A Caffeine Conundrum

by Angela Ruth Strong

  Billie pointed. “Before you say anything else, Connor needs to kiss Tandy. They’re under the mistletoe.”

  A numbness started in Marissa’s soles and worked its way up her body. She turned slowly to face the pair in the doorway. The very spot she’d stood with Connor twice in the past couple days. The very place she’d refused to honor tradition. Would Tandy turn him down too?

  Tandy formed an O with her lips but rather than turn to face Connor, she slid her eyes sideways to look at him.

  Marissa bulged her own eyes in warning. Was it to protect Tandy or to protect herself? She wasn’t sure, but it didn’t matter because Tandy missed it.

  Connor shrugged. “I haven’t had much luck with mistletoe lately, but I’ll give it one more try.” He stepped to Tandy’s side. “Will you let me kiss you, Tandy?”

  Marissa’s guts churned. Did Connor want to kiss Tandy? Troy the firefighter had thought he was honestly interested in her.

  “All right.” Tandy turned and smiled up at him.

  No, no, no. This wasn’t how Christmas Eve was supposed to end. If only she’d gone to her parents’ house. Then she could be miserably putting together a puzzle and wouldn’t have to watch this.

  Connor moved closer. He tipped from his hips. Marissa imagined it was her he was tipping over. He would smell like a woodshop.

  She couldn’t handle it anymore. She lunged forward, grabbed Tandy’s arm, and yanked her away. But that left Marissa under the mistletoe.

  Tandy staggered sideways before straightening. She didn’t look upset though. Her grin grew. She’d planned this all along, hadn’t she?

  Now what?

  Connor crossed his arms, as if waiting for Marissa to answer that very question. Except she didn’t have an answer.

  His jaw hardened. His eyes darkened. His head tilted. “You won’t let me kiss you, but I can’t kiss anyone else either?”

  “Uh…” What were her options here?

  One, she could pretend she’d accidentally pushed Tandy out of the way when tripping. That wouldn’t be too unbelievable.

  Two, she could admit that she didn’t want Connor to kiss anybody else. Ever. Though that would require letting him kiss her.

  Her toes curled, and she realized she was focusing on his lips. She blinked and looked back up. “You can kiss me if you want to.” Whoa. Had she said that out loud?

  Yes. She had. And they were the most delicious words ever.

  He unfolded his arms.

  Her breath hitched. He was going to reach for her. He was going to wrap her in a warm embrace and never let go and…

  His hand rested on a bookshelf beside her head. It was like he was holding himself back.

  She rocked, off balance by false expectations. But why were they false? They were standing under mistletoe.

  He remained steady. “You’ll let me kiss you, but you don’t trust me to remodel your shop?”

  Now this was blackmail. He was so going on Santa’s naughty list.

  Tandy cleared her throat. Why was she still there? “Who else would you hire, Marissa?” she asked.

  Tandy had a point. If there was anybody in town Marissa trusted to do good work, it was Connor. Even if his work was the reason they’d stopped kissing in the first place. “Fine. I accept. You can remodel our shop.”

  She’d kiss him now and figure out their future later.

  One corner of his lips curved in that adorable half smile. He leaned in.

  She started to melt, like a candle from his heat. From the way he was going to softly brush his mouth over hers then…

  He stopped. Inches away.

  He gazed into her eyes, but not with adoration. With challenge. “So you trust me to do your renovations, but you don’t trust me enough to go out with me.”

  Seriously? He was going to make her decide their future now? In front of an audience? Because everybody had turned to watch.

  She wrinkled her nose. Probably not the most attractive expression she could make, but this was getting ridiculous. She should have let him kiss Tandy.

  Tandy giggled. Did she have a crush on Connor? Marissa had plenty of reasons to suspect so. It would be cruel to both him and Tandy if she led Connor on without plans of dating him.

  “Yes, I will go on a date with you.” There. She was a new person. The kind that would give new meaning to the title Miss Grace Springs.

  Connor gave her his full smile.

  Satisfaction warmed like a cup of Chai. She linked her fingers behind her back to keep from reaching for him. “You can kiss me now.”

