by Emmie Lyn
“Maxine’s going to take care of Charlotte?” I could barely get the words out. I was completely and utterly flabbergasted.
Hitch chuckled and held his hands up to stop me from having a heart attack. “Not exactly. She’ll provide a nice apartment for Charlotte and a live-in companion.”
Officer Walker approached us. “You know you put yourself in danger, Sunny.”
“It was all Jasper’s fault. She pushed Gina’s kitchen door open and I’d planned to stay with Maxine until she recognized the watch.”
“What watch?”
“Harry’s watch. Jasper found it, Maxine recognized it, and I figured out what Gina had done.”
Mick shook his head. He ruffled Jasper’s ears. “So, Jasper saved the day?”
“Sort of. She led me to the killer, but she got herself locked out of the room when Gina pulled me inside. Fortunately for me, Gina didn’t have much of a plan in place when everything started to fall apart.”
“Except for this.” Hitch handed Mick the phone. “She made motel reservations, in Charlotte’s name and probably used her credit card,” he pointed out, “from here to New Mexico. I don’t think her car would have made it. She didn’t have the bonsai tree, but I guess she saw the writing on the wall and knew it was time to disappear.”
“Nice catch, by the way,” I said to Mick. “She climbed right down into your arms, didn’t she?”
“That was the easiest arrest I’ve ever made.”
“You’re welcome,” I said.
He patted my shoulder. “Yeah, thanks. Now, go deliver that gnarled old tree before it causes any more trouble. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow for the rest of your details.” He walked away mumbling to himself, probably wishing he’d been the one to rescue me instead of me defending myself quite handily.
“Yup, that tree has a permanent home now. And, you know what else, Sunshine?” Hitch looked at me with a gleam in his eyes that made me a little worried about what might come out next.
“Do I want to know?”
He laughed again. “We’re partners. Of course you want to know. Why are you so suspicious?”
I shrugged. “Your track record?”
“Well, I know I have a lot of work to do to make you forgive me for running off to New York, but I think you’ll like what I’m about to propose.”
I held my breath, preparing myself for disappointment.
“I asked Conrad to give us a quote on turning the greenhouse into your Kitty Castle.”
I felt my mouth spread into a gigantic grin.
“Good, right? He’s already working on the plans and wants to get started as soon as possible. And,” Hitch said, “He wants to adopt Mama Cat when the kittens are all on their own. What do you think?”
“I’m glad that Conrad is one of the good guys.”
“What about me?” His face fell into a pout.
“You still have work to do, Hitch… lots of work.”
He took my hand and squeezed, sending my heart fluttering against my ribs. That was a good start.
But I wasn’t planning to tell him that anytime soon.
In Pineville, Sunny Shaw stumbles into one sweet disaster after another! Ready to find out what happens next?
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Ginger Danger
Mint Chocolate Chip Mysteries, Book 2
About This Book
It’s no secret that, I, Sunny Shaw, am a magnet for mayhem right here on beautiful Blueberry Bay.
So, when a woman goes missing just before the grand opening of Shakes and Cakes, I think…it could be worse. And of course that’s exactly what happens when missing turns into dead. It's hard to cry over a disastrous opening when there's a murderer running around and things aren't about to get any easier!
Oh my, Jasper, how will we ever juggle my nasty neighbor, a stalker, a murderer, finding homes for kittens AND serving the best shakes and cakes in Pineville?
The answer to that million dollar question might save my business but can we shake things up to keep my friends out of jail and me alive to see another day?
1
I hadn’t slept a wink.
What was that all about? Normally, I, Sunny Shaw, hours away from becoming Pineville, Maine’s newest business owner, slept like the dead through almost anything. Yet, I’d tossed and turned all night.
I couldn’t blame my anxiety on Jasper, my giant Newfoundland mix. With a name like Jasper, people always assumed she was a male but I decided, if the name fit, wear it. Proudly. And she did.
Anyway, usually she’d give me gentle nudges to get me out of bed when she wanted food or a trip outside, but her snores and snuffles told me she was still dreaming of chasing rabbits. My two kittens, Stash and Princess Muffin, usually started their day practicing head pounces to get me to fill their food bowls. So far, though, they hadn’t moved from the bottom of the bed where they’d each carved out a spot last night and fallen fast asleep. Not even the sun rising over Blueberry Bay had yet to peep through my window on this glorious late-summer Maine morning. And worst of all, when I looked at my bedside clock at regular, two-minute intervals, I’d swear it was standing still.
The reason for my restlessness all night? Excitement mixed with worry. Today was the day. Would my dream come true or sink like a lobster boat hitting a rock?
Was Ty Hitchner losing any sleep? He was my friend, business partner, and well, I’ll leave it at that for now. He and I had put our money, hard work, and future on the line with a new business venture—the Shakes and Cakes Shop. The grand opening, scheduled for a few short hours from now, accounted for my frazzled nerves and lack of sleep.
My head buzzed with questions. Would we have any customers? Would our Kitty Castle for stray cats and kittens attached to the rear of the shop be a success? Would Hitch and I be able to work well together? Gad… I felt like pulling my hair out.
