Killer Closet Case: a Danger Cove B&B Mystery (Danger Cove Mysteries Book 6) Read Online Free
Author: Elizabeth Ashby, T. Sue VerSteeg
down to the basement, where the huge washer and dryer are kept." She wafted a hand toward the employee door.
"What about the breakfast part of the bed and breakfast ? I'm lucky if I don't burn a bag of microwave popcorn. I guess I can make toaster pastries. I'm sure the guests will clamor back for more." My sarcasm may have hit a new high with that statement.
Mom broke into a giddy clap. "That's the best part. The Cinnamon Sugar Bakery delivers goodies every morning. I've got a standing order that always includes extras."
"Okay, but what about—"
Mom cut me off. "We will only be gone for a week or so, honey, and the busy season is winding to an end. Besides, like I said, Sheila's worked here for years, even before we bought the place. She'll take care of most everything. You should shadow her and learn some of her management skills. You'd be great at a job like this, and she'd be a wonderful teacher."
I paced the floor, ending up behind the couch with a nervous knot in my gut. I leaned forward, my hands death-gripping the back cushions. "Are you sure you have to leave so soon ?"
Dad shifted to face me, a bit of an evil grin contorting his handsome features. "You can come with us. I can probably get a temp agency to take care of things and check on Uncle Eddie."
"Wait, Unc-stable Eddie is here?" Flashes of my childhood popped to mind of a man who'd never met a person he didn't like. Tons of them didn't like him, but that was a different story. Though, tequila generated most of his affection toward others rather than any real bond to speak of.
Dad cast me a wary look. "Don't ever call him that. At least not to his face."
I shook my head, releasing the couch for a second as I traced an X over my chest. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't mean to say it now, even. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed."
He nodded and crossed the room, slipping behind the couch to stand next to me, pulling my hands from the cushions. It was his turn to envelop me in a big hug. He kissed the top of my head. "He rents the attic apartment. It's been nice to have that income while we've been renovating and during the slower times. You'll hardly even know he's here. He has his own exit out back and everything. He just pops in for a muffin or scone in the morning, and poof , he's gone for most of the day."
I rested my head against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. "At least I won't miss you too much, Dad, since he'll be here to roam around in his underwear."
He nudged me to arm's length, his brow knit with just a bit of disappointment. "He deserves our respect. The man practically raised me after my father passed away. He taught me a hell of a lot more than how comfy it is to relax in your recliner without the burden of a constricting waistband. Until you've tried it, you'd best not be knocking it, young lady. Besides, he knows where he can and can't pull that off. He might be seventy, but he's still sharp as a tack." Dad let me go and walked back to Mom, grabbing her hand, pulling her toward the back living area. "We need to go fill up the tank so we can leave bright and early. We should even have time to take the scenic coastal highway most of the way back." He glanced back at me. "Okay?"
I held my hands out to my sides. Like I really had a choice in their hasty exit at this point? I'd already committed weeks ago. I heard them giggling like schoolchildren on a playground as they rummaged around in the back room. I felt frozen in place, unable to even think as the suddenness of everything swirled about me. I mean, I knew what I was getting into. I just thought I had a little more time to adjust. When I heard the RV start up, I thawed out enough to make my way through the front door. With all of the racket, Cristal must have perked up as well, and she wound her way up the walk onto the porch beside me.
"What's going on?"
I linked my arm through hers. "I'm running a bed and breakfast for a week. Starting tomorrow . You can't leave me until I
"What about the breakfast part of the bed and breakfast ? I'm lucky if I don't burn a bag of microwave popcorn. I guess I can make toaster pastries. I'm sure the guests will clamor back for more." My sarcasm may have hit a new high with that statement.
Mom broke into a giddy clap. "That's the best part. The Cinnamon Sugar Bakery delivers goodies every morning. I've got a standing order that always includes extras."
"Okay, but what about—"
Mom cut me off. "We will only be gone for a week or so, honey, and the busy season is winding to an end. Besides, like I said, Sheila's worked here for years, even before we bought the place. She'll take care of most everything. You should shadow her and learn some of her management skills. You'd be great at a job like this, and she'd be a wonderful teacher."
I paced the floor, ending up behind the couch with a nervous knot in my gut. I leaned forward, my hands death-gripping the back cushions. "Are you sure you have to leave so soon ?"
Dad shifted to face me, a bit of an evil grin contorting his handsome features. "You can come with us. I can probably get a temp agency to take care of things and check on Uncle Eddie."
"Wait, Unc-stable Eddie is here?" Flashes of my childhood popped to mind of a man who'd never met a person he didn't like. Tons of them didn't like him, but that was a different story. Though, tequila generated most of his affection toward others rather than any real bond to speak of.
Dad cast me a wary look. "Don't ever call him that. At least not to his face."
I shook my head, releasing the couch for a second as I traced an X over my chest. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't mean to say it now, even. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed."
He nodded and crossed the room, slipping behind the couch to stand next to me, pulling my hands from the cushions. It was his turn to envelop me in a big hug. He kissed the top of my head. "He rents the attic apartment. It's been nice to have that income while we've been renovating and during the slower times. You'll hardly even know he's here. He has his own exit out back and everything. He just pops in for a muffin or scone in the morning, and poof , he's gone for most of the day."
I rested my head against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. "At least I won't miss you too much, Dad, since he'll be here to roam around in his underwear."
He nudged me to arm's length, his brow knit with just a bit of disappointment. "He deserves our respect. The man practically raised me after my father passed away. He taught me a hell of a lot more than how comfy it is to relax in your recliner without the burden of a constricting waistband. Until you've tried it, you'd best not be knocking it, young lady. Besides, he knows where he can and can't pull that off. He might be seventy, but he's still sharp as a tack." Dad let me go and walked back to Mom, grabbing her hand, pulling her toward the back living area. "We need to go fill up the tank so we can leave bright and early. We should even have time to take the scenic coastal highway most of the way back." He glanced back at me. "Okay?"
I held my hands out to my sides. Like I really had a choice in their hasty exit at this point? I'd already committed weeks ago. I heard them giggling like schoolchildren on a playground as they rummaged around in the back room. I felt frozen in place, unable to even think as the suddenness of everything swirled about me. I mean, I knew what I was getting into. I just thought I had a little more time to adjust. When I heard the RV start up, I thawed out enough to make my way through the front door. With all of the racket, Cristal must have perked up as well, and she wound her way up the walk onto the porch beside me.
"What's going on?"
I linked my arm through hers. "I'm running a bed and breakfast for a week. Starting tomorrow . You can't leave me until I
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