Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
“Of course.” I ended the call and looked at Mara’s face, she was annoyed that I’d kept her and the line waiting. Figures. “Sorry about that.”
“Kyle Jacobs is missing?”
My brows dipped low. “According to his mother, but you remember what it was like to be seventeen.”
She gave one short nod. “Yet, off you go, running to do her bidding.”
“You know Kyle?” There was something odd about Mara’s tone, and my instincts were telling me she knew something about this kid.
“I know of pretty much everyone in this town. Don’t know if you heard, but I make the best cookies, muffins, croissants and cupcakes in the land.”
“I may have heard that particular rumor, but that doesn’t answer my question. You know him?”
“Of him,” she repeated this time with steel in her voice. “I’m sure you’ll make sure his rich parents find their precious little boy in no time.” Realizing what she’d said, Mara shook her head and pasted a phony smile on her face. “Thanks for choosing Bread Box. Enjoy your baked goods!”
I stared at the confusing woman for a long moment before I left to go in search of the missing teenager.
Once again, I would have to wait to deal with Mara.
Mara
“Beer or margaritas?”
Joss flashed a smile when she arrived at The Mayflower with flushed pink skin and mussed hair, leaving no doubt why she was late.
I arched a knowing brow at her and smiled. “Think you could get the bartender to make beergaritas?”
Joss rolled her eyes and laughed. “You go ask, and I’ll pay.”
“No thanks. I like my drinks and my food without floor spice.” The bartender was notoriously finicky, especially when it came to making anything he considered specialty cocktails. “Margaritas,” I decided, and Joss rushed off to place the order quickly since the place was packed tonight.
She returned a couple minutes later with an even brighter smile. “I ordered fried mushrooms and a platter of curly and waffle fries.”
“Wow, that must have been some quickie to have you feeling so generous.”
“It was very satisfying,” she said on a breathless sigh. “And I’m always generous.”
That much was true, but teasing Joss was one of my favorite things to do. “That is clearly more than an I just got laid smile, so go ahead and share your good news with me.”
Joss scrunched her nose up and shrugged. “You sure?”
I nodded, hating that she felt the need to hide her joy from me. “Just because I’m single, doesn’t mean I can’t be happy for you Joss.”
“I know. It’s just that, sometimes it feels like I’m rubbing it in your face.”
I laughed and shook my head, feeling slightly grateful I didn’t have a lot of girl friends as a teenager, because I didn’t have the tact I had as an adult. And that wasn’t saying much for my grown up self.
“And you think I wouldn’t tell you if you that was the case?”
She thought about it for a moment and shrugged. “Good point. Ben is taking me to a B&B along the border, for a weekend of romance.”
“That sounds fun. Is this nerd, romance or sex romance?”
Joss tossed her head back and laughed. “Probably a bit of both, to be honest. There are a few historical sights I’d like to see while we’re down there. Is that weird?”
“No way! Ben knew what the was getting when he fell for you. It probably gets him all hot and bothered when you get nerdy on him. In fact, make sure you take those clonky reading glasses of yours.”
“You think?” I nodded. “Okay.”
What felt like an eternity later, our drinks arrived along with a pile of greasy bar food, which only served as a reminder that the only thing I’d eaten all day were small samplings here and there, of baked goods.
“I’m starved!”
Joss poured the pitcher into two tall glasses and sipped like it was water. “Delicious. So, I heard about Eva ambushing you at Bread Box.”
I snorted and shrugged. “I’m pretty sure the whole town heard about it. Eva isn’t known for her ability to be quiet.”
“True, but no one said what you planned to do about the questionnaire. So?”
“So I already filled it out, because you know how persistent she can be. I knew she’d never let it go, so I gave in a little.”
Joss’ blue eyes went wide with surprise and a triumphant smile crossed her face. “Does this mean you’re ready to start dating again?”
“Hell no.” I shook my head until I grew dizzy at that ridiculous question. “My stance hasn’t changed and I told Eva as much.” No matter how many times she called to extoll the virtues of my latest matches, I refused to listen or return her calls.
“But, why? You’ve already done the hard part.”
“Paperwork is not the hard part,” I told her with a sarcastic laugh. “Ignoring Eva’s constant calls is hard. Dodging her on the streets of Pilgrim is hard.”