Page 10 of The Princess and the Pizza Man

Stay in character…“What did he say?” She grabbed his arm. “What did you see?”

“I think someone wants to kill you, ma’am.” His voice became ten times more urgent, no more tip-toeing around, and thank heavens, because Winter finally was able to understand what had happened—and appreciate his southern charm in the way he’d addressed her.

He swiped the phone from her hand and got in two numbers before she stopped him. “Don’t call the police.” She was going to have to break character, if just for an explanation. “Joshua was supposed to be poisoned tonight.”

“You’re in on it?” He backed up into the door. “What in the Sam Hill is going on in this place?”

She bit away her laugh at his adorable curse, but this was definitely not the time for it. “You do know this is a murder mystery stay, right?”

His back straightened, his lips flattening to a thin line. “What?”

“A murder mystery. It’s all an act for the guests. For you.”

A flush ran over his skin, and Winter didn’t need any help holding back her laugh this time; the darkened look in his eyes did the trick.

He gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing deep. “Excuse me,” he said as politely as he seemed he could muster.

Then he opened the door and strode down the hall.

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