm glad to hear it." Though I'd swear a tiny corner of his voice almost sounded disappointed.
    "I still haven't even got a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower yet, though."
    "I'm sure Jean Luc wouldn't mind you taking a little time off to do some sightseeing."
    "Ha! You don't know Jean Luc."
    "What if you just go in a little early tomorrow and take a quick trip to the tower in the afternoon?"
    I rubbed my temples. I had to admit, it wasn't a bad idea. "Maybe."
    "Hey, by the way, I dropped by your place last night and watered your plants."
    Last spring Ramirez and I had finally taken the plunge and exchanged house keys. Probably the biggest commitment I could ever expect out of a guy like Ramirez. When I'd showed Dana the pink copy of Ramirez's house key that he'd had made for me,