by Polly Holmes
Oh Goodness, please don’t let me make a fool of myself, let him like me as much as I like him. Clair took a deep breath and bit the bottom of her lip. “What will you do now? Head back to Surfers?” she asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. I was thinking of sticking around for a while.” A sly smile worked its way across his face. “You see, I have a crush on a stunning red-head here in town. She’s beautiful, intelligent and her sister’s cupcakes are to die for and I was thinking of asking her out. I’m just not sure if she’d say yes or break my heart.”
On the inside, Clair wanted to jump up and down and do backflips, but on the outside, she smiled and calmly said, “Someone once said, if there is no risk, there will be no reward. I think I can safely say if you take the chance, your reward and your heart with be very grateful.”
Mason gave a chuckle. “I guess I’ll also need to speak to step-mother dearest. There’s still a lot to sort out.”
Clair’s hand muffled a gasp and her eyes widened.
Concern marred Mason’s expression. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I’m such a dingbat, in the excitement of the day I only got a chance to tell you about the break-in. I completely forgot to tell you the most important part.” She could kick herself for her absentmindedness.
“Tell me what?”
“It was all a lie. Stella made the whole marriage up. She fessed up that she forged the marriage certificate to stop you getting your hands on his money. She admitted to knowing Roland Trent and bribed him with half the money to keep quiet.”
He huffed. “His dirty money, you mean. I want no part of it.”
“Not the life insurance policy. The three million is all yours.” He paused and Clair’s heart warmed at the way Mason’s face lit up when her words finally sank in. “Stella admitted to forging her name on the policy. You are the rightful beneficiary and it proves that your father did love you, in his own way.”
“I guess he did,” he said.
She nodded. “You know what this means, don’t you?” Before she could answer, Mason wrapped his arms around her, yanked her up and spun her in circles on the porch, her feet dangling mid-air.
“Mason, for goodness’ sake, what has gotten into you?”
“You,” he said loosening his grip and lowering her to the ground. He tilted her head back and looked straight into her eyes. “You’ve gotten into me, Clair McCorrson, and with my worry about money taken care of, I’m free to live wherever I want, and I choose Ashton Point.”
“You mean it?” she asked, her eyes widening.
“Cross my heart,” he said making a fake cross on his chest. “With all the excitement that happens around here, it’s a good thing I’ll be sticking around. Although, I’ll be happy if we can stay away from dead bodies from now on.”
“Promise.” Clair snuggled closer, satisfaction spreading in her veins. Life was definitely looking up. In the last few months Ashton Point had seen enough drama for two lifetimes, what else could possibly go wrong?
****
Book 3 - Cupcakes and Corpses
When it comes to design, death is in the details.
Cassidy McCorrson has worked hard to develop her reputation as a leading interior designer in her seaside town of Ashton Point. Since arriving home from visiting her parents in New York, her skills have been in high demand. Between juggling the design for her sister’s new cupcake shop and her private client, Cassidy barely has time to prepare for the upcoming Christmas celebrations.
Cassidy is excited at the prospect of delivering designs she can be proud of, but her world is turned upside down when the body of a local reporter is found murdered on location at her latest work site. What should have been a straightforward job turns out to be the worst decision of her life.
In order to clear her name and restore her reputation, Cassidy must find the real killer before she ends up redesigning the interior of a jail cell. Can she unearth the killer before time runs out?
Chapter One
Cassidy McCorrson searched her purse for another two-dollar coin, her mind racing through the meticulous tasks she had scheduled for the day. Standing in line at the Tea 4 Two Café, Cassidy knew in her heart there weren’t enough hours in the day to meet the deadline of her current design project. With less than forty-eight hours before her clients returned, she’d never know why she agreed to redesign and decorate an entire lounge room, three weeks before Christmas.
While her sisters’ claims to fame were delicious, award-winning cupcakes, Cassidy’s passion was interior design. It was the same passion as her mother’s. She’d been back in Ashton Point a little under a month and already her schedule was off the charts. She’d barely had time to settle back into living with her two older sisters, Clair and Charlotte.
