by Lyndsey Cole
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright © 2016 Lyndsey Cole
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
A Note from Lyndsey
OTHER BOOKS BY LYNDSEY COLE
Mobsters and Lobsters
A Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series
by Lyndsey Cole
Copyright © 2016 Lyndsey Cole
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author and/or publisher. No part of this publication may be sold or hired, without written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the writer’s imagination and/or have been used fictitiously in such a fashion it is not meant to serve the reader as actual fact and should not be considered as actual fact. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Chapter 1
Hannah Holiday took a deep breath and began counting. She only managed to make it to four before words flew from her mouth at the building inspector. “Are you crazy? I’ve got a big opening planned this weekend for the renovated snack bar. That’s in three days.” She held up three fingers right in front of his face.
The building inspector never batted an eye as he made red checks on the inspection report resting on his protruding belly. He signed it, tore off the top copy and handed it to Hannah. “Good luck with this, young lady. I sure was looking forward to tasting a lobster roll but I don’t see that happening for a while. Caroline always did them up with a flair. No offense or anything,” he finally gave Hannah a once over from the long braid hanging over her right shoulder to her flip-flop-clad feet, “but you don’t look old enough to fill her shoes.”
Hannah held the paper in front of her face but all she saw was red. Red check marks mocking her like nasty little wasp stings. Why did everyone think she wouldn’t be able to manage the business her Great Aunt Caroline willed to her only a few months ago? A snack bar and four cottages on the beach. She’d show them all!
“Don’t worry, I’ll get right on these problems.” Cal Murphy, the local contractor and Hannah’s handyman from the day she inherited her ocean paradise, added, “I’ll work all night if that’s what it takes.”
Hannah’s grumpy elderly neighbor, Jack, scratched his head. “You’ll definitely be putting in some overtime. You guys really dropped the ball this time. Didn’t I tell you to check those beams? Caroline neglected maintenance on this place for years.” Jack shrugged and peeked over Hannah’s shoulder at the report. “There’s a lot of red on that sheet.”
Right, Hannah thought. All Jack was good for lately was pointing out the obvious and pointing blame at her or Cal. And making the most delicious coffee she’d ever had. That was something, she grudgingly admitted to herself.
Cal hustled off to his truck to get the needed supplies.
Meg, who had become Hannah’s right hand helper and sometime surrogate mother figure, draped her arm around Hannah’s shoulder. “Got a minute? There’s a problem in Cottage Two.”
“Can it wait?” Jack asked. “Hannah has a lot on her plate at the moment.”
“I just saw the inspector leave. Is the snack bar good to go?” Meg looked from Jack’s face to Hannah’s. “Oh. I guess there’s a problem. Want me to call my brother? He’s had lots of experience with permits and all that red tape rigmarole. They’re always trying to shut down his Pub and Pool Hall.” She grinned. “And the inspector hasn’t had any luck yet!”
“Yes, give him a call. Let me know what advice he has.” She turned to Jack. “Can you keep an eye on the office? The first guests are supposed to be arriving any minute.”
Jack walked toward the office, mumbling, “I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee. Everything’ll look better after a dose of caffeine.”
As soon as Meg finished her call, she caught up with Hannah at the door of Cottage Two. “A pipe burst in the bathroom but I have the main water shut off until Cal can fix it.”
“Great,” Hannah mumbled. “Cal’s gone to get supplies to fix the rotten beams under the snack bar. Who’s supposed to be staying here?”
Meg checked the notes on her phone. “Someone named Lenny DiMarco, but he’s not arriving until late afternoon.”
“Call your brother again and ask him to recommend a plumber. I don’t want to take Cal away from working on the snack bar. Are Cottage Three and Four all set?”
Meg had her phone out. “As far as I can tell, but better take another look just in case I missed anything. The honeymoon couple, Aaron and Laura Masterson, will be in Cottage Four so I added some special touches—a bud vase with roses, and chocolates on the pillows. Hope that’s okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. Good idea. How about Cottage Three?”
Meg consulted her notes again. “A retired teacher, Sherry Wolfe. She’s hoping to get to know the area and may relocate to Hooks Harbor. I’m guessing she’s going to be a royal pain in the neck. I saw plenty of that type when I was working for your Great Aunt Caroline; always sticking their nose in everyone’s business. They expect the perfect paradise but, of course, with the first little thing that goes wrong they moan and complain the loudest.”
“At least we’re booked,” Hannah said distractedly as she headed away from Meg on her way to Cottage Four. Her mind was stuck on the inspector’s report. Great Aunt Caroline’s money was dwindling quickly with the extra repairs that kept popping up. If she didn’t get the snack bar open and keep the cottages full every day … well, that just wasn’t an option.
