A Purr-fect Storm Cozy Mystery - Addison Moore Page 0,3

inadvertently stole her job and her boyfriend. Technically, she was fired the very same afternoon I was hired, and according to Shep, they were having an off moment in their on-again, off-again relationship. But Regina and I sort of made amends over the holiday season. Mostly.

Regina is pulling a blond man along with her who happens to be dressed in a black tuxedo with a bright red bowtie. He’s the exact man who’s been shouting at the women in the ring as if he had a right to, and I suppose he does, considering he’s the announcer.

“Here he is. The man of the hour.” She presents the man in the tux to us as if he were a prize.

“Frisk Foster.” Shepherd pulls the man in and gives him one of those man hug-slaps over the back. “It’s been too long. So this is what you’re up to now, huh? Announcer extraordinaire?”

The gentleman barks out a husky laugh. “Not a bad gig if you can get it. I’m around beautiful women all day long, and I get paid to tell ’em what to do.”

I like him a little less already.

Shep’s brows bounce as if he weren’t quite sure what to make of it.

“But”—Frisk pats his belly— “I’ve been at it for eight years and I’m feeling it.” He frowns out at the crowd as if he were looking for someone. “Let’s just say I’ve had a hankering for Starry Falls lately. Like it or not, you might just be seeing a lot more of me around these parts.”

“Sounds great to me,” Shep says. “I miss our brainstorming sessions. You helped me untangle some serious plot holes back in the day.” Shep pulls me close. “Frisk, I’d love for you to meet my girlfriend, Bowie Binx.”

Girlfriend.

I’ll admit, I still get moony-eyed when Shep introduces me as his official plus one.

Shep and I exchanged the L word for Christmas, which was our latest big step. Then, I felt obligated to fill him in on my ability to play voyeur into the future. And seeing that he didn’t run for the hills, turn me in to the feds or the mob, or have me committed, I’d say Shep and I are on our way to being the real deal—as in the real married deal. I’m hoping that the M word will follow suit for the two of us, much like the L word did, and seeing that M comes right after L in the alphabet, it seems like the next logical step. Don’t get me wrong. My fingers aren’t ring-hungry, but if it happens, I think I’ll be more than ready for it. Not that Bowie Binx can legally marry anyone. I’d have to get around that pesky little detail of the fact she doesn’t exist.

“Bowie Binx?” Frisk booms my name out with a laugh. “And here I thought I had the most talented female wrestlers working under me. It seems there’s one far craftier than those, and I’m looking right at her.” He glances back at Regina. “We never thought we’d see the day Shepherd Wexler would settle down and get himself a bona fide girlfriend. Isn’t that right, Regina?”

Regina mumbles something, mostly to herself, and I’m pretty sure I heard the words regret and tequila in there somewhere.

Regina Valentine is a looker with full-bodied chestnut hair that cascades down her back, olive skin that glows with a perennial tan, eyes as sharp as the devil’s, and well, the personality to match—most of the time. Like I said, Regina and I drew a truce just a few weeks ago. It’ll be fun to see how long it lasts. She enjoys throwing potshots at me, and I enjoy pretending not to hear them.

Before Regina can lob a single word my way, all four oiled-up and sweaty women who were in that cage duking it out with wayward furniture barrel this way—a blonde, a redhead, and two brunettes. All of which look fit to kill. And even though they’re wearing what amounts to Halloween costumes, I’ve decided to take them seriously.

“Girls, girls!” Frisk opens his arms wide, and two flock on either side of him as if taking refuge under the shelter of his wings. “Ladies and gentlemen”—he winks at Shep—“let me introduce you all to the best and the brightest that the Vegas wrestling circuit has to offer. The gal on the end is Mal the Mallet,” he says, pointing to the blonde with the green latex short shorts and some sort of tube