Strawberries and Sweet Lies

by Rosie Sams

  “Perfect,” Mel said, waving goodbye to the sheriff as he left the shop. She smiled to herself and reached down to pet Smudge. “You’re a clever girl, Smudge, you know that? You might possibly see things clearer than most people do.”

  As the rest of the day passed, Mel couldn’t help but look forward to her date with Alvin. Ker was absolutely ecstatic. She had been trying to get Mel to jump back on the horse for ages. And it seemed that time had finally come. Butterflies danced in her stomach as she thought about the evening before her.

  Later that day, when Alvin came back to pick Mel up, she had changed into a blue sundress and had taken her hair down. Letting it flow down her back across her shoulders.

  Alvin’s eyes widened when he saw her.

  “Wow, Mel… You look amazing,” he said, admiring her outfit.

  Mel blushed, smiling at the sheriff. “Thanks, I felt like dressing up a bit.”

  “Shall we?” he asked, gesturing towards the door.

  Mel nodded, and before they could leave, they heard a voice shout from the back. It was Leslie. “Enjoy your date and try not to get swept up into any murder mysteries!”

  Alvin and Mel looked at one another and laughed. With a sigh, they headed out the door.

  Thank you so much for reading this book. If you enjoyed it, I would love it if you could share a few words on Amazon or Goodreads.

  Mel and Smudge will be back for more adventures soon, read on for an extract of the next book…

  Brides and Blades Preview

  Melody Marshall’s nose scrunched in concentration as she tried for the dozenth time to choose between red roses or blue chrysanthemums. As a skilled baker and decorator, she generally had a rather easy time deciding on color-schemes and adornment selections. However, this time, the desire for the cake to be perfect had her second-guessing every flower combination she tried.

  “You’re overthinking this, Melody,” she told herself, stepping back to survey the dummy cake. “Aren’t I, Smudge?”

  Melody looked over to where her French Bulldog spent the bulk of her time to find her lying flat on her back, snoring softly.

  “Well, you’re no help,” she remarked with a chuckle, turning back to the task at hand.

  Melody set aside the red roses, gathering up a few chrysanthemums once again. She tentatively placed them across the cake, spacing them perfectly along the top tier that would be chocolate draped with white frosting on the real cake. Taking a few steps back, she took in her work. She was quick to shake her head. Beautiful as the vibrant blue flowers were, they still didn’t feel right, not at all.

  “Too much like a coming-out ball… she’s a bride, not a debutant, for goodness sakes,” she muttered to herself as she stepped back toward the cake and quickly removed the offending flowers.

  She replaced them with the roses. Yes, the red flowers suited Dorinda Mitchum (soon to be Dorinda Werther), much better. The blue was far too juvenile.

  Melody breathed a sigh of relief at finally having made a decision. Nothing but the best would do for the daughter of Port Warren’s doctor, Dr. Ambrose Mitchum and Melody wanted the cake to be absolutely perfect as each and every other aspect of the wedding was sure to be.”

  “There,” Melody said once she’d completed the top layer.

  A contented sigh escaped from the sleeping Smudge, drawing Melody’s eyes in the pup’s direction. The Frenchie lay sprawled on her back, grey and white paws up in the air, her eyes tightly closed and her mouth hanging open. Her pink tongue crept out of her mouth as she continued to snore with abandon.

  “You’re so lucky, Smudge,” Melody said, chuckling. “You don’t have to worry about any of this wedding stuff.”

  Melody turned back to the cake, intent on completing the whole design right then, since she finally had the color scheme figured out. However, the sound of raised voices from the kitchen drew her attention towards the door and she frowned. Smudge, startled out of her tranquil state, leaped up and rushed in the direction of the commotion.

  Melody exhaled, reluctantly setting aside her decorating tools, more than a little displeased at the idea of abandoning her project after inspiration had finally struck. However, as the voices of her two assistants continued to rise, it was made abundantly clear that she had little choice.

  Melody walked swiftly from her office followed by Smudge who trotted dutifully toward the scene. The pair arrived in the kitchen to find Melody’s two employees huddled over a large stainless mixing bowl.

  “That’s not how you fold ingredients, Leslie,” Kerry said. Her tall frame was taut with vehemence as she towered over her coworker, her flushed cheeks turning the color of the auburn hair escaping from her hairnet.

  “These macaroons are going to be flat thanks to you!”

  “Would you mind your own business?” Leslie retorted, angling away from Kerry, her arms wrapped protectively around the mixing bowl. “I’ve made many batches of macaroons in my life and I will have you know that I’ve never had a batch go flat.”

  Though she hated breaking up cat-fights, Melody knew that it was time to step in. “Ladies, do we have a problem?”

  Kerry turned toward Melody, her brows rising, arms crossed.

  “Melody, if you want Dorinda’s cake to be even close to acceptable, I wouldn’t let Leslie within a mile of the kitchen when it comes time to bake for the wedding if I were you.”

