Angel in Disguise

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  Her help wanted sign hadn’t brought in a soul. She’d have to double her efforts. Go further inland and place ads. She’d try one more time.

  Maybe there was another angel in her future.

  Or maybe not.

  Maybe she’d have to do something else with her life. But she didn’t know what that would be. She loved her shop. Loved having a business of her own. Lobster Cove was home. This was where she wanted to be.

  “It’s not fair,” she whispered into the silence. But who said life was fair?

  Her heart ached for what might have been.

  And it ached for Gabe—his stoic good looks, the attention he gave Mia. Dammit she would miss the man. He meant more to her than she wanted to admit.

  She parked her car and opened the door to the shop. The aroma of fresh baking hit her nostrils.

  Gabe!

  She ran to the kitchen. His back was to her as he concentrated on filling a cupcake pan and didn’t see her.

  Grabbing her chest, she leaned against the door. Gabe was back. He hadn’t left. She allowed herself a moment to catch her breath. She didn’t know whether she wanted to laugh, cry, or go over and hit him. He’d scared her to death.

  When her feet could move, she went to him, put her arms around his waist, laid her head on his back, and squeezed tight.

  He nearly dropped the bowl. “Whoa! Where did that come from?”

  “I thought you’d left us.”

  He swung around, took Julie in his arms. “I started to.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  “You.”

  His eyes sparkled with a gleam she hadn’t seen before. She liked it. She couldn’t resist and, lifting her lips to his, she kissed him.

  For a moment he hesitated, then deepened the kiss.

  I’m in heaven and an angel is kissing me.

  It was a while before they stepped back and looked at one another. What just happened? Gabe looked as surprised and dazed as she felt. “I...I’m glad you’re back.”

  “Wow. Yeah. Uh...me, too.”

  “Gabe? Are you all right?”

  He studied her face for a long moment, his gaze seeming to fix on her lips, before he shook his head and stepped back, leaving her feeling slightly off-center.

  “Let’s get busy, woman,” he said with purpose. “I have an appointment with the sheriff in a few hours and the case has to be full by then.”

  “Yes, sir!” She grinned as she went to get her apron, feeling as if she were walking on air. “What would you like to do first?”

  “Another kiss will do for now.”

  And he pecked her on the mouth.

  She laughed, then frowned. “What does Lynn want?” If it was really serious, Lynn would have told her.

  “Nothing to worry about. I’ll be back in an hour.”

  He kissed her again.

  Her mind scrambled.

  She could get used to this. Taking the filled pan out of his hand, she floated to the oven and tried to convince herself Gabe was staying in Lobster Cove.

  But she had nothing to base that theory on except a few kisses.

  She dropped back to earth with a crash.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Gabe sat in a chair, hooked up to the truth machine, as he called it. The sheriff had stepped out of the room, leaving the tech fiddling with the dials. His mind should be on the possibility that the sheriff might kick him out of town if he didn’t pass. Instead, he couldn’t stop thinking of Julie and their unexpected kiss.

  His body went warm at the memory.

  He had to make things right so he could stay here—so the two of them could pursue the way they felt about each other. He prayed he was doing the right thing. He did do one thing right this morning. He’d talked to Jeff and smoothed over the fact that he’d taken his Harley without permission and had planned to keep on trucking. Jeff had told him it was time to give up the dream. He would never get back with his ex, and since that was the only reason the bike sat unused in his garage, he was happy with the money Gabe had paid for it. They’d get the title transferred when they both had some free time.

  “Ready?”

  The tech’s voice startled him. Gabe nodded. He wasn’t, but he couldn’t have the sheriff breathing down his neck any longer. It was time to make things right.

  This was a first step.

  The technician started the warm-up questions. Then got down to business.

  “Is your name Gabe Vaughn?”

  “No.”

  The tech looked up in surprise.

  “Do you work for Julie Whitney?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you like your work?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you own a Harley?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you take tools from Jeff Knox and put them in your closet?”