I tried to tell myself that just because something could go wrong, didn’t mean it would. However, much as I tried to focus on the positive, I still obsessed over that possibility.
I sighed, slipped my feet from under the sheet and padded to the shower. The best remedy for this waiting game was to get on with it. If I got up early, I had extra time to get ready for this important day.
After the steamy hot water had me fully awake, I pulled my dark hair into a French braid, slipped on my new white t-shirt, and stepped into my dark blue skinny jeans. I twisted from one side to the other and checked out how I looked in my full-length mirror. My blue eyes reflected back at me with an encouraging, you-can-do-this expression. I gave myself two thumbs up, my ensemble perfect for serving thick shakes, healthy smoothies, and a variety of donuts and cakes to the line of customers we hoped would stream in today.
Correction… that would stream in.
My last addition to my look was to clasp on my favorite good luck necklace. The gold sun pendant, a gift from my friend who’d been murdered on his boat several months ago. I rubbed the smooth sun, remembering Benny’s warm friendship. I hoped he was rooting for my new endeavor.
I snapped my fingers, feeling much better about the day. “Come on Jasper. It’s time to get this show on the road.”
Urgent knocking on my front door got me rushing downstairs, and Jasper’s barks, loud enough to shake my house, sent the kittens scrambling for cover under the couch in my small living room.
My day had officially begun.
“Sunny? Open up. I’ve got coffee and a bag of cinnamon and sugar donut holes.”
&
nbsp; Well, this was a bright beginning—my favorite surprise treat personally delivered by Hitch. My heart always beat a little faster when he was around.
I pulled the door open and grabbed the bag from him, inhaling the sweet scent and groaning with anticipation.
“Good morning to you, too, Sunshine.” He patted my head like I was an annoying little sister as he walked inside. Yeah, we’d been friends for a long time and once, I’d hoped that friendship would turn into something else. For now, being friends and business partners with Hitch was challenge enough. At least that’s what I told myself.
Before I closed the door, my neighbor, Tilly, hollered, “Wait for me.” She waved as she hurried across the street in her chili pepper-red jogging outfit. She’d probably been sitting in her rocking chair for hours, with her big orange cat, Pinky, waiting for activity to start at my house.
Tilly was my surrogate grandmother, without the sweet old lady part. She loved attention, action, and getting into trouble. Translation? She was more often than not, a bad influence.
“Finally,” she said when she walked in, giving Hitch a little peck on his cheek. “I thought you two would never get started today. Isn’t this your grand opening?”
“Yup.” He handed her a coffee. Of course, he’d planned ahead and brought three. Then, he checked me out from head to toe. “And, I’m glad to see that Sunny’s dressed and ready to go. I thought I’d have to pull her out of bed. Nice look, too.”
His compliment pleased me more than it should have, but since I never knew if he was teasing or flirting, I punched his arm.
“Ha ha,” I said. I couldn’t take my eyes off his brand-new jeans that fit perfectly. He rocked them with a snug green t-shirt that matched his eyes. I wondered if he planned it that way or just lucked into the winning combination.
“I thought you weren’t coming until seven and it’s,” I looked at my clock just as it chimed its half hour song, “only six-thirty.”
I popped a donut hole in my mouth and handed the bag back to Hitch, mumbling, “Don’t let Tilly eat them all while I take Jasper for a walk around the block.”
“I’ll come with you,” he said.
“Fine,” Tilly grabbed the bag away from Hitch and peered inside. “I hope you brought some glazed ones, too. You know I don’t like cinnamon and sugar.”
“Yes, I know, Tilly.” Hitch took my elbow and steered me to the sidewalk, not that I needed any steering with Jasper’s hundred and fifty or so pounds pulling me along until we reached my neighbor’s flower garden.
“Jasper. Keep going.” Now, it was my turn to tug on the leash, but she outweighed me by at least thirty pounds. If she wanted to stop and sniff the edge of the garden, that’s exactly what she’d do. I glanced at the front windows for any movement but saw nothing.
My neighbor, Violet, wasn’t crazy about me and usually had her eagle eyes watching for an excuse to complain about Jasper. Finally, my Newfie trotted forward without trampling any zinnias, and I sighed with relief.
Hitch flung his arms to the side and breathed in deeply. “Nothing like fresh morning air to clear out all the worries. How’d you sleep?”
“Not a wink. You?”
“Too excited to sleep. Everything’s all set. It’s do or die today. We’ll find out what the good people in Pineville think about our crazy Shakes and Cakes Shop.”
“That’s the problem, Hitch. What if it bombs?” The butterflies I’d been trying to calm down in my stomach, all decided to take off at the same time. Good thing I’d only eaten one donut hole, or I’d be embarrassing myself at the edge of the sidewalk.
Hitch casually draped his arm over my shoulders as he shortened his pace to match mine. “What if it’s such a success we have to put on an addition and hire more help?”
I looked up at him and quirked an eyebrow. “Is that why our partnership works? You balance my worries. Thanks. Your scenario is immensely better than mine.”
