“All right,” he said, “I fixed the generator. If there’s ever a power outage, you’re good to go.”
“You’re a hero, Brian.” Gamma fluttered her eyelashes.
I rolled my eyes.
“Lauren asked me to tell you that she’s finished baking hot cocoa cupcakes.” He traversed the front steps and walked off between the trees, heading for the greenhouse. Apparently, he didn’t want a cupcake.
That was fine by me. Handsome or not, he did tend to harsh the vibe. We couldn’t say much around him.
Gamma and I piled into the inn, rushed down the hall and into the kitchen.
Lauren sat at the table wearing a nervous smile. The cupcakes, deliciously dark with chocolatey frosting, and a dusting of hazelnuts over the top, waited for us on a plate. “Care to join me?” she asked.
I scrambled for a seat and grabbed a cupcake. Gamma did the same but elegantly.
I took a bite and nearly died and went straight to heaven. “Oh my goodness, you’ve outdone yourself, Lauren.”
“Again.”
Lauren licked her lips. “Well, I wanted to try out something new for the inn. And I wanted to apologize, as well. I haven’t been myself over the past month.” She paused. “I know you’ve noticed, and I’m so sorry for hiding this from you but… I’m pregnant.”
Gamma dropped her cupcake. I choked on mine.
“I was terrified that Jason wouldn’t be happy about it, but he is. He’s overjoyed. I wanted to tell you, but I just needed to deal with it myself first. I hope you’re not mad.”
“Why would we be mad?” Gamma asked, and pounded on my back.
I coughed and grabbed a glass of water from the three in the center of the table.
“Oh because I lied. Or I omitted the truth by not telling you sooner. I really am sorry.”
“There’s no reason for you to be sorry,” Gamma said. “This is wonderful, Lauren! I’m so happy for you.” She got out of her seat and gave her chef a hug.
I waited until they were done then did the same. “Congratulations. This is great news.” Was it really, though? Lauren would be pregnant and if Kyle ever found me that would put not just her but her baby in danger. I’d have to think seriously about staying in Gossip because of this.
The cupcakes beckoned, so I helped myself to another one.
“Jason wanted me to quit working here, you know, but I said there was no way that would happen now you’re back,” Lauren said. “I’m just hoping things will settle down. I don’t think I can take another event like the fire or… anything else.”
“I’m sure everything will be smooth sailing from here on out,” Gamma replied.
I nearly choked on my cupcake again.
If I’d learned one thing in Gossip, it was to expect the unexpected. Oh, and that using a grapple gun sounded fun, but was usually painful. And that people didn’t like it when you dusted their shoes while they were in them.
Lauren finally helped herself to a cupcake, her bright red pigtails bobbing, and her smile, the welcoming one she’d given me months ago when I’d first arrived in town, reappearing on her face.
Outside, Smulder cussed about tomatoes and aphids. Inside, Gamma cut her cupcake into neat triangles and ate daintily with her fingers over the plate.
Gossip was back to normal.
Relatively speaking.
Gamma and Charlie’s adventures will continue in Cocoa Conviction, the third book in the Mission Inn-possible Cozy Mystery Series, coming in March 2020!
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THANK YOU, READER!
Thank you so much for reading Charlie and Gamma’s story. If you enjoyed the book, I would be honored if you left a review. They’re the vanilla frosting of an author’s career. (I know, I should probably stop with the puns—ha!)
ALSO BY ROSIE A. POINT
The Burger Bar Mystery Series:
The Fiesta Burger Murder
The Double Cheese Burger Murder
The Chicken Burger Murder
The Breakfast Burger Murder
The Salmon Burger Murder
The Cheesy Steak Burger Murder
The Burger Bar Mysteries Box Set
The Bite-sized Bakery Cozy Mystery Series:
Murder By Chocolate
Marzipan and Murder
Creepy Cake Murder
Murder and Meringue Cake
Murder Under the Mistletoe
The Bite-sized Bakery Cozy Mystery Box Set: Books 1-5
The Mission Inn-possible Cozy Mystery Series:
Vanilla Vendetta
Table of Contents
Title Page
Contents
Copyright
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
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
More for you…
Thank you, Reader!
Also by Rosie A. Point
Mission Inn-possible 02 - Strawberry Sin Page 14