  “No.”

  “Have you ever been in jail?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you ever taken items that didn’t belong to you?”

  “No.”

  “Do you like living in Lobster Cove?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you a thief?”

  “No.”

  The tech stood. “That’s it.” He unhooked Gabe from the machine.

  Gabe went to the door. It had gone exactly as he expected.

  The sheriff walked into the room as he started out. “Don’t leave,” she warned.

  He wasn’t surprised. She had a dozen questions he wasn’t going to answer.

  After a word with the tech she led him to her office. “Have a seat.”

  He did as he was told and looked around. Nothing in here reflected the woman who sat across from him. There were older than dirt file cabinets lining one wall. Her desk was just as old, more fit for a man than a small woman. He’d see if Julie would tell him the sheriff’s story.

  “So Gabe Vaughn isn’t your name?”

  “I answered correctly when asked the question earlier.”

  “Are you going to explain?”

  “No, ma’am. And since I passed the test I’d like to get back to work.”

  She leaned across the large desk. “You’re an ex-con working for my best friend. I won’t see her hurt.”

  “I wouldn’t think of it.”

  She sat back with a thump. “I should run you out of town.”

  “But you won’t. You care too much for Julie to leave her in the lurch.”

  “You’re right. But I will tell her to continue her search for a pastry chef.”

  “I don’t think she ever stopped. So why the question?”

  “I don’t think you’re going to hang around too much longer.”

  The fact of the matter was, the sheriff was probably right. If he had even a hint one of Valine’s lackeys was anywhere close, Gabe would hightail it out of there so fast everyone would wonder if they’d imagined him being there at all.

  He stood. “See you later, Sheriff. We have cranberry-orange muffins this morning, as well as lemon zucchini bars. I think you’ll like both.”

  She chuckled. “By the way, Gabe, my husband loves chocolate. I’d like to surprise him with a cake. Do you think you’ll be around long enough to bake one next week?”

  He had to give the lady credit. There was more than one way to find out how long he would be in town. “How does a double chocolate black forest cake with fresh cherries and chocolate flakes, topped with whipped cream sound?”

  “Divine. I’ll pick it up sometime after one on Friday.”

  “I’ll be sure to have it ready.” And he was out the door.

  The minute Gabe walked into the shop and saw Julie waiting on a line of customers—saw most of the tables full and customers drinking their specialty coffee and eating his pastries, he felt at home.

  When he looked at Julie, he saw hope. Hope that he could relax and not worry that every stranger could be on Valine’s payroll. Hope that he could stay here in Lobster Cove and have a life.

  He couldn’t ta
ke his eyes off her. She smiled and his heart turned over.

  This was his chance for happiness.

  First he had to find the thief and second, he had to make sure a new life here in Lobster Cove wouldn’t blow up in his face and hurt the woman and child he loved.

  He waved at her and a few of the customers he recognized, then headed for the kitchen. One of the customers stopped him: a lady in her mid-forties whose name he couldn’t remember. “My friends want to know why you haven’t sketched me.”

  “Give me a minute and I’ll rectify that oversight.”

  She grinned.

  He grabbed his pad and pen. In less than three minutes he handed it to her. “Oh, my goodness,” she squealed when she saw her likeness: an exaggerated grin, her naturally curly hair frizzed up and around her face, a longer than long nose, and a cupcake in each hand. “You saw what I ordered, didn’t you?”

  He asked her name, labeled the sketch and handed it to her. “Give it to Julie. She’ll put it on the wall.”

  He wrote the sheriff’s order on his calendar, noticing how many birthday and anniversary cakes were already there.

  Julie stuck her head in the doorway to the kitchen. “Those zucchini bars have disappeared. Can you make more?”

  “I’ll get right on it, boss.”

  As he gathered ingredients, his thoughts turned inward. This wasn’t the way his life was supposed to turn out—evading questions from the authorities—living under an assumed name—hiding from the mob.