  Leslie’s mouth popped open in fury as she cradled the mixing bowl against her. It looked huge in front of her small frame. She nearly dropped the load of unbaked macaroon mix as she shoved her wire-rimmed glasses up on her nose, glaring at Kerry in rage.

  “You have some nerve! You never complained about my folding technique before today and you know it. You’ve been hovering all day. Why don’t you just mind your own business? This task doesn’t take two of us, so why don’t you stop micromanaging?”

  “She’s quite right, Kerry,” Melody said. “There is a great deal to do, so I would appreciate it if you’d get started on bread for tomorrow.” It was plain to see that that the stress of the wedding was getting to everyone, not only Melody, causing her employees to be even more irritated with each other than usual. The best solution always seemed to be placing the two women in separate rooms in order to avoid further bickering—besides, keeping them quiet would allow her to finish the cake which was her main goal.

  “We have a lot to do,” Melody went on. “I would also really appreciate it if you two work quietly on your separate tasks so I can focus on Dorinda’s cake. If I don’t get this cake right, the entire reputation we’ve built for this bakery will be in danger. Do you want all of our hard work to go right down the drain?”

  Kerry and Leslie shook their heads wordlessly, looking very much like guilty school kids. If she hadn’t been so stressed, Melody would have laughed at their comically child-like expressions.

  “You both know how important this is. We’ve been entrusted with a monumental task and I need to be able to count on you two to help make it a success. I think I’ve had an epiphany about the color-scheme so if you two will just hold down the fort while I finish up, you would be fulfilling my greatest wish. Can I count on you for that?”

  Kerry tucked the auburn hair desperately trying to escape completely from her hairnet aside, her expression solemn. “I’m sorry, Mel. I’ll try to be more tolerant.

  “Okay, good,” Melody said with a sigh of relief. “Now,” she went on, raising her arms much like a commanding officer. “To your work stations. Go.”

  Melody shook her head, thinking not for the first time that no other boss would put up with such squabbling from her workers. Still, both Kerry and Leslie had been with her since she first opened and when push came to shove, they were like family. They’d made it through stressful situations at the bakery before and they would do it again.

  Though she was doubtful that the restored tranquility would last, Melody made a mad dash for her office, intent on being productive during the quiet she was
afforded. However, fate had other plans and the bell at the front door rang before she could retreat to her office and the looming task of the dummy cake.

  Two women entered the shop. Melody stopped short at the sight of Dorinda, the bride to be herself. She didn’t recognize her companion, a young woman with a brunette bob and a keen interest in the eclair section of the display case which she immediately began studying with rapt attention. Dorinda and her friend chatted together as they drew near the glass display case to study the wide variety of decadent pastries.

  Melody told herself that she was being ridiculous, lurking in the shadows, hiding from customers in her own shop. However, the fact that she desperately wished she’d made more progress on the cake before the bride’s arrival made her wish to trot right back to her office and tell Kerry or Leslie to help Dorinda.

  You’ll have to talk with her about the cake sometime, so it might as well be now, Melody reminded herself. Besides, you’ve made dozens of wedding cakes in your lifetime. This one is no different.

  Pep-talk completed, Melody pasted on a professional smile in an attempt to hide her nerves and stepped forward. “Well, good afternoon, Dorinda.”

  Dorinda looked up, tossing a lock of her salon-perfect strawberry blond hair over her shoulder as she straightened. Her blue eyes, already alight with the bride-to-be glow, were set off even further by the heavy make-up surrounding them along with the dark red lipstick coating her mouth.

  “Hello, Melody. How are you?”

  “Doing just fine. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “We might get a few things from the case,” Dorinda said with a slight laugh as her friend continued to peruse the sweets. “This is my maid of honor, Laurel.”

  Laurel turned her attention from the baked goods display at the sound of her name and offered Melody a nod. “Hello. I suppose you’re the one whipping up Dorinda’s wedding cake?”

  Melody forced an enthusiastic note into her voice. “Yes, I certainly am. In fact, your time is perfect.”

  My, you are good at pretending, Melody Marshall.

  “I’m working on my decorating plans now. I would love for you to take a look so I can make sure you like where it’s going.”

  Dorinda’s eyes lit up at the prospect. “I have to admit that is just what I was hoping for. We just came from the make-up artist who is contracted for the wedding and had such a great time.” She clapped her hands together and chirped, “Wasn’t it fun, Laurel?”

  Laurel only nodded, and Melody wondered at her less-than-convincing reaction.

  “Well, right this way,” she said, starting down the hallway with Smudge and the two women on her heels. Melody led the way into the room, turning just in time to see the future bride’s reaction to her first sight of the half-completed dummy cake.

  “Oh, it’s beautiful! The colors are marvelous!” Dorinda exclaimed moving in to take a closer look.