  He pushed away from the bookcase. Reached for the doorknob. “Oh no, Marissa. You’re not getting me back that easily.”

  Her jaw dropped.

  He shoved the door forward and winked over his shoulder. “I’ll pick you up on New Year’s Eve. Wear your sequin dress.”

  He stepped through the exit, leaving nothing behind but a chilly swirl of air. Did she just get snubbed? With everyone watching?

  She lifted her chin and spun on her heel to face them. “He’ll kiss me on New Year’s,” she claimed. Her toes curled again.

  Tandy lifted her eyebrows. “You have a sequin dress?”

  Marissa strolled past to return to her apple slice. “Who doesn’t?”

  Tandy followed. “Normal people.”

  Tandy wasn’t being snooty because she really did like Connor, was she? The two women had barely gotten past their caffeine conundrum. They didn’t need something new to separate them. Marissa cringed and looked over her shoulder. “You didn’t really want to kiss Connor, did you?”

  Tandy’s small smile eased the tension. “Not as much as you did.”

  Billie linked herself to Mr. Cross with a hand inside his elbow. “I think there’s someone else Tandy wants to kiss.”

  Marissa lifted her eyes to Tandy, whose cheeks dimpled and eyes sparkled. The sure sign of a crush. Who could Tandy possibly have met in the little time she’d been in town? Marissa had been so busy worrying about Tandy liking Connor that she’d completely missed the blossoming of love. She scrunched her nose. “Who else is there? Randon? Lukey? Jumpsuit George?”

  Tandy’s face lit up with a mixture of delight and disbelief. “Jumpsuit George? Who in the world is Jumpsuit George?”

  “He was our tow truck driver. I guess you didn’t meet him.” Marissa waved a hand. “So who is this secret boyfriend of yours?”

  “You’re a horrible detective.” Tandy laughed. “How did you ever solve a mystery?”

  Marissa smiled and strolled away from the mistletoe to join the group at the counter where Billie poured another round of drinks. “I had a little help with my sleuthing.”

  “That’s the important thing.” Tandy picked up the fancy tea cup in front of her and nodded for Marissa to do the same. “We’re going to continue to help each other out because we’re partners now.”

  Marissa clinked her cup against Tandy’s. “I’ll drink to that.” She sipped the tangy cider and wrinkled her nose. Too sweet. Too sticky.

  Tandy sipped then waited for Billie to turn away before sticking out her tongue in revulsion.

  This was what it was like to agree on something. They’d start here and let everything else be an adventure. Though neither of their cups was filled with their favorite brew, they were both filled with good cheer.

  Author Note

  Dear Reader,

  As a fellow reader who grew up on Nancy Drew, I’m excited to share my very first cozy mystery with you. In the past I’ve written quirky romance and suspense, but now I get to mix my puns with peril, my jokes with jeopardy, and my anecdotes with danger. What could be more fun?

  The idea for these mysteries actually came from my editor, Miralee Ferrell, who enjoyed my crazy coffee shop owners in Finding Love in Big Sky so much she suggested I give them their own series. I tried, but being that they are thirty years older than me, I didn’t feel I could do them justice. Thus I created some younger characters who struggle in areas I can
relate to, starting with learning to work together and offering each other grace.

  Some of the events in the book were taken from my own life, as well. The part about kids throwing snowballs at cars? That comes from my husband’s mischievous childhood. The rides in the back of a police car and in the fireman’s bucket are experiences I’ve personally had through a local safety class—where, thankfully, I learned enough about safety to NOT fall out of the bucket. As for the riverboat setting, I got stuck when writing that chapter and asked my husband if we could immediately drive to the Columbia Gorge to take a cruise. He’s more realistic than I am, so my only knowledge of riverboats came through YouTube. The internet is such a handy tool for writers, and it’s also where I found the true story that inspired the origin of our sneaky diamond thief.

  If you share my infatuation with heist stories, watch for my next novel A Cuppa Trouble. This one incorporates real life events involving car thieves. Of course, all car chase scenes will have to be done carefully so as not to spill tea or coffee.