  He’d like to tell the sheriff everything. At some point he would. First, he had a mystery to solve and a plan to figure out in order to get his life straight again.

  As was his custom, Chad came in around three for his sugar fix. Gabe wondered, not for the first time, why the sunglasses.

  Now was a good time to find out.

  Grabbing a tray of cookies, he took them to Julie to put into the case. He had to be careful, had to do this at the right angle. “More cookies coming your way,” he said as he carefully bumped the tray against the corner of Chad’s glasses.

  “Sorry,” Gabe said grabbing at the glasses and putting the tray on the counter.

  “What the hell?” Chad cursed.

  “It was an accident, Chad,” Julie put in. “Your pastries are my treat today.”

  Gabe made it a point to stare straight into Chad’s eyes before he handed them back. Dilated pupils. No secret now as to why the glasses.

  Chad threw Gabe a long, defiant look, took his bag of goodies, and stomped out.

  If Chad wasn’t on drugs, Gabe thought, then he wasn’t a pastry chef.

  It was time to do a little undercover work.

  When there was a lull in the shop, he went to talk to Julie. “Can I borrow your car tonight?” He didn’t trust Chad, but Gabe didn’t think the kid would try anything this soon. If so, he wanted to be right behind him.

  She looked up at him with questions in her eyes. “Why? Getting tired of your Harley already?”

  He chuckled. “Not exactly. But it does make a lot of noise when I’d rather be a bit quieter.”

  “What’s on your mind?”

  “Chad’s on drugs. Which means he needs money to buy them. Since he doesn’t have a job, would he steal things that are easy to sell instead?”

  Julie gasped. “Are you sure? That he’s on drugs, I mean?”

  “I’m as sure as one can be without a drug test.” He paused. “Then there’s Paul Nelson who doesn’t have a job, but always has a fistful of cash.”

  “Are you trying to take Lynn’s job away from her?”

  “Nope. Just trying to help the citizens out and find the one who’s doing this.”

  “You know you can borrow my car, but how will we work this? I can’t drive a Harley.”

  His mouth twitched. Julie never failed to make him feel better. “I’ll come over around midnight, leave my Harley in your driveway, bring your car back when I’m finished.”

  “Gabe, you need your sleep.”

  “I’m going home now and will get in a few hours. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll leave the key under the mat on the driver’s side.”

  “Thanks.” And since there were no customers there at the moment, he took her lips in a kiss that sent his blood racing.

  “Tell Mia I’m sorry, but it was an emergency.”

  “She isn’t going to be happy.”

  “She’ll survive.”

  He left with Julie’s laughter ringing in his ears.

  Music. Sweet music.

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was a few minutes after midnight when Gabe pulled Julie’s car out of her driveway. He’d looked up the address of both Chad and Paul. He’d check on Paul for a while first. But after a long while with no movement, he left. This would probably be an exercise in frustration, but Gabe’s training had taught him he had to start somewhere.

  He watched the Stiner house for over an hour. The place was dark, and no one moved. He pulled out and headed back to check on Paul.

  Paul’s car, a green Nova, was pulling out of the drive. “Where are you going?” he whispered into the silence.

  Gabe let the Nova get a couple of blocks ahead before he followed. Paul drove straight into Lobster Cove’s business district and stopped at Murphy’s bar.

  Gabe watched as Paul got out and went inside. If he were a betting man, he’d bet grandma didn’t approve of her grandson hitting the local watering hole so he snuck out after she was asleep.

  He passed the bar and went back to Chad’s. Still quiet. He drove Julie’s car back to her place and got back on his Harley, went to his apartment, and walked back to the shop. Over his shoulder, his backpack was stuffed with one of Jeff’s pillows, and a couple of rolled up blankets.

  If he was right, Chad would want to get even for the accident this morning. At this point, Chad was well aware that Gabe knew he was on drugs. And, if he wasn’t mistaken, the kid was pissed.