We turned onto the wooded path that looped behind my house, and I let Jasper’s leash drag on the ground. “Speaking of help. I’m kind of worried about having Tilly serve customers. Will she follow the recipes I’ve made? I’m afraid she’ll wing it and mess it all up.”
“You know as well as I do that Tilly is Tilly. It’s too late now to tell her she can’t help, so we’ll have to cross our fingers and keep a close eye on her.”
My neighbor was all over the idea for a sweet shop and kitty castle and adoption room at the back. Without waiting for an invitation, she signed up to help before the ink was dry on all the legal documents. There were pros and cons to having Tilly work for us even as a volunteer. Today I could only think of the cons.
“Ha. It was never an option to tell Tilly she couldn’t help. But, cross our fingers? That’s reassuring.” I picked up Jasper’s leash as we turned the last corner, back toward my house.
Hitch pulled me to a stop and faced me. “It’s okay to be nervous. Just don’t obsess about all that might go wrong, Sunny. Focus on the positives. The Kitty Castle in the greenhouse is the most fantastic idea you’ve ever had.”
I smiled at his praise and agreed one hundred percent. We’d created, with the help of Conrad Coleman, an environment filled with tropical plants, climbing structures, and cozy sleeping spots that the family of cats we’d found would love. We were starting off with the stray kittens and their mama cat, but they would most likely only be the beginning. I was proud of how it had all come together.
“After the customers buy their shakes and wander into the greenhouse to find a table, the orchid plants in bloom, pots of herbs, and tropical vines will wow them. Right?” he said.
I nodded.
“And then, they’ll see all those magical fluff balls that have a temporary home in the jungle. They’re irresistible, Sunny, and you’ll cry every time one gets adopted.”
He was right, but they’d be happy tears. As much as I loved each and every one of those kittens, they needed a forever home. I also knew that as soon as one was adopted, more would show up needing my help. Cats had a nose for a softy like me who’d provide free room and board.
“There’s Tilly,” Hitch said, pulling me away from my thoughts. “She must have gone home to change. She’s dressed to kill in her I-can-look-like-a-grownup skirt and white linen tunic. And she’s even wearing her bright pink scarf. I guess she means business today.”
Jasper pulled us toward home, and I said a silent prayer that Tilly was on her best behavior.
I could always hope, I told myself.
2
Hitch and I drove over to our Shakes and Cakes Shop together in his blue Camaro. Jasper squeezed in the back and slobbered all over the window until Hitch rolled it down a crack and she stuck her nose out to sniff the crisp morning air. I hoped we’d left in plenty of time to check, double-check, and check once more that everything was in order before we hung up the open flag.
As we drove through Pineville, I pictured our business finally opening up to the public after months of planning and preparation. Had we overlooked anything? The brick path winding under an arch led customers through a riot of blooms in pots and gardens. Our bee balm, phlox, petunias, and begonias perfumed the air until they reached the building covered with aged cedar shakes. Everything melded into a stunning and inviting setting.
Tilly had insisted on meeting us there. She loved her new chili pepper red convertible Volkswagen beetle and was sure to make a flashy grand entrance.
“Are you nervous?” I asked Hitch as I studied his profile framed by his longish light brown hair. One thing he’d perfected in the years I’d known him was hiding his emotions. Based on the set of his jaw, relaxed as if he were enjoying a private joke, I’d assume this whole venture we were about to embark on was no big deal to him.
“A little,” he said, glancing in my direction and rewarding me with one of his genuine smiles that I know came from his heart. “Nervous might not be the right word. Excited describes it better.” He reached over and patted my th
igh. “I never said it would be easy, Sunny. But I do believe that if we stay focused and work hard, we’ll be successful. Like I told you before, the Kitty Castle will pique everyone’s curiosity and who can resist a delicious shake and sweet cake once they come through the door?”
“I’m so glad we decided to get our cupcakes from the Little Dog Diner and donuts from A Donut A Day, at least for now. Once we get some cash flow, we should think about adding someone who can do all that in-house. What do you think?”
“And that day will come sooner rather than later,” he predicted.
We’d reached downtown Pineville, the smallest of the towns clustered along scenic Blueberry Bay. We passed the coffee shop, hardware store, and A Donut A Day. The library and police station were just off the main street.
My heart raced when our brand new Shakes and Cakes Shop sign came into view. A crazy shake covered with blue-tinted whipped cream was our nod to Blueberry Bay.
Hitch slowed down. “Ready for this, Sunshine?” he asked before he pulled into our parking lot.
I nodded. Of course, I was.
In the next moment I did a double-take. What was a big silver SUV with New York license plate doing parked right in front of our potted plant display?
“Who is that?” I said, glaring at a vehicle I’d never seen before blocking the walkway to Shakes and Cakes.
Before Hitch had a chance to answer, the driver door opened and a long, slender leg appeared. When the rest of the body emerged from the car, it was attached to a woman who wiggled and adjusted and patted her tight skirt into place.
Hitch gasped. “What’s she doing here?”
“You know her?” I’d never seen this red-haired beauty in my life. She looked around our premises and wrinkled her nose as if our business was beneath her dignity.
My body tensed, flooding me once again, with angst. It was just the attitude I’d feared from the public.