Thinking about her work was enough to get her mind buzzing. The thrill of making someone’s dream home come true never grew old. The expression on her client’s faces when she unveiled her creations warmed her heart.
I guarantee you, Mr and Mrs Jacobs, you’re going to love your new lounge room.
Who could have known that when she returned from the US, her skills would be in such demand? By all accounts, she should still be in New York celebrating a white Christmas. The sudden sting of betrayal hit her hard.
The sweet aroma of caramel and chocolate sifting through the café tantalised her nostrils. Mmmm…chocolate.
Margarete’s steaming, chocolaty concoction would go nicely with her sister’s strawberry and cherry cupcakes, which Cassidy had picked up from CC’s Simply Cupcakes on the way. She licked her lips, salivating at the thought of Charlotte’s mouth-watering cupcakes. She was so lost in the world of sugary treats that she jumped and her heart skipped a beat when her name rang out across the café.
“Won’t be long, Cassidy,” Margarete called, her cornflour-blue eyes peering over the top of the coffee machine. “We’re a little busier than normal this morning. Got to love tourist season.”
“No problem,” Cassidy said graciously with a smile. But please hurry, my cupcakes are missing me.
She gazed around at the excitement on the faces of the eager customers. With Christmas only weeks away, the town buzz was electrifying. Cassidy did love this time of year in Ashton Point, especially when she got to spend it with her sisters.
A giggle from within her belly worked its way up to her throat. They hadn’t exactly given her the warm homecoming she’d expected. The corner of her lip pulled into a smile as she remembered the sight of Clair, poised and ready to strike, her baseball bat held high enough to kiss her earlobe.
“Freeze or you’re dead meat,” Clair barked from the hallway. Cassidy had jumped in fright at the sharpness of Clair’s voice. She’d almost dropped her cucumber and cheese sandwich. It’s not like she was a raving lunatic who had broken in while they were at the gala dinner just to make a sandwich.
A sharp, disgruntled voice boomed from the door of the café, bringing Cassidy crashing back to reality. “Would you mind telling me what you think you’re doing, Miss McCorrson?”
The icy tone chilled Cassidy to the core. What the… It can’t be. I must be dreaming.
She spun and her stomach dropped. Christina Jacobs, owner of the local newspaper, The Chronicle, stood blocking the entrance in her perfectly tailored, black cashmere dress suit. Her glacial gaze drilled into Cassidy.
“Christina Jacobs, what are you doing here?”
Audible gasps rocked the interior of the café and all inquisitive eyes were cemented squarely on Christina. Her blonde curls bounced across her stiff shoulders as she sashayed her way across the wooden floor, her hips swaying like a see-saw as she went. “Oh, Cassidy, dear. You shouldn’t believe everything you hear, especially in a town like Ashton Point. They do say you can’t keep a good woman down. In the world of today, it’s not what you know, but who you know.” Christina smirked and swung her guilty leer around the café.
Rage burned deep in Cassidy’s belly. “Are you kiddin
g me? I hope you don’t think you can waltz back into town and make my sister’s life hell again.”
“There’s one version of the truth and then there’s mine.”
Margarete’s silky voice called across the café. “Cassidy, your coffee is ready.”
Saved by the bell. “Coming,” Cassidy called over her shoulder. Glaring at Christina’s stony face, she said, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to be somewhere else. Anywhere else.”
Christina thrust her hands on her hips. “If by ‘anywhere else,’ you mean my parents’ retreat, then it looks like I’m back just in time.”
Cassidy felt the blood drain from her face. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Christina’s sarcastic tone sent shivers up Cassidy’s spine. “Mother didn’t tell you, did she?”
“Tell me what?” Silence fell on the tense café and Cassidy held her breath, praying a storm wasn’t about to strike where they stood. No such luck.
“While my parent’s retreat is attached to the side of my house, I’m still the owner of the property. Mother always wanted to redesign the interior, but it was my idea to make the renovations a part of their anniversary present. I’m back and I’m in charge now. I can’t believe what you’ve done to my house.”
