Runways and High Heels and Murder

by Patti Larsen

  It was a long and weary day of me pulling over to cry and argue with myself. I loved my dad and my mom. I couldn’t do anything to hurt them. But if I could help Malcolm… and if this was, indeed, connected to me, didn’t I owe it to him, to Siobhan and to myself to find out what was going on? I had an odd need then to unload this on Vivian French of all people and laughed at myself at last. I guess she was becoming a friend after all, if ours was one of the weirdest friendships ever.

  Would she talk to me about Victor? I wanted to know about him, suddenly, with an ache that left me breathless.

  When I finally pulled in the driveway at Petunia’s, I didn’t check my phone messages until the engine was off and I was parked. Three missed calls from Crew and half a dozen texts told me he was worried but trying to be patient.

  I bypassed Mom and Daisy and hurried down to my apartment, hoping to avoid everyone until I had another solid night of sleep under me. Surely a hot bath and some quiet time and rest would set my mind right. Petunia clattered down the steps behind me, her panting eagerness, it turned out, not aimed at me but at the tall, gorgeous man standing quietly, patiently but with a worried expression on his face, in the center of my kitchen.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Five

  I didn’t give him a chance to ask me where I’d been, instead tackling him and hugging him. He held me without a word for a long moment before guiding me to the sofa and sitting, still holding me. I shifted out of my coat, snuggling into his broad chest and just breathing him in while his steady heartbeat settled my own pounding pulse enough I knew I was going to be okay.

  And that I should have told him everything from day one.

  So I did. I started talking and he listened as I dumped everything on him, in random order, knowing I was all over the place and likely sounded like a crazy woman but unable to stop the flood of words and worry that bubbled out. I filled him in on my fears about Rosebert, the news about Siobhan, Vivian’s request, my concerns about the Pattersons, about Alicia and Jared and Aundrea and even Pamela. How I knew I’d be hurting my father if I dug up what happened to Fiona Doyle. That I couldn’t remember the death of Victor French and that Vivian and I were old friends. On and on, unwinding the coil of anxious partial truths and guestimates I’d been making for what felt like ages now, culminated in that terrible, lonely and self-punishing drive I’d just taken.

  When I was done, Petunia had wriggled her way into Crew’s lap with her head on my knees where she watched us with her black triangle ears perked as if she understood everything I’d said. Crew waited a good ten seconds after I was done before he sighed, lifting one big hand to touch my chin and tilt my face up toward him. When he kissed me I felt the very last vestiges of my worry lift, float free and dissolve under the pressure of his delicious lips.

  “Fee.” He whispered that over my mouth, blue eyes full of the sort of emotions that made my heart go pitter pat. “It’s going to be okay.” Had he said that to Jill? Was that why she asked me that question this morning in that particular way? Likely. “We’ll figure it out together. Please, let me help you. Let me be your mountain.” He kissed me again while I tried to nod and say yes but found it impossible to talk while he gave me that kind of intense attention.

  When he finally lifted his mouth from mine, he hugged me, lips pressing to my ear and I realized it was his turn to talk.

  “I thought I almost lost you again.” Definitely choked up this time. I hugged him back, wishing I could take that fear from him but knowing I’d do it again. Likely would, if I knew myself and admitted the truth. Hoped I wouldn’t have to, but… yeah. I was a Fleming, after all. “More than ever, nothing matters. Not my job, not politics or the Pattersons or old mysteries. Or pirate treasure.” I wanted to protest. It all mattered. But Crew wasn’t done. “Just you, Fee. Only you matter to me.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, silenced by an index finger to my lips, soft, pleading.

  “I wanted to do this the other night.” He sounded vaguely amused mixed with frustration while he shifted positions, making Petunia moan in protest before she found a new place to get comfy. Meanwhile, the man I loved had something in his hand, something he’d fetched from his front pocket, a small, blue velvet square that made the whole world go away when he offered it to me.

  Oh.

  My.

  God.

  “Since dinner that night at the lodge, when I tried to make it perfect, I’ve tried a bunch of times to spit it out already. To make it special, so you’d know how much I love you.” He swallowed while I barely heard him but registered everything he said, as weird as that sounded. “Now I’m thinking maybe our way is this way. Just do it already.” He laughed then, taking my shaking hand and pressing the soft box into my trembling fingers, his own not so steady, either.

  He had to help me open it because I couldn’t breathe and suddenly I couldn’t really see because the world swam in tears I didn’t seem able to control. Something sparkly and beautiful cast light through the moisture as I blinked and stared down at the stunningly perfect diamond ring staring back at me.

  All while Crew leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Fiona Fleming, will you marry me?”

  ***

  ###

  Coming soon! Book Ten of the

  Fiona Fleming Cozy Mysteries

  www.pattilarsen.com

  ***

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  ***

  Author Notes

  I’m not above admitting I cried and giggled and hugged myself when I wrote that last line. Fee and Crew have become my family, as much as the entire gang in Reading are now an integral part of my life. When I set out to write the first book, I had no idea just how attached I’d become to the trials and hurts they endured over the last nine books, nor the absolute satisfaction I felt being able to finally put these two people together.

  While I’ve never been a romance writer, I am a soggy, weepy mess when people I love find one another, imaginary characters or not. It’s been a long time coming for them, and I can’t be happier to put two people’s paths into sync than them.

  Okay, enough of the gushy stuff, right? I’ve had so many of you ask me if I’m really stopping at thirteen books to which I honestly have to shrug and tell you, “Maybe.” Like many of my characters, Fee is headstrong, opinionated and has her own way of doing things that is beyond my ken. She’s already whispered about further volumes, though I have, as yet, to receive instructions past book thirteen. And, in case you missed it, there was a pretty blatant foreshadowing for a spinoff series starring Alice Moore and Denver Hatch. So we’ll be seeing Fee again, though from another perspective.

  Meanwhile, I’m already at work on book ten, Plaid and Fore! and Murder. These last few books have come slowly, with months between, and I’m sorry for the delays. My own romance has come to an end and I’m finding myself again, sometimes in the pages of my own books and sometimes in the real world, out there where I am reconnecting with the woman I thought I’d only imagined I could be.

  As always, happy reading.

  Best,

  Patti

  About the Author

  Everything you need to know about me is in this one statement: I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl, and now I’m doing it. How cool is that, being able to follow your dream and make it reality? I’ve tried everything from university to college, graduating the second with a journalism diploma (I sucked at telling real stories), am an enthusiastic member of an all-girl improv troupe (if you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend making things up as you go along as often as possible) and I get to teach and perform with an amazing group of women I adore. I’ve even been in a Celtic girl band (some of our stuff is on YouTube!) and was an independent film maker (go check out the Lovely Witches Club at www.lovelywitchesclub.com). My life has b
een one creative thing after another—all leading me here, to writing books for a living.

  Now with multiple series in happy publication, I live on beautiful and magical Prince Edward Island (I know you’ve heard of Anne of Green Gables) with my multitude of pets.

  I love-love-love hearing from you! You can reach me (and I promise I’ll message back) at patti@pattilarsen.com. And if you’re eager for your next dose of Patti Larsen books (usually about one release a month) come join my mailing list! All the best up and coming, giveaways, contests and, of course, my observations on the world (aren’t you just dying to know what I think about everything?) all in one place: http://smarturl.it/PattiLarsenEmail.

  Last—but not least!—I hope you enjoyed what you read! Your happiness is my happiness. And I’d love to hear just what you thought. A review where you found this book would mean the world to me—reviews feed writers more than you will ever know. So, loved it (or not so much), your honest review would make my day. Thank you!