Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Talking to Emma May is so easy. I think my mom would really love her. She’d love to film an entire episode in town.
The bell for the door rings, and Emma waves to a woman who looks about my age. She has a baby on her hip and a radiant smile on her face.
“This is Missy and her daughter Daisy,” Emma explains.
Daisy lunges for the older woman, and she catches her easily.
Missy turns her bright smile on me. She’s practically glowing she’s so happy. “You must be new to town.”
I nod. “But if all the other cookie flavors are as good as this one, then I might just stay forever.”
“Tell me about it. This is my favorite place to come after lunch. My husband loves spoiling me.” She says the word husband softly, like she’s savoring it. She must be a newlywed. She certainly has that blissed look. “If you do decide to stay in Courage, let me know. We have a spicy book club, and we’d love to have you join us.”
I don’t have time to ask her about what a spicy book club is because she’s waving someone else over to the table.
Deputy Griffin approaches. He’s out of uniform today. His wavy hair is a chaotic mess on his head. He greets Missy with a kiss that’s filled with passion before he ruffles Daisy’s hair.
Missy swats playfully at his chest. “Stop it. We have a new friend here today.”
Griffin glances my way but holds his poker face well. He tips his head toward me. “Nice to meet you.”
“I have to go, or I’ll be late for the Mommy and Me yoga class,” Missy says, taking Daisy back.
When I look at the time on my phone, I’m surprised to find that most of the afternoon is gone. I had so much fun talking with Emma May. She’s an amazing conversationalist, and no one tells a story quite like her. But I still want to get home before Whiskey does.
I exchange phone numbers with Missy and get an extra tight hug from Emma May before she leaves. I’m alone with Griffin who’s still waiting on the coffee he ordered.
“Why didn’t you tell them that you know me?” I ask him now that we’re alone.
“A man goes off to war and wants to come home deserves a little peace and quiet. I can’t fault him for that,” he explains.
“So, Whiskey is an ex-Marine,” I muse. It’s the second thing I’ve learned about him today. That explains why he’s so neat and orderly.
“There’s no such thing as ex-Marines. Once you’re in, you never truly leave,” Griffin says with a hint of admiration in his voice that tells me while he’s never served, he admires the heck out of those who do.
“Your family seems very nice,” I tell him. It was so obvious from the way he and Missy kept looking at each other that they’re in love.
A smile lights up his face, softening the hard edges. “She’s amazing. Met her at the diner across the street and asked her out that day.”
“And she fell into your arms right there?” I ask, imagining the scene. This town does seem to have an usual number of happy couples. Maybe it’s all the good food they’re surrounded by. Hard to be sad when you have cookies like these.
“Nope. I had to stalk her for a while.” He says it so casually that I can’t tell if he’s joking or not. Before I can ask him, the woman at the counter calls his name to tell him his order is up.
“Take care of him,” he tells me before leaving.
After the bakery, I go to the pharmacy to gather more supplies for my surprise. Then I stock up on groceries from Emma May’s store. She gives me the employee discount again despite my protests.
I find myself smiling when I arrive home. Whiskey should be here in about an hour, and that’s plenty of time to do what I need. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he comes home tonight.
Chapter 7
Whiskey
“For the last time, I did not rent your cabin on the internet,” Hunter snaps.
I have a dozen foster brothers, but only three of them know I’m home. I’ve already talked to Nate about this, and he swears he didn’t do it. Given how much he’s been scouring the internet to find a good baker, I believe him.
Jasper didn’t do it either. He’s another one of my brothers who lives in these mountains. He’s got his hands full with his wife, Thea, and their new baby. He can barely look away from that kid if the endless text messages filled with pictures of her red, wrinkly face are anything to go by. That only leaves Hunter as a possible suspect.
“What you need to do is call up Griffin and get him to trace where the money went,” he says. “If you can find the money, you’ll know who did this to you.”