The jingling of the bells over the café door signalling a customer entry was a distant sound, compared to the whine of Christina’s voice. Cassidy raised an eyebrow and asked, “You’re in charge? Where are your parents?”
“The Caribbean, I think. Another part of my anniversary present. They were already in Sydney on holiday. I just extended it a few weeks,” Christina said with a smirk. “Didn’t they tell you?”
Cassidy shook her head, the excitement she’d felt a moment ago drained from her body.
“I expected a masterpiece when I walked into their retreat. Not a catastrophic nightmare, which is what you’ve delivered.” Christina’s words slashed Cassidy’s heart like a samurai sword slicing silk. “I thought you were an award-winning interior designer. I guess that’s why my mother hired you. From the state of the lounge room, the only award you’ll be receiving is from the back of a Corn Flakes packet.”
Oh no, she didn’t just dis’ my talent. “I’ll have you know, my talents are highly sought after. And your mother absolutely loved the fabrics I chose for the curtains. They’re the current trend in New York. My mother recently used that exact design in several high-end client apartment revamps.”
Christina folded her arms across her chest, pushing her voluptuous cleavage straight into Cassidy’s view. “She was just being polite. That’s the sort of woman she is. My mother may have hired you, but I’m firing you.”
Cassidy’s insides were sizzling like a witch’s cauldron. “What?”
Scattered, rumbling murmurs between customers began to just barely penetrate the animated discussion. She sucked in a deep lungful of air and slid her fingers around her coffee. Tingles slowly flooded her palms as the warmth spread through her hands.
“If you’re not satisfied with my work, that’s fine. Just pay me the balance of what is owed and I’ll have my equipment out of the house within the hour.”
“Ha, as if. I refuse to pay for shoddy work. You’ll not get a cent out of me or my mother,” Christina snapped. “And don’t think of bothering her while she’s on her cruise. I made sure they weren’t to be disturbed unless it was an emergency.”
Detective Anderson cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Ladies. The last thing I expected to find when I came in for my morning coffee was you two going at it like two spoilt children fighting over the last chocolate bar. What will the tourists think? It’s probably best to end this conversation now before it gets too out of hand.”
“We have a contract,” Cassidy said her voice raised an octave. “And it states that the balance, $17,500, must be paid with or without the work finished. You cannot refuse to pay.”
“I can and I will. My lawyer is Christopher Linnell.” Christina paused, flicking her blonde ringlets over her shoulder. “You may have heard of him?”
The name sounded vaguely familiar. Cassidy pursed her lips as Christina’s droning voice pounded her mind.
“He’s a high-class lawyer in Sydney. His clientele is some of the most well-known people in Australia. Christopher will be in Ashton Point at the end of the week and I’m sure he’ll find a loophole in that contract. And if I see you anywhere near my house—and that includes my parents’ retreat—so help me, there will be hell to pay.”
Before Cassidy had a chance to respond, Detective Anderson stepped between the two women, the snappy tone in his voice startling Cassidy. “Ladies, please. This is hardly the time or the place for this type of discussion.”
Cassidy caught the frowning gaze of some tourists sitting over by the window and felt her cheeks redden with embarrassment. “I guess you’re right,” Cassidy said, sidestepping both of them. “But this isn’t over, not by a long shot. I will get the money owed to me, one way or another,” she said.
Under the onslaught of inquisitive eyes, she turned and left.
Chapter Two
“I can’t believe the nerve of that woman,” Cassidy said, pacing the kitchen of CC’s Simply Cupcakes, her blood boiling. She popped the last bite of her strawberry-cherry cupcake into her mouth, devouring it in seconds. “How dare she fire me… Me. And now I’m $17,500 out of pocket. She wouldn’t know a great design if she tripped over and fell face first into it.”
It hadn’t taken Cassidy more than fifteen minutes to make it back to CC’s Simply Cupcakes. The town gossip vine was on fire and the news of her vocal disagreement with Christina beat her to the mark.
“Don’t worry about the money, Cassidy. Charlotte and I can help out ‘til something comes along. The business is doing well and as soon as I get CC’s Cupcake Haven up and running in the old Sweets Mansion, things will be even better. Besides, the way you are transforming that old place into a modern-day, vintage-chic masterpiece will be breath-taking. The people of this town will be lining up to have you design their houses.”