Hannah was more determined than ever to prove that she could turn this inheritance into a profitable business. Especially since she was only twenty seven with no experience running anything except a dog walking service that lasted for about a month when she was living in California. Her own sister Ruby managed to be lukewarm and less than helpful when it came to helping Hannah. She ran off to who knows where right at the last minute when Hannah needed an extra pair of hands. And, Ruby left her five year old daughter, Olivia, with Hannah.
Hannah shook her head. Enough of the pity party, she told herself as she entered Cottage Four. She needed to get everything squared away before the school bus dropped Olivia off at three thirty in case Ruby wasn’t back when she promised.
Everything in the cozy room looked bright and cheerful. The gauzy curtains filtered the strong sunshine flooding in. Hannah pushed the bathroom door open and the faint scent
of lavender soap hit her nose. That was another good suggestion from Meg, she noted. Just to be on the safe side, Hannah turned on all the faucets and flushed the toilet. Everything was in working order, thank goodness.
She brushed a few stray hairs away from her face and returned to the porch at the front of the cottage. Hannah gazed at the ocean. This cottage had the best view in her opinion. It was farthest from the beach, but also more secluded, which she thought was perfect for the honeymooners.
A young couple approached her. They leaned into each other as the young woman whispered in her partner’s ear. They both giggled. Hannah imagined what secret they might be sharing and she felt her checks get hot. Yes, it was a perfect spot for romance.
Jack’s body tilted to his right with their suitcase almost dragging in the sand as he struggled to keep up with the couple. His face was a neutral mask but Hannah knew he was beyond frustrated and kept his anger hidden.
“Welcome to Holiday Hideaway.” Hannah extended her hand to the young couple.
Jack dropped the suitcase on the porch. “Hannah, this is Aaron and Laura Masterson. Aaron and Laura, this is Hannah, owner of Holiday Hideaway and Snack Bar. ”
“Hannah? I heard the owner was an old lady named Caroline?”
“That was my great aunt. She left this business to me. I’ve spent the last several months updating everything. I hope you enjoy your stay.” Hannah stepped around the couple who acted eager to get inside.
Jack leaned close to Hannah as they walked back along the path. “You made the right choice to keep them as far away from the other guests as possible. They can’t keep their hands off each other.”
Hannah chuckled. “Wishing you were about sixty years younger, Jack?”
Jack’s eyebrows rose. “Me? Heck no. I think a quiet lady who wants to sit and watch the sunset with me would be nice though. And if she drives a red sports car that would be a plus.”
Hannah put her arm around her friend. “You never know, Jack. You never know.”
Jack finally rewarded Hannah with a small smile.
As they reached the office attached to Cottage One, where Hannah lived, a middle aged woman was waiting for them. She brushed some dust from her dark blue sweatpants before launching into her banter. “This is such a fabulous spot. I’m thrilled to find it. Am I early? Can I get into my room? My feet are killing me.”
Hannah’s eyes glanced sideways at Jack. “Um, have a seat.” She extended her hand. “Sherry Wolfe?”
The woman nodded and opened her mouth to jabber some more but Hannah cut her off.
“I’ll get you checked in.”
“I’m starving. I hope I can get something at that cute snack bar. Maybe a bowl of clam chowder to take to my cottage?”
Hannah blinked. Apparently Mrs. Wolfe only had one speed with her talking. “Unfortunately, the snack bar won’t open until Saturday.” Hannah crossed her fingers that that didn’t turn into a lie.
“Oh dear, you’ll have to point me in the right direction to get a bite to eat in town. Nothing big, mind you.” She patted her stomach. “Just a snack to tide me over until dinner.”
“Of course. There’s a brochure in your cottage with a list of all the local spots with directions and phone numbers. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something suitable. Now, let me grab the key and Jack will get you settled into Cottage Three.”
Jack mumbled something slightly insulting under his breath that was completely lost on Mrs. Wolfe. Hannah handed the key to Jack. He looked miserable. Hannah tried to keep the corners of her lips from twitching up into a laugh until they were out of the office. Mrs. Wolfe’s dialogue never stopped until Jack let her into the cottage. For all Hannah knew, it didn’t stop then, either, but at least she couldn’t hear it.
Before Hannah had a chance to catch her breath after Sherry’s whirlwind entrance, Meg arrived in the office with the plumber her brother sent over. “Want me to show Bill the problem?”
“Thanks, Meg. You’re a lifesaver.”
Jack waited quietly until Meg left. “You owe me big time, Hannah Holiday. That woman doesn’t even stop to breathe! She asked me on a date! Can you believe it?”
Hannah peeked at the cars in the parking lot. “Too bad she’s not driving a red sports car or maybe you would have been tempted,” Hannah said between chuckles.
