A choking sound emits from my sister’s throat. “No, it’s not me—but it will be. And don’t think for a minute I can’t swipe that man right out of the hands of that hottie from Cider Cove. I’ve got a few tricks up my seductive sleeves yet. So, cough ’em up. Hey, I know! Invite them to the Haunted Harvest Festival this Saturday. There will be plenty of food and it’s super casual. They don’t need to stay all day. Once I’ve made my selection, the other two are free to go on their merry way.” She offers him a scheming grin and my stomach churns, because once Macy gets her mind made up about something, there is no turning back for any of us.
“I will.” Jasper shrugs my way. “I think Max mentioned something about catering the event, so you’ll get to meet one of them for sure. He’s the taken one, but I’ll get the others to show up in support of him. And I’ll get my sister to come out.” He looks over at me. “I know she’s anxious to meet you.”
“Ooh.” Georgie does an odd little tap-dance. “Hear that, Bizzy? The family is anxious to meet you.” She looks back his way and shoots him the stink eye. “How about your mother? When does she get to meet the parents?”
Jasper grimaces a moment. “Funny you should ask. Bizzy, I was just about to speak with you about that.” He glances to the peanut gallery. “My mother’s townhouse flooded. She’s currently in a hotel near her home but needs something a little more permanent, and she refuses to impose on her children. Believe me, we’ve tried.”
“Oh no, I don’t have any cottages available at the moment, but I have a room right here at the inn I could lease to her for as long as she needs it.”
“That would be great.” There’s a gleam in his eyes that says so much more. “I can’t wait for you to meet her, Bizzy. She’s paid up at the hotel until Saturday, so I’ll help her move then.”
“Perfect!”
Emmie waves from the register as my mom, sister, and Georgie head over to put in their orders.
Jasper leans in. “I owe you. How about dinner tonight? Chinese sound good?”
“It depends. Can we do takeout at my place? I’m picturing a fire and not a lot of distractions.”
His lips curve with wicked intent, and my night suddenly looks far more promising than I could have predicted.
A man steps up to the counter, and Jasper does a double take in his direction. And just like that, his friendly demeanor does a rather abrupt disappearing act.
“Leo.” Jasper’s shoulders widen as if he were suddenly about to tackle the guy.
“Can I help you?” I look to the man. He’s tall, textbook handsome, dark wavy hair, and dark eyes that look as if they don’t give away his secrets.
Jasper glowers at the man. “Bizzy, this is Deputy Granger from down at the sheriff’s department. We were good friends up until recently.”
“Oh,” I tip my head back knowingly. This must be the guy that his ex took off with.
“Just Leo.” He holds out a hand my way, and I shake it. “My aunt was at the crafts fair at the cove the other night. She said she met with a woman who sold her a mosaic vase. She mentioned the woman lived on the premises. I’m hoping you can help me out. It’s pertinent that I speak with her.”
“Oh, that’s Georgie. She’s right over there in the kaftan.” I’m quick to point her out. “Let me guess. She sold the vase that she keeps her life savings in again?” I try to laugh it off in an effort to lighten the mood between them, but neither is budging.
He looks right at me, his dark eyes narrowing over mine. It’s not you, is it? He sweeps my features as if looking for a response, and I freeze. Rumor has it, someone here at the inn can read minds. His lips twitch with a smile. And I’m determined to find out exactly who it is. He looks my way. I just want you to know that if you can hear me—he bears hard into my eyes—I can hear you, too.
He takes a breath and nods at the two of us before taking off in Georgie’s direction.
“Oh my God,” I pant as I pick up a stale cup of coffee left on the counter and head that way myself. “Georgie? This kind man would like to speak with you!” I trip over my own feet, hoping that it looked like a genuine fumble, and spill the coffee along the front of her dress. “Oh goodness. If I had a dozen donuts every time I did that, I’d be happy.” I glance his way. “Just one moment. I’ll mop her up and bring her right back.” I drag Georgie off to the tiny office inside the kitchen and seal the door shut behind us.
“Are you crazy?” I hiss as she grabs an errant apron off the desk and begins mopping herself off.
“I believe that would be you, missy. And since when do you serve cold coffee? If you’re going to douse me, at least let me get a burn out of it so I can sue you properly.”
“Never mind that. Georgie, why did you tell someone at the crafts fair that I can read minds?”
Her mouth rounds out in a perfect O. “Well, I didn’t mean to. The woman practically dragged it out of me when she bragged that her nephew knows exactly what she’s thinking. We were talking about clothing, by the way, of which you just ruined mine.”
“That’s just great because her nephew is here, and it looks as if he’s trying to collect on some supernatural debt. Georgie, you can’t let him know that I can read minds. You have to tell him you were kidding. That it was some guest who has long since left the inn. No one can know of my ability. He’s a deputy. That’s just one degree of separation from some paranormal government sponsored agency.”
