Honeymoon in High Heels Read Online Free PDF Page B

while my mind on Ahlia and her men.  I elected not to mention my encounter to Ramirez, after all.  For one, I couldn’t imagine he’d be too happy about my slipping away and sleuthing during dinner.  And for another, I honestly didn’t have anything more than rumor to go on that Ahlia actually had been seeing Temoe.  Okay, it was a rumor I was inclined to believe, but I knew Ramirez was more of a hard facts sort of guy.  And, since my husband didn't exactly have a history of welcoming my sleuthing efforts, I decide d to keep this one under wraps until I at least had something concrete to give him. 
    I glanced over at Ramirez as the next course arrived.  I could tell his mind was elsewhere, too.  He hardly even looked at the coconut clad 'ote'a dancers tonight. 
    It was dark by the time the luau ended, and Ramirez grabbed my hand, strolling slowly back to the hotel room.  The moon was casting a soft glow over the ocean, the surf hitting the shore making a rhythmic sound, and my husband’s hand was warm in mine.  Despite our mutual preoccupation during dinner, I felt the murder case slipping away as we walked and hopes of a real honeymoon warming me as I snuggled closer to my husband.
    That is until we hit the lobby of the resort.
    “Maddie!” a familiar voice squealed.
    I froze.  Standing at the check-in desk was tall, strawberry blonde, tanned like she’d been here for weeks already. 
    Dana. 
    And beside her stood Marco, dressed in a pair of hot pink capri pants, a lime green Hawaiian shirt, and over-sized starlet sunglass with little pink crystals along the sides.  And beside him stood about fifteen matching pink Louie Vuitton suitcases.
    I blinked.  Surely this was mirage of some sort.
    “What the hell is this?” I felt Ramirez whisper in my ear.
    I shrugged.  Great question.
    “Dana?” I asked, approaching the luggage explosion.  “What’s going on?”
    “We’re he-ere!” she said, grinning from ear to ear, as she sing-songed the word. 
    “I can see that,” I said.  “What I can’t see is why?”
    “Well, this morning you said you wished I was here.... so I am!”  The look in her eyes said she was clearly pleased with her surprise.
    “You know that’s an expression, right?  I t doesn’t actually mean get on a plane.”  I paused, looking to Marco.  “And bring friends.”
    But Dana waved me off.  “Think nothing of it.  We’re glad to help.  I have a few days before my next shoot, and Marco had some vacation time from the salon saved up anyway.”
    “And as soon as Dana told me about those fire dancers in loincloths, I knew I had to see Tahiti for myself,” Marco chimed in.  “I can’t believe you invited us.”
    Maybe because I hadn’t. 
    I felt Ramirez shifting from foot to foot behind me, an explosion brewing.  While Ramirez liked Dana well enough, and tolerated Marco well enough, I had a feeling he wasn’t any more enamored with idea of honeymoon tag-alongs than I was.  Maybe less, I decided as he leaned in and growled in my ear.  “You wouldn’t even let me bring my cell phone, and you bring these two with you?”
    “I didn’t bring them,” I said, vehemently.  “They just... showed up.”
    “Uh-huh.”  Clearly the distinction was lost on him.
    I turned to the gruesome twosome.  “Look, I doubt the resort even has any rooms available on this short notice."
    “Actually,” Don piped up from behind the desk.  “We do have one north-facing suite.”
    Great, he picked now to start being helpful.
    “Perfect!” Dana said, clapping her hands. 
    “I’m sure it’s very expensive,” I told her.  “Last minute rates and all.”
    Don shook his head.  “Not really.  In fact, I can get you a 10% last minute discount.”
    I shot him a death look.
    “Come on, Maddie,” Marco said, slapping me on the shoulder.  “You didn’t think we’d let you investigate a murder in paradise all on your own, did you?”
    “ You investigate?” Ramirez