Footprints in the Frosting (EBOOK)

Check your email for a download link from Bookfunnel. Click on the link to download your ebook.

Send the ebook to your favorite reading device or read on the free Bookfunnel app.

Chapter 1

Something was wrong.

Early morning light trickled through Holly’s cozy apartment, and she desperately tried to hold onto the fragments of a good dream. Her scalp prickled, a tingling that spread down her neck. She startled awake.

With narrowed eyes, she studied her small room, filled with flea market finds. The antique dresser barely fit, but Holly fell in love at first sight with the blue paint, chipped enough to reveal the white underneath. So what if there wasn’t enough space in the tiny room for anything else? When she first saw this apartment, directly across from her new business, Just Cheesecake—she couldn’t turn it down.

Her gaze flitted about the room as she tried to figure out what felt wrong. The tiny doggy bed next to hers was empty. Muffins!

No wet nose nudged her awake this morning. She let out a huff of frustration. That dog! Ever since she’d left home to strike out on her own, that cute, tiny, mangled ball of fur had transformed from obedient-watchdog-with-a-sixth-sense-for-danger to runaway-train-wreck at every opportunity.

Quickly, Holly wrapped her pink and black polka-dotted robe around her latest purchase of cotton pajamas, the top and bottoms covered with tiny frogs. In the store, when she’d looked closely, the googly eyes and pink tongues won her over. Plus, she’d wanted to invest in the local economy of her new hometown.

“Muffins!” She called for him several times while searching her apartment, which didn’t take long. He wasn’t under the bed or in the bathroom or waiting by the door to be let out. “Muffins!” She hoped he’d magically appear. “Bad dog,” she muttered.

In the kitchen/living room, she stopped short. The door to her apartment hung open a crack. Her keys hung on a hook in the wall. She’d stumbled in late the night before and never locked up. She must not have even shut the door all the way! Early morning air seeped through.

She raced to the large window by her table-for-two—another flea market find. He wasn’t anywhere to be found. Holly searched across the street and saw a flash of gray.

“Muffins!”

It was still early, probably not even six a.m. She could dash across the street, catch her little runaway, and be back before anyone noticed. Her grand opening was at nine.

Her grand opening!

She smacked her forehead. How could she forget? That had been part of her dream, tons of customers and cheesecake flying from the shop as if it had wings.

Without hesitating, she slipped into her flip-flops—a little chilly for this early in May—and ran onto her small deck, down the wooden steps to the dirt driveway. She shared the tiny parking space with other tenants. Not many cars were on the road this time of day, so she sprinted across the street.

After several minutes peeking behind and under the few cars parked in the small lot, Holly stood with her hands on her hips. He was nowhere. Out of breath and feeling frazzled, she plopped down on a stone bench. That dog! Several evil thoughts passed through her mind about what she should do to him, but she immediately dismissed them. Muffins was her one link to her parents. Regardless of his recent bad behavior, she had a soft spot for him.

Letting the cool morning air calm her down, she couldn’t stop the giddy feeling or the smile at the sight of her shop. The large red and yellow banner above the entrance screamed Grand Opening. She’d worked hard for several weeks, preparing for today. Her shop was nestled between a charming restaurant, Oodles, and a touristy gift store, Gotcha. Perfect. She’d hopefully get lots of foot traffic. Especially since she’d signed a contract with the restaurant to provide the cheesecake they offered on their menu.

Her thoughts wandered to the competing bakery a little ways down the street. She bit her lip. Hopefully, the owners were reasonable, and they wouldn’t hold a grudge. A little competition was healthy for everyone.

Or it would put her out of business before her business venture had a chance.

“Hello, there. Are you lost?”

She stiffened, remembering she was still in pajamas. Heat from a blush spread rapidly across her cheeks. She looked up to find what most women would consider to be an incredibly good-looking man. Chestnut hair fell in soft waves around a classic handsome face. His ruddy complexion gave him the appearance of youth, but she figured him to be at least a few years older than her twenty-two years. In her previous life—the one she’d escaped—she’d had enough of suave, handsome men to know they couldn’t all be trusted. And this guy fit the bill. From the manicured nails to the pressed suit and tie.

“I happen to know exactly where I am.” She stood, hoping to gain a little dignity, but he still towered over her by a foot.

He smiled, cautious but friendly. “That’s good to know. I was just making sure.” He stuck out his hand while studying her attire. “The name’s Mason.”

She forced a laugh and shook his hand. “I’m Holly, and I don’t normally parade around in my PJs, but my dog escaped.”

“Maybe he craved a cup of coffee. Shall we go see?”

She laughed. “Sure.” Mustering every ounce of dignity required to strut about in PJs, she walked with him across the parking lot and into Oodles. Her mother would absolutely fall over in a faint if she could see Holly, undignified and dressed in nightclothes.