  Though she came from a highly influential family, Dorinda was just another excited bride like so many Melody had worked with before. She had nearly convinced herself that her previous fears had all been a waste of time when she caught the lackadaisical expression on the maid of honor’s face.

  “I love the flowers, Melody!” Dorinda continued to gush.

  “I’m so happy to hear that,” Melody smiled, relieved.

  Dorinda turned then to Laurel, her face still aglow. “Laurie, what do you think?”

  Before Laurel gave her opinion, Melody announced, “I have some samples of the almond cake we decided on using if you’d like to try it.”

  “Sure, I would love that!” Dorinda said.

  “If you’ll just follow me back up to the front.” Melody and Smudge led the women back down the hallway. The women seated themselves at one of the small round tables situated by the window while Melody acquired the cupcakes from the case.

  “You want to try one, don’t you, Laurie?” Melody heard Dorinda ask her maid of honor as she neared the table.

  Laurel shrugged. “Sure.”

  Laurel’s lack of enthusiasm gave Melody pause. It seemed very strange considering she was supposed to be the bride’s best friend. Melody had never been a maid of honor before but, weren’t they supposed to be a tad more cheerful and overly enthusiastic about every little thing concerning the wedding? “Alright, here you go, ladies,” Melody said, distributing forks and cupcakes.

  “Is there a restroom I can use?” Laurel asked, ignoring the cupcake and fork completely.

  “Oh, sure. Just walk straight down the hallway where we just were, past the kitchen and it will be on your right.” Melody had to admit she was glad to see the maid of honor go so that she could focus on Dorinda who eagerly tucked into her cupcake.

  “Mmmmm,” Dorinda hummed after the first bite. “It’s delicious! I love the almond taste and the frosting is perfect. Just the right amount of everything, just like the decorations!”

  “I used Swiss meringue buttercream,” Melody explained. “Not only is it less sweet than other frostings, but it withstands the heat beautifully which makes it ideal for wedding cakes. We wouldn’t want any of the edible flowers melting.”

  “No, we wouldn’t!” Dorinda agreed, licking the frosting from her spoon. She shut her eyes for a minute, savoring the taste. “Wow, you really know how to do these things. I just know this cake is going to be a huge hit.”

  “I do hope so,” Melody said. “But, in all truth, knowing that you are pleased is what matters most to me.”

  Dorinda smiled, taking another bite of cupcake. “I want everything to be just perfect,” she said, her expression turning dreamy. “And you’re making that possible, Melody.”

  “Being a bride suits you, Dorinda,” Melody remarked. “You’re positively glowing.”

  “I’ve never been so happy before in my entire life.” Dorinda rested her chin in one hand, smiling absently. “I remember the day I met Robin like it was yesterday.”

  “How did you two meet? I haven’t heard the story.”

  Dorinda chuckled, her expression a bit sheepish. “It sounds kind of silly, really,” she said. “We were both in “The Night Owl.” You know, the 24-hour coffee shop? Well, I was working on some work for the travel agency that my boss needed by the next day. I took computer classes in college where I learned how to use Word, Excel and such, but I was having a terrible time with Wordpress.” She shook her head at the memory. “How web developers deal with all of that website stuff, I don’t know. But I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure it out and was getting so frustrated! It was nearly two o’clock in the morning and I wasn’t even halfway done. I was so worn out and tired from trying to figure it out that I started to cry. I was the only one there so I figured it wouldn’t bother anyone and I just couldn’t help myself.

  “I was still crying into my coffee cup when I heard Robin approach my table and clear his throat. I tried to dry my eyes, but he had already noticed I was crying and asked if I was alright. Of course, I said I was fine and he didn’t believe me. He asked what I was doing out so late and I said that I was trying to get some work done. That’s when he told me that he had a case of insomnia and had decided to work on some patient charts instead of just lying awake. He asked me if there was anything he could help me with and I told him about my Wordpress troubles. Turns he’s a genius with that kind of thing and was able to fix what I’d been fiddling with for hours in a matter of minutes! He really is a genius with everything….”

  “Sounds like a fairytale,” Melody chuckled.

  Brides and Blades is coming soon, be the first to hear about it by joining the SweetBookHub Exclusive Reader Club.

  Thank you so much for reading.

  I have five more books already written and just waiting for me to get them to my editor. They will all follow Melody and Smudge and the rest of the crew. I’m sure you will love them and I will have them to you soon.

  Bullie kisses,

  From Smudge and Rosie xx

  Also by Rosie Sams<
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  To be the first to find out when Rosie releases a new book and to hear about other sweet romance authors join the exclusive SweetBookHub readers club here.

  Brides and Blades

  The Murder and the Masterpiece

  If you enjoyed this book Rosie would appreciate it if you left a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

  This little bundle of Frenchie love would appreciate it too, this is Lila, also known as Miss Piggy Pig.