Murder Wears a Little Black Dress
Page 24
“Well, I’ll be…” Frankie’s gaze shifted to the front door, and Kelly looked over her shoulder.
“Caroline?” Kelly stepped away from Frankie and met her sister at the door. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see what you’ve done to Granny’s shop. And to congratulate you.”
“I’m glad you came.” Kelly’s hand covered her heart. The roller-coaster of emotions continued. Having her sister show up was more than she’d dreamed possible. “Ariel is here too.”
“Great. I’d love to catch up with her.”
“Come on. Let’s go find her.” Kelly went to turn, but Caroline reached out for her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s not going to be easy.”
“I know.”
“Do you have any plans for Thanksgiving?”
The holiday was a week away, and she hadn’t even thought about it. Kelly had been so busy with the boutique after clearing her name in the murder investigations that she didn’t even think about what to do on Thanksgiving. Her focus was on Black Friday.
“No, I don’t.” She remembered Summer’s invitation a few weeks earlier. She’d rather eat a frozen turkey dinner with Howard than spend the day with her uncle and Summer.
“Good. Come to my house. I’m hosting this year.” Caroline looked hopeful and sounded sincere.
“I’d love that. I’ll be there.” She reached out and hugged her sister. The day couldn’t get any better. There were no psychic visions, no séances, no murders, and no arrests. There wasn’t any way the day could get any better.
The bell over the front door jingled and drew Kelly’s attention. As fast as her mood brightened, it plummeted at the sight of Mark Lambert, Dorothy Mueller’s lawyer.
“Miss Quinn.” The handsome lawyer looked good, real good, in a pair of worn jeans and a fisherman sweater. “Do you have a moment?”
Dread welled up in her stomach as she pulled away from Caroline and sent her off to take a look around. Her walk to the lawyer was like a pirate walking the gangplank. She braced herself for bad news.
“Congratulations on your grand reopening and for being cleared as a murder suspect.” He flashed a bright smile, and Kelly noticed he had dimples. He was getting sexier by the minute.
“Thank you. What brings you by today? I don’t think you’re interested in buying any dresses.”
“No, I’m not. I’m here concerning Mrs. Mueller’s lawsuit.” He shoved his hands into his jeans front pockets. “I’ve discussed the case with my client, and she’s willing to drop the lawsuit in exchange—”
Kelly threw her arms around Mark Lambert and hugged him. “That’s such good news! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome, Miss Quinn. But there’s a condition.”
“What?” Kelly pulled back from Mark. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hugged you. That was completely unprofessional.”
Mark smiled. “No need to apologize.”
Kelly composed herself. She was now a local merchant in Lucky Cove and needed to maintain some level of professionalism. “What’s the condition?”
“Mrs. Mueller would like a store discount.”
“Okay. I can do that. Done.”
“Lifetime discount.”
Kelly pressed her lips together. Of course Mrs. Mueller wanted a lifetime discount. “How about I extend to her the employee discount? Do you think that would be acceptable?” The lawsuit and wondering how she’d pay to defend herself had dogged her for weeks, so agreeing to a discount was a no-brainer.
“I think she’ll be agreeable to that offer.”
“This means the lawsuit is officially dropped?”
“Well, I’m afraid I added a codicil to the offer.”
“Codicil?”
“That’s lawyer talk for adding another condition to the original condition.”
“What’s the codicil you added?”
Mark took a step forward. “Dinner with the lawyer.”
She’d fortified herself for some unrealistic requirement she couldn’t possibly afford to agree to, and then Mark’s last words processed in her mind. A date? He was asking her to go on a date? She smiled and nodded.
“I can accommodate that codicil.”
Mark’s grin got wider. “Glad to hear that. How about seven?”
“Sounds good.”
“Kelly!” Pepper called out from the sales counter. “A little help, please!”
“Looks like you have work to do. I’ll see you later.” Mark turned and walked out of the boutique.
After she watched Mark leave, Kelly turned around to face the sales floor and the line that formed at the sales counter, where Pepper was bagging merchandise. She let out a deep breath. The last few months had been rocky, and she wasn’t sure where she was going to land, but never in a million years did she think she’d land back in the place where she began. You could take the girl out of Lucky Cove, but you couldn’t take Lucky Cove out of the girl. But, for now, this girl was staying put. She was home.
Meet the Author
Debra Sennefelder is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, she majored in her hobby of fashion buying before working in retail. Today she lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.
You can learn more at www.DebraSennefelder.com