“Oh, I don’t think you qualify as paranormal. You just have a nifty little ability there.” She wiggles her fingers at me with a goofy grin on her face as if she were trying to amuse an infant. “But, of course, I’m not talking to a G-man or deputy or anyone from outer space for that matter. I’ll get this straightened out, Bizzy—just you wait and see. I’ll fix everything.”
And that’s exactly what I’m afraid of.
We head back out together, and Jasper is still there waiting for me. Emmie is manning the register, so I hop his way and we watch the fall-out together.
Georgie says a few seemingly innocent words to Leo, and he nods politely before heading back this way.
“Leo.” Jasper nods to him. “What’s going on?”
He looks to Jasper and shakes his head. “Just running an errand for my aunt. It looks like everything is squared away. She wasn’t sure if she paid for the piece she picked up and couldn’t sleep. I told her I’d check it out. Turns out, she did.”
I shake my head at him. Nice cover.
He turns my way. Thank you.
My eyes enlarge at his response. No matter how hard I try to control it, I’m physically stunned into submission.
Leo tips his head back my way, a smile twitching on his lips. It’s you, isn’t it? Bizzy, I’m here to help you. Trust me. I know the answers to the questions you have. I’ll be back. But, in the meantime, you know where to find me.
He nods to Jasper. “It was nice seeing you again.” He pats him on the back before looking my way. “And it was nice meeting you.”
He takes off, and I let out an enormous breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.
Jasper leans in until he hooks my attention. “Bizzy, are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Everything is going to be just fine.” I force a smile because a part of me demands to believe it.
That night, Jasper and I eat takeout in my living room until we’re stuffed. We curl up next to a roaring fire and sip hot cider as we watch Sherlock and Fish bat at one another playfully until Fish curls against Sherlock’s belly and they both fall asleep.
I look up at Jasper and whisper, “They’re so sweet.”
“You know what else is sweet?” His bright eyes siren at me with the brilliance of twin moons. “You.”
Jasper lands a kiss to my lips that starts off achingly slow before morphing into something much more heated, something that I’ve been craving all day, for my entire life it seems.
This month has felt like a hurricane that nearly swept me out to sea, and in the midst of it, I found a t
reasure, a man with eyes as bright as diamonds named Jasper Wilder.
But somewhere out there is a man named Leo Granger, a man who was once Jasper’s best friend, a man who claims to share my strange ability. He says he has the answers I crave, and I wonder if that’s true.
Or perhaps more to the point, he’s a bounty hunter for some US agency that wants me in a cage for their own use.
If Jasper doesn’t trust him, why should I?
As wonderful as things are with Jasper at the moment, as they are in my life in general, I can’t help but think this is just the calm before the terrible storm.
Somebody is onto me, and they want answers.
Something tells me they won’t rest until they get them.
And I’m fairly certain I won’t be safe if they do.
Recipe
Country Cottage Café Apple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
Hello! It’s me, Bizzy Baker. Confession: I burn everything I even think about baking. But the guests of the Country Cottage Inn are crazy about my best friend Emmie’s Apple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls.
Emmie is in charge of the Country Cottage Café and was blessed with more talent in the kitchen than one person should ever be allowed. Of course, I helped her hone the recipe through trial and error, and lots and lots of taste-testing. It’s a tough job but somebody had to do it. And lucky for me, Emmie makes the world’s best cinnamon rolls known to man.
Enjoy with a nice glass of milk or coffee.
Warning! These will go fast.
Sweet Dough
1 cup of warm milk (Room temperature, not hot. Preferably whole milk.)
2- ½ teaspoons or ¼ ounce (one package) Active Dry Yeast (preferably rapid rise)
4 tablespoons of granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg (gently whisked)
1/3 cup butter melted
4 cups all-purpose flour
In a small bowl dissolve yeast into warm milk (about 15 minutes until foamy.)
In a stand mixer bowl, or another larger bowl, combine sugar, salt, egg, butter, and yeast and milk mixture. Combine in a stand mixer with a dough hook.
Slowly add in flour, one cup at a time, at about medium speed until dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dough should be smooth, velvety and soft.
Put the dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray or butter. Cover with either plastic wrap or a damp towel and let sit in a warm place for 1 hour, until dough has doubled in size.
Punch down the dough and roll into a 20 x 12 rectangle
Cinnamon Filling
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup melted butter
Apple Walnut Filling
2 small to medium Golden Delicious apples or other apples that are known to be friendly for baking.
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
Peel, core and cut apples into rough slices. Boil until soft (about eight minutes). Mince or mash apples and mix in chopped walnuts.
Brush dough thoroughly with melted butter.
Combine ground cinnamon and brown sugar and sprinkle evenly over the dough.
With a spoon, dollop apple walnut mixture evenly over the dough.
Carefully roll the dough lengthwise, nice and tight. Trim edges and cut the roll into twelve even slices. (About one and a half inches each)
Place in a covered baking dish and let rise an additional 30 minutes (rolls should double in size).
