Dead in the Daisies (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery) Read Online Free Page A

ceremony.”
    “ Well, if you'd like I can check with Sheriff McDonnell and see if we can spare a few officers to help with security,” Mitchell suggested, gaining him a smile of relief from Sarah.
    “ That would be great. It would be wonderful if we had a few local officers to rely on.”
    “ Absolutely,” Mitchell nodded and finished off his wine. “I'll ask him first thing in the morning,” he paused a moment before continuing. “Speaking of which, I should probably get going. I have the early shift tomorrow.”
    “ I'll walk you out,” Vicky offered and stood up from the table with him. “I better get going, too.”  She hugged Ethan and Rory and gave Phil and Sarah a kiss on the cheek goodbye. “Thanks for dinner.”
    “ Thanks for joining us Mitchell,” Phil called out and reached out to shake his hand. Mitchell gave it a quick shake and then nodded at Sarah.
    “ Thanks so much for dinner and the company ma'am, everything was delicious.”
    “ Ma'am,” Sarah giggled and waved her hand at him. “Any time, any friend of Vicky's is a friend of ours,” she added with a small smile.
    “ True,” Phil nodded.
    “ Are you sure you're not the last man on earth?” Ethan asked and reached for another slice of French bread.
    “ Ethan,” Sarah hissed.
    Vicky wa s laughing as she walked out onto the driveway with her arm locked in Mitchell's. As soon as they were outside he pulled her closer against him. Tentatively he touched his lips to hers, requesting a kiss, which she willingly offered. The caress was sweet and subtle. The time between their encounters seemed to make these expressions of their affection that much more passionate, and Vicky found herself wondering how serious he was about going home.
    “ Want to stop by my apartment?” she suggested hopefully. “I have a new action flick.”
    “ No,” he said, though the word seemed to strangle him as he spoke it. “I would love to, but I know that you have a lot to get ready for. This is important to you Vicky, and I want you to know that I support you.”
    Vicky smiled a little. He always said the sweetest things, but sometimes she wished he'd be willing to be a little less cautious and kind, and a little more wild and free. Maybe that was what was holding her back from him.
    “ All right then, good night,” she said quietly. He brushed her dark brown hair back lightly from her cheek and leaned in to kiss her again. This time the kiss lingered, and his arms wound fully around her waist as he drew her against him.
    “ Good thing the wedding is this weekend,” he sighed as he released her and waved as he strode over to his car.
    Vicky smiled to herself as she watched the car back out of the driveway. Then his words sunk in. The wedding was this weekend. The most famous wedding ever to be held at the inn, and it was mostly on her shoulders! Her eyes widened and she hurried to her car, mentally adding a hundred things to the to-do-list in her mind.
     
    ***
     
    Vicky stayed up most of the night putting together different packages to suggest to the bride and groom. She had an idea of the simplistic wedding they wanted, but there were a few special details, such as the flowers and the catering that were a little more involved. When the sun rose she woke feeling drowsy, but very excited. She felt as if everything was coming together just fine. She decided to meet Sarah for a cup of coffee in the restaurant attached to the inn. As she was walking across the lobby to meet her, she encountered a woman with her head hidden in the bulky hood of a man's coat.
    “ May I help you?” Vicky asked with surprise when she saw the woman. It was very early for a guest to be walking in.
    “ No one can help me my dear,” the woman replied with such hopelessness in her voice that it still took Vicky a few moments to recognize who it was.
    “ Aunt Ida?” she asked hesitantly.
    “ Formerly known as,” Ida nodded sadly.
    “ What do you mean?” Vicky asked with