“No. I said someone quiet to watch the sunset with me. Not a motormouth.”
“Shhh. Here she comes.”
Mrs. Wolfe wiggled her fingers as she walked to her car. “Toodle-oo Jack. See you later.”
“I doubt it,” Hannah heard him mumble under his breath. “I’m going home for a rest.”
Hannah sat at her desk to sort through a pile of invoices. She quickly added up the amounts and saw her bank balance shrink to an uncomfortable low.
“Knock knock,” a husky voice broke through her concentration.
“Can I help you?” Hannah looked up into an extremely tanned, rugged face. His eyes perfectly matched the blue of his t-shirt and his smile told Hannah he knew women found him irresistible.
“I’m Lenny DiMarco. Holiday Hideaway, right? I have a reservation for today?”
Hannah stood up. “Of course. I wasn’t expecting you until late afternoon. Your cottage isn’t quite ready.”
“No problem. If I could just drop off my things? I’m heading to the Bayside Marina for an hour or two. I want to explore the coastline. Maybe check out some good fishing spots.”
Hannah couldn’t help but notice how handsome Lenny was—tall and muscular with curly hair and that two day unshaven casual style. Not that Hannah was in the market for a boyfriend, but maybe Ruby?
He smiled. “Will that be okay?”
Hannah felt heat rise to her cheeks realizing that Lenny noticed her staring at him. “Sure. I’ll show you where your cottage is.” She stood up too quickly and her chair tipped over backwards.
Lenny grinned but said nothing.
Hannah grabbed the key. “This way.” She felt his eyes on her backside all the way to Cottage Two.
She stopped to let Lenny enter. He squinted his eyes as he studied her face. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Another rush of heat went straight to her cheeks even though she decided that was probably his standard pick-up line. “Okay then. Everything should be ready by the time you return.”
“Great. I’m really excited. I’ve got a boat rented and waiting for me.” Lenny dropped his bags inside, smiled at Hannah, and headed back to his truck.
Hannah was pleased to see Cal working on the snack bar. She had confidence he would fix all the problems so she’d be able to open on Saturday. Cal slid his hammer into his tool belt and leaned against the building. “Who’s the new guy?” he asked with a hint of disapproval.
“One of the guests. He’s off to rent a boat to check out the coastline.”
“Hope he’s familiar with the rocky outcrops. They’ve gotten many experienced boaters in trouble.” Cal nodded toward the plumber’s truck. “What’s Bill doing here?”
“A broken water line in Cottage Two. I didn’t want to take you away from this problem.” She pointed to the snack bar.
“I’ve got it all figured out. I should be finished with all the problems on the inspection sheet by tomorrow. Is Meg ready to get rolling with the cooking?”
“Boy, I hope so. I’m counting on her. I’m not sure I can handle it if anything else goes wrong.”
The squeal of the school bus brakes interrupted their conversation. “Three thirty all ready?” Hannah said. “Ruby should be getting back soon, too. She promised she’d only be gone for two nights. I love having Olivia here but it’s so much harder to get anything done.”
Olivia skipped toward Cal and Hannah with her giant pink backpack slapping against her back. Nellie, Hannah’s overgrown one year old golden retriever, woke from her nap and charged over to greet Olivia. Olivia screeched with joy as Nellie licked her face.
“Is mommy home yet?”
Hannah scanned the road. “Close your eyes and count to ten, then she’ll be here.”
Olivia dutifully counted with her hands covering her eyes. She only made it to five before she stopped and yelled, “Mommy!”
“I think she peeked,” Cal said as he chuckled at his biggest little fan.
Ruby lifted Olivia and twirled her in a circle. “Let’s thank Aunt Hannah before we head home. I have a surprise for you when I unpack.”
The small talk didn’t take long since Olivia wanted to go home and get her surprise. Cal returned to his project of removing the rotten beams under the snack bar and Hannah walked back toward her office. She was surprised to see the young honeymoon couple rushing toward her, their faces pale and drawn with panic.
Aaron had his arms raised and he waved them wildly. As he got closer to Hannah, he rested his hands on his knees and gasped out the message, “Call the police. There’s a capsized boat up the beach.”
Hannah’s blood ran cold. Could it be Lenny?
Chapter 2
Reacting on a surge of adrenaline, Hannah told Aaron to wait in Cottage Four.
Without thinking it through, Hannah sprinted to Cottage Two. Who was this guy Lenny DiMarco? She called the police station. Her curiosity soared and her feet took her into Lenny’s cottage. Her fingers hovered over his bags. This was so wrong, she told herself, but if he was in trouble, maybe knowing more about him could help the police. She had time to take a quick look in his bags before anyone arrived. No one would know.