Roses and Revenge

by London Lovett

  Ryder pulled on his coat as I stepped inside. "No Kingston today?"

  "I figured there would just be too much going on to have to worry about him."

  Ryder tapped a pile of mail on the counter. "Mail came early. Maggie said she got an extra early start today knowing people would be waiting for their Valentines. Which reminds me. Dash stopped by on his way to the marina." Ryder held up a rose made out of chocolate. "He was sorry he missed you."

  I took the rose and out of habit brought it to my nose to smell, only to remember it was chocolate. "Hmm, almost better smelling than the real thing. So do you have everything you need?"

  Ryder patted his coat pocket. "Delivery itinerary, keys and my phone if you need me."

  "Perfect. And drive carefully."

  Ryder walked out to the van. On big holidays, I rented a van for deliveries, but the store was profitable enough that I'd soon be buying a Pink's delivery van of our very own. I shuffled through the mail and found an envelope that I instantly recognized with Jacob's writing. It was a card with a pink rose on the front.

  "Dear Lacey, Thanks for having my back last week. It seemed right from the start you knew I wasn't the suspect. That means a lot to me. Have a happy Valentine's Day and a wonderful future. You deserve both.

  Love always, Jacob."

  I smiled as I pushed the card into the envelope. The week didn't turn out at all like I'd expected, but in the end, the right person was charged. It was hard not to feel as much anger as pity at poor Hazel.

  The door to the shop opened, and Detective Briggs walked inside. My mind instantly shot to the possibility that he'd come in to buy flowers for someone. I was fretting about the notion when he walked up wearing a half smile. "Miss Pinkerton," he said with a polite nod.

  "Detective Briggs."

  He placed a small package hastily wrapped in pink tissue on the counter. "Happy Valentine's Day."

  He'd come in not to buy another woman flowers but to bring me a gift. I nearly chortled in relief .

  I picked up the package. "I wasn't expecting anything."

  "I decided I needed to thank you for helping with the investigation . . . again."

  "Even though I wasn't supposed to?"

  "Even though you weren't supposed to." His brown eyes landed on the package in my hand. "It's nothing much. Just thought it might come in handy."

  I laughed as I pulled open the tissue. "So you're a practical gift kind of guy." The tissue fell away revealing a notebook and pen identical to the ones he used.

  "For future investigations," he said quietly.

  "I love it." The moments where we gazed at each other without any emotions except admiration had grown longer and more frequent. And I might have been imagining it, but they felt just a touch more intense each time too. "Thank you, Detective Briggs."

  "You're welcome, Miss Pinkerton."

  Did Lola’s mysterious ghostly photos pique your interest? You can read more about the Cider Ridge Inn and its cocky, irritating and far too appealing ghost in Death in the Park the first book in my new cozy mystery series, Firefly Junction.

  Click on the cover to pre-order your copy for $.99

  Tulips are blooming and spring is in the air in Port Danby. Lacey 'Pink' Pinkerton, the local flower shop owner and occasional detective's assistant, is once again called upon to help sniff out the clues in a murder investigation. Full blurb coming soon.

  Pre-order your copy.

  Caramel Kisses

  Click photo to view the recipe online.

  About the Author

  London Lovett is the author of the new Port Danby Cozy Mystery series. She loves getting caught up in a good mystery and baking delicious new treats!

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  https://www.londonlovett.com/

  londonlovettwrites@gmail.com