Charlotte frowned. “Clair’s right. You are amazing. But I did warn you, she was a piece of work.” She continued to pipe lemon icing on vanilla cupcakes in swirls of sugary delight.
“Yeah, I know you did, but I was dealing with her parents. I never thought I’d have to contend with Christina. It’s hard to believe they’re from the same gene pool.”
Clair huffed, punching the keys on her laptop as she spoke. “That woman certainly knows how to make your life a living hell. I bet she’s looking to inflict more havoc across our beautiful town. You’d do well to steer clear of her.”
“If it weren’t for Christina, you may never have met Mason Hapworth,” Charlotte piped up. “And we all know that you’re head over heels for him. Especially since he moved to Ashton Point to be at your beck and call.”
“Charlotte,” Clair said, her word coming out in a squeal.
“She’s right, Clair. It’s so obvious you’re smitten with him. And he is with you.” A pang of resentment embedded itself deep in Cassidy’s belly. Two months ago, she’d been the same. In love with Todd Williams, the man she’d thought she’d spend the rest of her life with.
How wrong was I? Just goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover.
On the outside, Todd had been everything she dreamed of. Pristine and perfect. Gorgeous, with a body to die for, the Hugh Jackman Wolverine type. He was a Wall Street tycoon who’d promised her the world. His insides were a different story. He was a cunning, cheating manipulator who was only interested in climbing up the corporate ladder. With not a care in the world of who he crushed in the process.
“Earth to Cassidy,” Clair called, snapping her fingers. “Where did you go? We lost you there for a second.”
Her eyes caught her sisters’ concerned gazes. They were clearly waiting for an explanation. She swallowed the knot of regret in her throat. “Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about that woman. I swear sh
e’s pure evil.”
Charlotte opened the oven a smidgen to check her latest batch of chocolate-caramel cupcakes. The scintillating aroma oozed out, teasing Cassidy’s nostrils. “Really, Charlotte… Did you have to do that? You know chocolate and caramel is one of my favourites. Now I want one of those, even though I’m stuffed from the ones I ate earlier.”
A hearty giggle erupted from Charlotte’s lips. “Oh, I have missed you. Sorry, it’s Pierre’s day off and Suzi will be out soon to fill the display cabinet with them before the lunchtime rush.”
“So, that’s a no?” Cassidy asked. “I’m not so sure about my tastebuds, but my waistline will thank you. I did miss your superb cooking skills while I was in New York. They had a cupcake stall just around the corner from Mum and Dad’s apartment building, but their cupcakes couldn’t hold a candle to yours.”
Clair and Charlotte gazed toward each other at the mention of New York. Clair bit her lip and frowned, as if wanting to say something but unsure of how to word it. “Do you think you’re ready to tell us why you came back early? The last time we spoke to Mum she said you had decided to stay for a white Christmas.”
Mortification struck and her chest tightened. No, absolutely not. If she told them about Todd, they’d probably be on the next plane to New York to beat him to a pulp. Thank goodness she hadn’t fessed up to her parents that she’d fallen in love with a jerk. “I told you guys. I just felt I’d overstayed my welcome with Mum and Dad.”
“That’s why you were moping around the house… Because Mum and Dad were cramping your style?” Charlotte asked, taking the baking tray from the oven.
Cassidy felt heat work its way up her neck to her cheeks. Great, now not only will my nose be as long as Pinocchio’s, but I’ll also look like a beetroot ready to burst. She picked up her bag and threw it over her shoulder.
“What is with the third degree? If you remember, I was suffering jet lag and was sleeping most of the day. You’ve both been to visit them, you know what it’s like.” She turned and headed toward the door, masking the warm blush of her cheeks. “Now that I’ve got a bit more time, I’ll head over to the Sweets place to work on my designs. The refit is coming along nicely, but there are a few things I’m still working on. Then I’m going to head into Watson’s Creek to the fabric shop to look at some samples so don’t wait up.”
