Sweetheart in High Heels by Gemma Halliday Read Free Book Online

happen with him?”
    “Ramirez said they charged him with obstruction, but he thought the DA would go lightly on him.”
    “And Ramirez?” Dana asked. “Now that the case is closed….” she said, trailing off.
    I grinned. “Ramirez has tomorrow night off.”

    * * *

    I turned onto my side on the bed, showing off the ruffles along the bodice of the pink lingerie I’d bought just before heading to our romantic rendezvous at the Beverly Hilton. Yes, I’d taken Dana’s advice after all and bought lingerie for Ramirez. However, I’d done so in the intimates section at Macy’s and not at the Pleasure Den. I think we’d both had enough of that place to last us awhile.
    Ramirez had gone in to the station early to finish up the paperwork on the case, but he’d promised on a stack of jelly donuts (not made by me) that he’d be here by 7 PM.
    It was 6:58. And I was poised to be perfect when he made his entrance.
    I tried out a pouty look in the mirror across from the bed, abandoned that idea (I looked more pissed than sexy), then went for a coy smile, instead. Much better.
    I pasted the coy look on my face and stared at the door, careful not to move as I had the ruffled bottom of the baby doll slip strategically placed on my thigh to cover all the good stuff… for now. (wink, wink)
    6:59. 7:01. 7:05.
    By ten after, my right hand was falling asleep from being propped under me, and the smile was starting to make my cheeks ache. I took a deep breath and gave up, abandoning my pose for the moment. I shook out my legs and arms, grabbing for my cell on the night table to make sure I hadn’t missed a call telling me someone else had had the nerve to get murdered in his jurisdiction on our Valentine’s anniversary. I reached for my phone… but instead of connecting, my still-asleep arm collapsed under me and I fell right off the bed.
    “Uhn.” I landed on my face, my baby doll hiked up over my butt, my lace bodice twisted under me.
    And, of course, that’s when I heard my husband’s voice.
    “Maddie?”
    I squinted my eyes shut, embarrassment washing over me. “Uh, hi.”
    “Hi. Watcha doing down there?” he asked, a grin lacing his voice.
    I cleared my throat, pulling myself up off the floor with as much dignity as I could. “Waiting for you,” I said, tugging the hem of my lingerie down. “You’re late.”
    Ramirez glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “A little,” he admitted. “But, I’m here.”
    “Huh.” I crossed my arms over my chest, not yet ready to let this one go. Especially since he’d caught me on the floor and not in my perfect sexy-coy pose.
    “I think you should forgive me,” Ramirez said, taking a step toward me. “Because I brought you something.”
    He held out a box to me. It was pink, about a foot long, and wide.
    “Shoes?’ I squealed, all immediately forgiven as I grabbed it from him and tore the top off.
    “Not just any shoes,” he said as I pulled them from the tissue.
    He was right. They were the shoes I’d had specially made for the Viewer’s Choice Awards and given to Betty White.
    “Ohmigod, where did you get these?”
    Ramirez grinned. “I have a friend on the force who knows Betty’s personal assistant. She got them back for you.”
    “You are the best!” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.
    “Check inside the strap,” he instructed.
    I did, turning the shoes over. Along the interior of the leather T-strap, in permanent sharpie marker, was Betty White’s autograph. I think I squealed again.
    “These are now officially the best pair of shoes I own.” I smiled at him. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome. Happy Valentine’s anniversary, Maddie,” he said, coming in for a kiss.
    A very warm, soft kiss that made me tingle in all the right places.
    “So,” he said when we finally came up for air. “Remember when I said I’d make all those missed dinners up to you?”
    “Yes?” I said.
    Ramirez grinned, his eyes going dark and wicked. “Lock