by Emily James
I made a face and wiped the slobber off my skin, but I couldn’t wipe away my grin. “I thought you said I couldn’t have her because the law said she had to be adopted out of state.”
“Mark found a loophole. Because she was technically stolen, she could be returned to her owners and then they could give her to you.”
My throat closed. How was it that even now, when it’d been weeks since we’d seen each other or spoken, Mark still found ways to be on my side? “Mark found a loophole?”
Erik rubbed at his shoulder, and I couldn’t help wondering if the cold would always bother him now. It seemed everyone involved had come out with some sort of scar. “He insisted I bring her back to you rather than bringing her himself. He wouldn’t explain why. Even suggested I should take the credit for it.”
His tone carried a strong vibe of Would you care to explain?
I wouldn’t. He was a smart man. He could put the pieces together if he tried. “But, of course, that would have been a lie of omission, and I know how you feel about those.”
His lips twitched in that almost-but-not-quite-a-smile way of his. “Indeed.”
Toby had picked his way down the driveway behind me. I stiffened. What if he and my puppy didn’t get along? They’d both been in a situation where they could easily fear or dislike other dogs.
They sniffed each other cautiously, and then my puppy lowered her front, stuck her hindquarters in the air, and barked in a way that clearly said Play with me!
Erik touched the brim of his hat with his fingers. “Have a good day, Ms. Fitzhenry-Dawes.”
“Same to you, Officer Higgins.”
“That’s still Interim Chief Higgins. At least for a few more weeks.” He opened his cruiser door. “And for what it’s worth, I think you should call Mark and thank him.”
He closed the door and backed the car out of my driveway before I could figure out a response.
I wasn’t going to call Mark. Not ever. Because it was official. The moment I heard he’d been working to find a way to return my puppy to me, I knew I was in love with a married man.
Bonus Recipe: Bonnie's Maple Syrup Cookies
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup softened unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup white sugar
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Spray your cookie sheets with non-stick cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. (To cream butter and sugar, you beat them together using a mixer until smooth.)
4. Add egg, maple syrup, and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
5. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. (If you don’t have a sifter, you can mix them with a whisk.)
6. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until well blended.
7. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll them in the white sugar.
8. Place the balls onto a cookie sheet. Leave about 2 inches between them. Flatten them with the palm of your hand.
9. Bake 8-10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool.
MAKES approximately 60 cookies.
Almost Sleighed: Maple Syrup Mysteries Book 3
The truth always comes with a price…
Former lawyer Nicole Fitzhenry-Dawes has finally settled in to her new home in Fair Haven, and her first maple syrup season is upon them. It’s not going as smoothly as she’d hoped.
Their sap lines keep springing leaks, and as if that wasn’t enough, Nicole finds their groom-mechanic, Noah, apparently trampled in one of the horse stalls.
Fair Haven’s interim police chief is ready to declare it an accident, but Nicole believes otherwise. With Noah in a coma, she’s determined to figure out who wanted to kill him before the perpetrator can return and finish the job.
But whoever attempted to kill Noah has other ideas and is willing to do whatever it takes to stop Nicole from discovering the truth—even destroy Sugarwood and the man Nicole loves.
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Letter from the Author
I’m so thankful and excited that you continued on with Nicole’s journey alongside me. In Almost Sleighed (Book 3), I reveal the truth about Mark’s wife. I know many of you have been waiting for it.
If you’d like to know as soon as each new book releases, sign up for my newsletter at www.smarturl.it/emilyjames.
As a thank you gift for signing up, you’ll also receive an ebook copy of the prequel, Sapped. In this novella, I reveal everything about what happened to sour Nicole on being a lawyer and make her wary of married men.
If you enjoyed Bushwhacked, I’d really appreciate it if you also took a minute to write a quick review. It only needs to be a sentence or two. Reviews help me sell more books (which allows me to keep writing them), and they also help fellow readers know if this is a book they might enjoy.
About the Author
Emily James grew up watching TV shows like Matlock, Monk, and Murder She Wrote. (It’s pure coincidence that they all begin with an M.) It was no surprise to anyone when she turned into a mystery writer.
She loves cats, dogs, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee…lots and lots of cats, too. Seriously, there’s hardly room in the bed for her husband. While they only have one dog, she’s a Great Dane, so she should count as at least two.
If you’d like to know as soon as Emily’s next mystery releases, please join her newsletter list at www.smarturl.it/emilyjames.
She also loves hearing from readers. You can email her through her website (www.authoremilyjames.com) or find her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/authoremilyjames).