Hot Chocolate and Homicide

by Cindy Bell

  “Got it.” She smiled. “I should probably get Mee-Maw home. I know she has to be exhausted.”

  “Good idea. Oh, and good news.” He smiled. “I’m going to have some free time tomorrow. Can I take you out?”

  “Absolutely.” She leaned up and kissed him again, with a lot more passion than he might have wanted on display in the middle of the police station, but she didn’t care. For a few moments in the truck, she’d believed she would never celebrate another Valentine’s Day with him, never spend another day with him, and she didn’t want to pass up a single opportunity to kiss him.

  On the way to Freely Lakes, Charlotte’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.

  “Mee-Maw, what’s that about?” Ally glanced over at her.

  “It’s Jeff.” She sighed and stared down at the phone. “I guess he heard about everything. I told him I’m fine, but he keeps asking questions.”

  “That’s sweet of him. Are you going to see him tonight?”

  “I’m tired. I’m not sure about that.” She shrugged.

  “Do you want me to stay with you?” Ally pulled into Freely Lakes and parked near the entrance.

  “No, it’s all right. Take the car tonight, and pick me up in the morning.”

  “Okay, Mee-Maw.”

  “Good night, Ally.” She kissed her cheek. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too, Mee-Maw.”

  Charlotte stepped out of the car and headed inside. Her entire body was heavy and achy from rolling around in the truck. All she wanted to do was lay down. However, once she did she couldn’t sleep. Her restless mind kept returning to the day. Finally, a few minutes before midnight, she texted Jeff.

  I can’t sleep.

  A moment later, he texted back.

  Be there in two minutes.

  She smiled at the thought, and suddenly it struck her that she didn’t just want a friend to come comfort her. She wanted Jeff. The thought of seeing him made her heart flutter. She was already far more involved than she intended.

  When she answered the door, Jeff hugged her, then stood back to take a good look at her.

  “Charlotte.” He brushed his palm along the curve of her cheek and studied her. His eyes were anxious, as if he didn’t quite believe that she was there. “Are you hurt?”

  “No.” She smiled some as the warmth of his touch soothed her nerves. “Not really. Just so glad to be free. I’m sorry, I guess all of this must have ruined your plans for Valentine’s Day. I’m not sure I’ll have enough energy for everything you had planned.”

  “Yes, it’s true.” He gazed into her eyes. “I had a lot of plans for tomorrow night. Maybe too many. But all I really want is to take another walk under the stars with you.”

  “Me too.” She sighed as she leaned against his chest. It didn’t matter what she called him, or whether he wanted things to become more serious. The only thing that mattered was that his arms were around her, warm and strong, and not asking for anything more than her presence.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day, Charlotte.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too, Jeff.” She turned her head up enough to meet his lips for a soft kiss.

  The End

  ***

  Thank you very much for reading ‘Hot Chocolate and Homicide’. I hope you enjoyed it. You can sign up for my cozy mystery newsletter to be notified of my latest releases so you don’t miss out on the special new release price at

  http://www.cindybellbooks.com

  Hot Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

  Ingredients:

  Cupcakes:

  1 teaspoon baking powder

  1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

  1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  5 1/2 ounces butter

  1 cup light brown sugar

  3/4 cup milk

  2 eggs at room temperature

  Chocolate Frosting:

  1 cup confectioners’ sugar

  2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

  2 1/4 ounces butter, softened

  2 tablespoons milk

  Mini-marshmallows for decorating

  Preparation:

  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  Line a 12-hole muffin pan with cupcake liners.

  Sift the baking powder and flour into a bowl. Sift the cocoa powder into another bowl.

  Melt the butter, brown sugar and milk together in a double boiler. Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. Leave aside to cool slightly.

  Whisk the eggs into the milk mixture.

  Gradually add the baking powder and flour into the milk mixture and mix until combined.

  Pour the mixture into a jug and divide between the cupcake liners.

  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

  Leave in the pan for 10 minutes to cool.

  Remove from the pan and cool completely on a cooling rack.

  To make the chocolate frosting. Sift the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder into a bowl.

  In another bowl cream the butter, milk and half the cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar.

  When combined add the rest of the sugar mixture and mix together until smooth.

  Smooth the frosting over the cupcakes with the back of a spoon.

  Decorate with mini-marshmallows.

  Enjoy!

  Also by Cindy Bell

  Dune House Cozy Mysteries

  Seaside Secrets

  Boats and Bad Guys

  Treasured History

  Hidden Hideaways

  Dodgy Dealings

  Suspects and Surprises

  Ruffled Feathers

  A Fishy Discovery

  Danger in the Depths

  Celebrities and Chaos

  Pups, Pilots and Peril

  Bekki the Beautician Cozy Mysteries

  Hairspray and Homicide

  A Dyed Blonde and a Dead Body

  Mascara and Murder

  Pageant and Poison

  Conditioner and a Corpse

  Mistletoe, Makeup and Murder

  Hairpin, Hair Dryer and Homicide

  Blush, a Bride and a Body

  Shampoo and a Stiff

  Cosmetics, a Cruise and a Killer

  Lipstick, a Long Iron and Lifeless

  Camping, Concealer and Criminals

  Treated and Dyed

  A Wrinkle-Free Murder

  Sage Gardens Cozy Mysteries

  Birthdays Can Be Deadly

  Money Can Be Deadly

  Trust Can Be Deadly

  Ties Can Be Deadly

  Rocks Can Be Deadly

  Jewelry Can Be Deadly

  Numbers Can Be Deadly

  Memories Can Be Deadly

  Paintings Can Be Deadly

  Snow Can Be Deadly

  Tea Can Be Deadly

  A Macaron Patisserie Cozy Mystery Series

  Sifting for Suspects

  Recipes and Revenge

  Mansions, Macarons and Murder

  Nuts About Nuts Cozy Mysteries

  A Tough Case to Crack

  A Seed of Doubt

  Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mysteries

  Murdering the Roses

  Dead in the Daisies

  Killing the Carnations

  Drowning the Daffodils

  Suffocating the Sunflowers

  Books, Bullets and Blooms

  A Deadly Serious Gardening Contest

  A Bridal Bouquet and a Body

  Digging for Dirt

  Chocolate Centered Cozy Mysteries

  The Sweet Smell of Murder

  A Deadly Delicious Delivery

  A Bitter Sweet Murder

  A Treacherous Tasty Trail

  Luscious Pastry at a Lethal Party

  Trouble and Treats

  Fudge Films and Felonies

  Custom-Made Murder

  Skydiving, Soufflés and Sabotage

  Wendy the Wedding Planner Cozy Mysteries
>
  Matrimony, Money and Murder

  Chefs, Ceremonies and Crimes

  Knives and Nuptials

  Mice, Marriage and Murder

  About the Author

  Cindy Bell is the author of the cozy mystery series Donut Truck, Dune House, Sage Gardens, Chocolate Centered, Macaron Patisserie, Nuts about Nuts, Bekki the Beautician, Heavenly Highland Inn and Wendy the Wedding Planner.

  Cindy has always loved reading, but it is only recently that she has discovered her passion for writing romantic cozy mysteries. She loves walking along the beach thinking of the next adventure her characters can embark on.

  You can sign up for her newsletter so you are notified of her latest releases at http://www.cindybellbooks.com.