Beyond the Mistletoe: A Christmas Romance (Beyond Love Book 7) by Karice Bolton Page A

screamed, and I nearly fell out of my chair. My heart raced as the bartenders all grabbed pistols and stood back-to-back searching the bar with weapons raised.
    Gabby spun around as one of the bartenders yelled that Jason had been murdered, and she screamed. I quickly scanned the area for Jason, but he really had vanished.
    Derek placed my drink in front of me and slid his chair next to me before taking a seat. He was completely unfazed and took a sip of his drink as my heart raced wildly, and I had to remind myself that tonight was a murder mystery dinner.
    I watched Eric’s hot date raise her dress and grab a knife from her garter belt and couldn’t help but notice how toned her legs were. I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see if Derek noticed, but he hadn’t.
    Eric had sauntered over to an empty chair at Lily’s table, but right before he was about to take a seat, the hot dancer grabbed him and placed a plastic blade against his throat. He looked terrified and completely out of his element. He was a distinguished attorney, not used to being roughed up, and I doubt he ever guessed he’d get thrown into the mix of things like this. We never would’ve worked, even for a one-night stand. I shook my head and held in a laugh as each cast member began yelling out clues, going from table to table, hauling a now flustered Eric along for the ride.
    “I don’t think Eric expected that.” Derek leaned over and whispered. “It looked like he about wet himself.”
    I found myself giggling as Derek rested his hand along my neck. His thumbs moved back and forth gently on my skin, which sent pulses of pleasure through me making it nearly impossible to focus on the mystery at hand.
    “So who do you think the bad guy is?” he murmured, his mouth next to my ear and his fingers still circling my bare skin.
    “Gabby.” I barely breathed out.
    “No way. I’m saying it’s a jealous friend. Maybe Brandy?”
    “Absolutely not. Brandy’s in love with Aaron and Aaron’s Gabby’s brother. There would be no betrayal like that.”
    “Love is nothing but betrayal, darling,” Derek whispered.
    His words smacked me with the truthfulness only a few could understand. I caught his gaze and bit my lip before turning my attention back to the actors recreating a scene straight from the nineteenth century.
    “It doesn’t have to be,” I said, swallowing down the desire his fingers conjured up.
    “If you believed that, do you think you’d be in this predicament?” he asked. There was nothing condescending or judgmental about his question. It was matter-of-fact. He was coming from a place of understanding, and yet he knew nothing about my past.
    And I knew nothing about his.
    Maybe that was why this weekend was going to work so well. We were two strangers, who might get to enjoy one another’s company without the hassle of emotion and worrying about where it’ll end up.
    I straightened my posture slightly as another shot rang in the air, and one of the dance-hall girls fell from the stairs. Lily gasped and stood up to get a better look.
    Derek trailed his fingers down my back, which made it nearly impossible to think straight. I brought in a shuddered breath and caught a smile etching his lips.
    “You don’t believe it’s Gabby,” he breathed into my ear. “So who could the killer be?”
    My body trembled with the closeness, and I had to steady my breathing before replying.
    “If love is all about betrayal, maybe it’s Aaron. Maybe he didn’t approve of his sister marrying Jason.”
    “That’s an interesting theory.”
    “You’re making it difficult to participate at all.”
    “Why’s that?” He took his hand away and reached for his drink.
    “No reason.” I smiled, watching Eric get tied to a chair.
    “Some women are into that,” Derek said, pointing at Eric.
    “It could be fun.”
    Derek laughed, and I realized I had no idea what he was actually talking about. “You mean getting tied up or that fresh off