Picture Perfect Murder (Ryli Sinclair 1)

by Jenna St James

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re cut off!”

  Aunt Shirley smiled wickedly at me. “Sean Connery once said those exact words to me after a night of passion. Guess I was too much a woman for him!”

  I shuttered. Great, now I’ll never be able to lust after Sean Connery again!

  “So once you get these last-minute items, you’re all set?” I asked, ignoring Aunt Shirley.

  “I think so.” Tears welled in Paige’s eyes. “I just can’t believe in a few days I’m going to be Mrs. Paige Sinclair.”

  “Me, either,” I said, wiping tears from my own eyes. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment just as long as you have.”

  “Oh, Christ. I feel like I’m at a damn funeral,” Aunt Shirley mumbled.

  Paige laughed. “Who’s taking her home?”

  Plop! Plop!

  I looked down at the notification on my phone. It was a text from Garrett. Heard u r going over wedding plans & drinking margaritas. Be there shortly to take Paige & Aunt Shirley home safely.

  “Looks like Garrett’s coming to our rescue. He’s the designated driver today.”

  “Oh joy,” Aunt Shirley grumbled.

  I glared at her. “I’m tired of having to tell you to play nice.”

  Aunt Shirley grinned. “You wanna know who played nice? Clint Eastwood. He played real nice with my—”

  “Enough!” I cried.

  Aunt Shirley slapped the table and cackled like a drunken hyena.

  Paige and I spent the next few minutes jotting down words to incorporate into her vows. Aunt Shirley drank and vetoed all our suggestions.

  The doorbell was music to my ears. I got up to answer it, excited to see Garrett. Most nights he stops by for a while so we can spend time together. I’m really weird about him leaving his police-issued suburban in my driveway overnight. So on nights we want to be together, I usually go out to his place. He has a beautiful home in the country…outside the city limits…away from prying eyes.

  “You look relatively sober,” Garrett chuckled as he leaned down to kiss me.

  “Wait until you see Aunt Shirley,” I said. “I tried to give her some coffee to help sober her up, but she wouldn’t drink it.”

  Garrett rolled his eyes. “No surprise there.”

  “I don’t need no taxi.” Aunt Shirley pushed herself up from the table, took two steps and stumbled. Grabbing onto the back of my recliner she declared, “I’m fine.”

  “The hell you are,” Garrett said.

  Aunt Shirley narrowed her eyes at Garrett. “The day I can’t hold my liquor is the day you need to take me out back and shoot me!”

  Music to my ears!

  Garrett grabbed Aunt Shirley’s arm and gently eased her toward the door. “From your mouth to God’s ears, Aunt Shirley,” he murmured.

  Paige and I started giggling.

  Damn margaritas.

  “When I was younger, cops would come to me for suggestions on how to capture criminals,” Aunt Shirley told Garrett as she bundled up in her winter coat.

  “I’m sure they did,” he said patiently.

  “I knew most of the cops on the LAPD. Good guys.” She fumbled with her coat buttons. “I miss those times.”

  I wrapped Aunt Shirley’s scarf around her wrinkled neck. “I know you do.” And I’m sure she did. I’ve been worried about her constant reminiscing of the past lately. She always sounds so sad.

  Garrett leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll stop by after I get off work,” Garrett said.

  “Thanks. And I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

  Garrett gave me a wolfish grin. “You bet you will, Sin.”

  I shivered. I loved when he called me that.

  About the Author

  Jenna is a former court reporter turned educator. She has a Master’s degree in Special Education, and an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She also spent twelve years in the ministry. She currently lives in Missouri, but has lived in six different states throughout her adult life. She spends her days teaching reading and writing to students, and then spends her evenings working on her own writing. She also writes a blog http://jennabuhmanmoments.blogspot.com/.

  I’d also like to take this time to thank my sister, Juliana Buhman. She has helped me make this dream come true. She diligently worked on both my editing and my cover design. Without her help, Picture Perfect Murder would still be sitting in my computer unpublished. Thank you for all the support you and Mom gave me during this journey.