While rolls are busy rising, pre-heat oven to 350°.
Once the rolls finish rising, you are finally ready to bake!
Place the rolls uncovered (either in an oven safe baking dish or a cookie sheet will work fine, too) in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
Icing
½ cup butter, softened
1/3 cup cream cheese, softened (about 4 oz.)
1 ½ cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract *Emmie uses 1 teaspoon because she likes the flavor!
2 tablespoons milk
In a medium bowl, mix butter, cream cheese, vanilla and milk, blending it well. Add powdered sugar a half a cup at a time, working it into the mixture until smooth. Pour over fresh baked cinnamon rolls.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Acknowledgments
Thank you, the reader, for coming along on this amazing journey with us! We hope you love Cider Cove as much as we do. We are SUPER excited to share the next book with you! So much happens and so much changes. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking this wild roller coaster ride with us. We cannot wait to take you on the next leg of the adventure.
Special thank you to the following people for taking care of this book—Kaila Eileen Turingan-Ramos, Kathryn Jacoby, Jodie Tarleton, Lisa Markson, Ashley Marie Daniels and Margaret Lapointe. And a very big shout out to Lou Harper for designing the world’s best covers.
A heartfelt thank you to Paige Maroney Smith for being so amazing.
And last, but never least, thank you to Him who sits on the throne. Worthy is the Lamb! Glory and honor and power are yours. We owe you everything.
Dog Days of Murder
Country Cottage Mysteries #2
Addison Moore & Bellamy Bloom
Copyright © 2019 by Addison Moore, Bellamy Bloom
This novel is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to peoples either living or deceased is purely coincidental. Names, places, and characters are figments of the author’s imagination. The author holds all rights to this work. It is illegal to reproduce this novel without written expressed consent from the author herself.
All Rights Reserved.
This eBook is for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this eBook with another person, please purchase any additional copies for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Copyright © 2019 by Addison Moore, Bellamy Bloom
Book Description
My name is Bizzy Baker, and I can read minds—not every mind, not every time, but most of the time, and believe me when I say it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
A seminar on how to catch the perfect man is being held at the Country Cottage Inn, but with a killer on the loose, the only thing in store for the guests is a lesson on murder. Not only do I have another homicide on my hands, but Jasper’s ex is in town and she’s looking to take back what once belonged to her. It’s October in Cider Cove. There’s a fright around every corner and a killer closer than I’m willing to believe.
Bizzy Baker runs the Country Cottage Inn, has the ability to pry into the darkest recesses of both the human and animal mind, and has just stumbled upon a body. With the help of her kitten, Fish, a mutt named Sherlock Bones, and an ornery yet dangerously good-looking homicide detective, Bizzy is determined to find the killer.
Cider Cove, Maine is the premier destination for fun and relaxation. But when a body turns up, it’s the premier destination for murder.
The Country Cottage Inn is known for its hospitality. Leaving can be murder.
Chapter 1
My name is Bizzy Baker, and I read minds. Not every mind, not every time, but it happens, and believe me when I say it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
It’s a crisp October evening and the inn is bustling with bodies. Every inch of the entry is dotted with pumpkins, and there are twin wreaths comprised of silk fall leaves hanging over the double door entry. The doors themselves remain open to accommodate the masses that are currently streaming their way in. To my right, there’s a large banner strewn over the entry to the ballroom that reads Welcome to the How to Snag a Man as Fast as You Can Seminar! Face it, honey, you’re not getting any younger.
And judging by the thick crowds swarming into the inn, there are a lot of women interested in
how to snag a man despite the state of their crow’s feet.
Nessa Crosby, my co-worker at the inn, bustles over. “I’m late! I’m so sorry, Bizzy. I was so excited about the seminar today that I didn’t sleep last night. So, of course, I ended up taking a nap and well, I overslept.” She wrinkles her nose as she hands me her purse. “Please put this in the cabinet down below.”
“You bet,” I say, doing just that while she secures her name badge over her blouse.
Nessa Crosby is a beautiful brunette with bronzed skin and a lightning white smile. She’s been working for me at the inn ever since she graduated from college last summer. I’ve known both her and her sister, Vera, forever, mostly because they’re blood- related to my best friend. Vera and I went to high school together, where she thought it would be a good idea to start horrific rumors about me. And even though Nessa didn’t care for me by proxy, we’ve slowly grown closer.
Working elbow to elbow next to someone for a year solid can mend a lot of fences—or tear them down. Thankfully, for our sanity we’ve chosen the former.
A stunning redhead smiles wide at the two of us just as Nessa jumps behind the reception counter and lands by my side.
“Welcome to the Country Cottage Inn,” I say to the well-polished woman before us. She’s donned a bright red power suit and holds an adorable black and white puppy in her hands—cute enough to melt my soul into a puddle of puppy-loving mush. “How can I help you today?”
Country Cottage Mysteries Boxed Set Page 18