Slipping Into Darkness Read Free Page A

tonight.”
    I grinned. “Thank you, boo. You’re so sweet.”
    Without warning, Romero’s phone vibrated and he looked down at his phone. Someone was sending him a text message.
    â€œIs everything all right?” I asked.
    He shook his head as he began to type an answer. “I’m all right. No, it’s a case I’m working on. This is really important.”
    â€œGotta go?” I gave him a sad puppy-dog gaze and pouched out my bottom lip in a cutesy pout.
    He nodded, and brushed his lips against my forehead. “I’m sorry. I’ll make this up to you.” Then he leaned back, scrutinizing my face to see if I was mad.
    â€œPromise?”
    â€œWhen I get home, we’ll pick up where we left off.”
    A tingling roared between my legs just at the thought of my Latin lover’s sexual prowess. Goose bumps of excitement made my nipples harden. Since I was wearing a sheer, backless bra, self-consciously I slumped my shoulders in, trying to hide my arousal.
    â€œYou so bad.” I blushed, trying to hide my grin.
    Romero glanced down at my nipples through my dress. “No, you’re the naughty one. Tiger!”
    That was our inside joke. I lifted my eyebrows at him in the way that was usually our signal when we were ready to make love. Romero softly patted my waistline. Although I tried to act ladylike around him, he knew I was quite the tigress in the bedroom. I liked how Romero always made me feel feminine, which was kind of hard to feel in my line of work. I took the same risks as any soldier did.
    â€œI’ll take a rain check. Do what you gotta do, babe.” I frisked my fingers in a “get gone” signal. “I know how it is.” I was reminding him of my decade tenure on the streets as an LAPD officer, before I became a PI. And sometimes it got rough on the streets, even in my new profession.
    â€œYou’re sure now?” Romero looked doubtful, as if he thought I would hold this against him.
    â€œYou know this isn’t my thing either.” I waved my hand in a flourish around the gala of Hollywood’s celebrities and stars. Although I was looking forward to the after party, I was here partially on business, too. “I’m just here for this dog-and-pony show for Haviland. I guess it will add a little cachet to our show, too.”
    Romero looked relieved. “Thanks! You’re the best.” He pecked me on my lips. With that, he turned and left. Although he had to leave, I was glad he’d come.
    I pulled out my press pass that Haviland had confiscated for me, and flashed it to the escort. That Haviland could get her hands on anything.
    She was the youngest person I ever knew who went to her doctor and got a prescription for medical marijuana. Although she was in a Narcotics Anonymous twelve-step program for her OxyContin addiction, she was now claiming she had glaucoma. By the way, she was still paying a blackmailer who helped her stage a home invasion last year, which kept her from losing her mini mansion in Hollywood Hills. She was also no stranger to the bail bonds person, and managed to teeter, if anything, just this side of the law. I’m telling you. In spite of her innocent appearance, that girl was scandalous.
    When I worked as a policewoman, I’d evaluate someone like Haviland as a sociopath, but since we met in a drug program two years ago, we’d become quasi-friends of sorts. She would do anything for me, but I just didn’t trust her as far as I could see her.
    After everyone was on the carpet, I excused myself. Although I was looking forward to the after party, I stepped over to the media section and began flashing pictures with my camera. I flashed pictures of various stars as they profiled and floor-showed. I flashed pictures of my friends as they milled around in the crowd before they were seated by the ushers.
    In spite of my forced, fake smile, I was not a happy camper. Something kept