  Julie’s shop wouldn’t be safe until Chad was confronted.

  Keeping the lights off, he went to the kitchen, spread out a blanket, set his gun next to him, then set the alarm before lying down and pulling the other blanket up to his chin. It was a cold night, but he’d slept under worse conditions. Much worse. In seconds he was asleep.

  When the alarm went off he hadn’t had enough rest. But he got up, rolled up his bedding and went to work.

  By the time Julie came in, the case was headed toward full.

  She skipped her morning routine and went directly into the kitchen. “How did it go last night?”

  “Zero. But I intend to keep it up until the thief is found, whether he’s one of my suspects or someone else.”

  “You’re a determined man, Gabe Vaughn.”

  Maybe so. He leaned over and pecked her on the mouth. There was no way he’d kiss her like he wanted. If he did the baking would never get done. The urge to take her someplace and make love all day would stay with him for hours.

  If he was honest with himself, her image stayed with him all day every day anyway. His mind might be on what he was doing, but deep down his thoughts were on the pretty redhead who had brightened his life.

  “I’d better get the coffee machines going.”

  She gave him that smile that made his heart turn over. “When you’ve finished, I’ll give you today’s pastry list.”

  “Be right back.” And she was gone.

  As he slid two trays of Snicker-Surprise Cookies into the oven, his gaze kept going to Julie. Her movements were practiced and efficient. She’d turned these four walls into her own, and made a go of it.

  By three o’clock, Chad hadn’t picked up his daily sugar fix. Gabe wasn’t surprised. However, Paul Nelson came in a little before four and ordered a half-dozen cookies and their last two chocolate-coconut bars.

  Once more, he pulled out a wad of bills.

  When he left, Julie and Gabe exchanged glances. Where did the guy get his money?

  At four, Gabe had la
id out the items Mia would need for the project he had lined up for today.

  When she skipped through the doors and ran straight to the kitchen, his heart swelled. He was crazy about the kid.

  She came to a stop a few feet from him, put her small hands on her hips. “You left yesterday without telling me.”

  “Sorry, it couldn’t be helped.”

  “I’m the supervisor. You’re supposed to ask my permission.”

  “You’re right. I apologize. I went over your head, and I shouldn’t have. It won’t happen again unless I have an emergency.”

  “Good.” She whirled around to tell her mom hello and came back with her apron.

  Once he’d tied it round her tiny waist, she asked, “What are we baking today?”

  “Something special.”

  “Oh!” Her eyes widened, glowing with excitement. They were as expressive as her mom’s.

  “Are you ready? These aren’t the easiest things to make, but the customers will love them.”

  “What are we making?” she asked. “And what’s all that stuff?”

  “Patience, princess. We’ll get to that in a minute.” He took the recipe, propped it up on its stand. “Can you read it?”

  “Monkey cupcakes!” She squealed, sending Julie running to see what was going on.

  “We’re going to make monkey cupcakes, Mom.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Shoo!” Gabe waved her out of the kitchen. “You’re bothering the chefs.”

  An hour later, the first tray of cupcakes were baked, iced, and decorated. “Mom!” Mia yelled.

  “Am I allowed in?”

  “Aren’t they be-u-ti-ful?” Mia asked.

  Julie stepped up to the working island.

  Gabe wanted to laugh at the expression on Julie’s face. Mia stood there with chocolate icing on her apron, her arms, and her hands. But in her hand, she held up a monkey cupcake as proudly as one would a new baby.

  “They’re gorgeous, Mia. Can I taste?”

  Mia carefully set the cupcake back on the tray. “They’re for the customers, Mom. I’ll bet I’ll get more for these than my cookies.”

  Gabe laughed aloud.

  Not only a pastry chef in the making, but a good businesswoman as well. “I have one put back just for you.” He reached behind him to the counter, took one and handed it to Julie.