  Now I’d love to hear what you have to say. You can write me from my website or sign up for my newsletter at: www.angelaruthstrong.com.

  If you want to have input in future books, join us on my Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220/ where I frequently ask for ideas and offer giveaways, follow me on Book Bub to get info on my upcoming releases and sales at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angela-ruth-strong, and/or if you enjoy my books you can help me by reviewing them at:

  Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Ruth-Strong/e/B00B8BSHLE.

  In the same way Tandy and Marissa need each other, I need you.

  Keeping CafFUNated, Angela Ruth Strong

  Now—A Sneak Peek at Book Two

  A CUPPA TROUBLE

  Chapter One

  “I’m turning on the heat, and I don’t mean on the espresso machine.” Tandy rubbed her hands together while standing behind the brick counter tucked underneath the loft that would soon hold Marissa’s foo-foo tea parties.

  Marissa flipped the sign in the bay window from closed to open on the first day at their new shop, A Caffeine Conundrum. “You may get the early crowd with all the Type A personalities to buy your coffee, but this afternoon, the dignified tea drinkers will come in to try my crumpets.”

  Tandy arched her eyebrows. She hadn’t realized she was going into business with an elderly British woman. “You made crumpets? No wonder we don’t have any customers yet.”

  Marissa wrinkled her nose at Tandy before staring out at the falling snow. “It’s this weather. Beautiful but dangerous.”

  Marissa might as well have been describing herself. Her business partner had already spilled water and slipped in it that morning. Tandy refrained from making any jokes because the large wet spot on Marissa’s rear pretty much said it all.

  “Someone’s coming.” Marissa turned and dashed straight into a chair. Thankfully she caught herself against a table and was able to join Tandy at the counter without injury.

  Tandy bit her lip to keep from laughing as she joined Marissa in peering outside to discern whether their first customer would be a coffee or tea drinker. “Oh…” She pointed toward the tubby man turning the corner. “He’s wearing coveralls. He’s mine.”

  Marissa tossed her long blonde waves over a shoulder. “You underestimate my skills as a salesman.”

  Tandy rolled her eyes. Would the men of Grace Springs really start drinking tea simply because the hostess was gorgeous? She’d like to think more highly of men than that.

  The door swung open with a gust of icy air, and the man in question stomped his feet on the mat.

  “Jumpsuit George.” Marissa greeted him with the energy of all the green tea in the world. “You’re our first customer.”

  The man took off his gloves and looked around at the wood floors, white walls, brick accents, exposed beams, and metal table tops. “The place looks nice. I expected you to make it more girly, Marissa, but I’m glad you didn’t. Then it would be awkward for me to stop in for my morning cup of joe.”

  Tandy smacked her palm on the counter in triumph. “Large black coffee?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Marissa narrowed her eyes at Tandy before beaming up at their first customer. “The ground floor has more of an urban feel to it. Upstairs will be decorated with chandeliers and roses for those who appreciate classic taste. It’ll open next week on Valentine’s Day.”

  Tandy would avoid going upstairs at all costs. She cringed and grabbed a mug. “For here or to go?”

  “I need it to go.” The man cleared his throat and faced Tandy, his hazel eyes widening in what she assumed to be relief that she’d gotten him out of talking about roses and Valentine’s.

  Tandy returned the smooth white mug to its tray in favor of the paper cups they’d had designed with their company logo of a coffee bean next to a tea bag. “Headed to work?”

  “Yep.” The man shook his head. “This weather may be bad for your business, but it keeps me hopping. I already pulled a car out of the snow this morning, and I’m in the middle of towing it to the body shop. I can’t believe anybody would try to drive a vintage Corvette in these conditions.”

  Marissa laughed. “Randon Evans, right?”

  Warm steam condensed on Tandy’s hand as she poured her favorite brew. From what she remembered of the local hipster’s bragging, he’d purchased a vehicle based on it being rated best-in-snow. “I thought he drove a Subaru.”

  The tow truck driver shrugged. “He does, but it appears he doesn’t know what to do with all the money he’s making from his phone app software so he started collecting cars. He had me check out this Corvette before he purchased it. Nice ride. A shame he left it stranded on the side of the road when it got stuck.”