Inside, the smell of dark brews and breakfast greeted her. Would Muffins have ducked through when someone opened the door? “See a tiny gray dog with mischief stamped all over him?”

Mason looked about as if he owned the place. “Nope. But let’s get some coffee. We’ll keep an eye out.”

They walked to the counter. As they passed the community bulletin board, Holly noticed again, the invitation to a murder mystery book club. As soon as she had time, she’d grab the phone number.

“We’re getting stared at,” Mason said. “Do I have toothpaste on my tie? Did I forget to tame my bed head?”

She laughed. “Oh no, it’s me. Look at me.”

He stepped back and sized her up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He smiled. “I thought frogs were trending in women’s clothing.”

“Right. Let’s order and get out of here.”

Holly ordered a medium coffee with a vanilla swirl and sugar. Mason asked for a mocha and a Danish.

He pointed to a small table. “Shall we?”

Hmm. This was turning into more of what seemed like a date. She slid into a seat. “Everyone’s looking at me. Maybe I should leave?”

He sipped from his to-go cup. “Nah, you’re with me. No one will say a thing.”

“A little cocky, aren’t we?” She knew his type, and even though so far he’d been nice, it was only a matter of time before his true colors showed.

He lowered his head in humility. “Some might think so but I hope you’ll get to know me before judging me by the clothes I wear or the size of my house.”

His words softened her heart. She knew what that was like too. People assumed she was snooty because of where she used to live. No one would think that of her now, not in this little town and not with her tiny apartment and her cutesy pajamas. She smiled. “How do you know I already don’t know you?”

“This town’s pretty small. I know a new face when I see one. Have you met many people so far?”

She sighed. “Not really. I’ve been so busy settling into my apartment and preparing for the grand opening, I haven’t really had a chance.”

“Oh. So Just Cheesecake is yours?”

“Yup. You’ll stop in later, right?” At least she’d have one customer.

“Definitely. I’m in town early for business. But I’m glad I came or I wouldn’t have bumped into you.”

Holly hid her blush behind her cup and quickly changed the subject. “Why don’t you tell me about some of the people to watch out for then.”

He nodded toward a man with a long Santa Claus beard. “That guy over there is the worst. Definitely trouble.”

“Why?” she whispered, leaning over.

He glanced right and left and leaned so their faces were inches apart. “I’m kidding. He’s my family’s lawyer, and he’s the jolly old man he looks like. In fact, he might really be Santa Claus. He’s probably waiting for me.”

She sat back, acting disgruntled, but she couldn’t fake it for long. “Anyone else?”

He offered a weak smile. “I’m probably not the right person to ask. Most seem to shy away from me.”

Holly nodded, flashing back to her years of living in her parents’ influential neighborhood. There always seemed to be a wall between her and everyone else. Developing friendships took longer than usual.

The door opened with a whoosh. An older lady clomped inside. Her graying brown hair looked like it hadn’t been combed. Her yellow rubbers reached to her knees like a storm was about to blow through any minute. “Who’s that?”

“That’s Charlene, the crazy cat lady.”

Holly watched with interest as Charlene tacked a piece of paper to the board and then clomped back out. “She seems like a no-nonsense kind of person.” Holly already liked her. She could use honesty in her life. No more lies and deceit.

“You could say that.” He tapped his watch. “Not sure how much longer Santa’s going to wait.” He stood. “Nice meeting you, Holly.”

“You too.”


* * *

Outside, almost forgetting about her PJs, Holly saw a flash of gray dash into her shop. Muffins? Her shop should be closed and locked. That was odd.

Ignoring the curious looks, she walked across the more crowded parking lot and peered into the window. The insides lay in darkness. In a few short hours, hopefully, the place would be busting with business. At least Mason promised to stop by, her one and only friend so far in the town of Fairview.

After a moment of hesitation, shocked at the broken lock on the door, she pushed it open and stepped inside. She tried to ignore the growing sense of dread. The place seemed empty. Quiet. Normally, the black and white tiled floor and retro tables and the counter with the glass showcase below brought her peace and satisfaction.

Muffins whimpered from the kitchen.

The same sense that wakened her from sleep this morning, returned. She crept across the floor and stopped in the doorway to the kitchen. Pawprints trailed across the tiles. She reached over and pressed her fingers against it. The creamy texture felt familiar. She sniffed it. Frosting. Her buttercream frosting she made for her special deluxe cheesecake. Triple the sweetness.

How had Muffins gotten it on his feet?

She flicked on the light. His prints in the frosting led to the back corner, where he sat whimpering. Next to him laid a body, facedown in one of her deluxe cheesecakes.