  A timer rang in the kitchen behind them, and Marissa pivoted on the stacked heel of her burgundy boot to check on whatever buttery-scented concoction she had baking. Crumpets couldn’t smell that good, could they? “Wait one second, and I’ll let you be the first to try my crumpets.”

  Maybe they were actually tasty, but once Marissa disappeared into the back room, the man rolled his eyes and muttered, “Do I have to try it?”

  Tandy fitted a plastic lid to the cup and handed it to him. “I think I like you. I’m Tandy Brandt, by the way.”

  The man took the cup and sipped. “I think I really like you. I’m George Knibbs.”

  Marissa’s boots click-clacked back into the room, and she held out a shiny new plate with a small, thick, bubbly-looking pancake in the middle. “I call him Jumpsuit George because…” She motioned to his ensemble. “I surprisingly like the color of this jumpsuit. Navy is the new black, you know. Tandy, you should try it sometime.”

  Tandy clicked her tongue. “Black is the color of coffee. You can’t go wrong with black.”

  George took another sip. Probably fuel to make a quick getaway. If the man didn’t want to discuss Valentine’s, then he definitely didn’t want to discuss fashion. “Marissa, if anyone is going to try something new, you need to try a jumpsuit like I’ve been telling you. They are comfortable, and also, if you’re wearing a jumpsuit, it wouldn’t matter if you spill tea on yourself. I’ve got an extra one out in my truck if you want.”

  Tandy turned sideways to face her business partner and grinned. “Yeah, Marissa. Try a jumpsuit.”

  Marissa shot her a pseudo scathing look before pretending to ignore her. “I don’t want to keep you any longer, George, as I know you’ve got work to do. Shall I put this crumpet in a bag?”

  George lowered his chin and voice. “Sweetie, I really don’t want to try your fancy flapjack any more than you want to wear coveralls.”

  Marissa blinked. Or could she be fluttering her eyelashes? “But it’s good. I know you’ll like it if you try it.”

  “Back at ya.”

  Marissa stood taller. Her eyelash flutter hadn’t worked. “Fine. Get me the jumpsuit, and I’ll put the crumpet in a bag.”
<
br />   George tilted his head in what appeared to be confusion. Apparently he’d never thought this day would come. But then, neither had Tandy.

  She shooed him into action. “Go, George, go. Before she changes her mind.”

  George shrugged a shoulder. “A deal’s a deal.” He set his coffee down and headed out the door to retrieve the coveralls in question.

  Marissa leaned closer as soon as he was out of earshot. “Do you think he said that part about spilling tea on my clothes because of the wet spot on my jeans?”

  Tandy pressed her lips together to hold back the belly laughs rumbling around inside. “Perhaps. But even if he didn’t, you have to consider how much money a jumpsuit could save you in dry cleaning.”

  Marissa eyed her up and down. “That’s really why you always wear black, isn’t it?”

  Tandy twisted her lips in thought. She’d never considered wearing anything other than black, but if she wore a lighter color, would she suddenly realize she was as messy as Marissa? “You know if the jumpsuit is black, I’m gonna want to wear it myself, right? It’ll go with my motorcycle boots and leather choker.”

  Marissa’s cappuccino brown eyes widened in horror.

  The bell over the door chimed, and Tandy spun to see what color jumpsuit George had brought Tandy. Only it wasn’t George at the door. It was Connor, wearing his tool belt and a hairstyle that either required a lot of hair paste or naturally looked that messy when he rolled out of bed. Knowing Connor, he’d never even heard of hair paste before.

  Marissa clapped at the sight of her boyfriend. “This customer is mine.” She grabbed a paper cup and opened the mini-fridge for milk. “Connor, I’m going to make you tea the way they make it in Chile. Miss Universe taught me at that pageant I judged last month. I want to know what you think before I add it to the menu.”

  Connor eyed the milk dubiously then slid a quick glance toward Tandy.

  Tandy placed a hand on her hip. “He doesn’t count as your customer if he doesn’t pay.”