Summer at Seaside Cove Read Online Free Page B

blueberry muffin is my favorite smell. “I’m afraid that’s not good enough—”
    â€œ ’Course, Milton’s is closed up for the next two days, so you’ll need to head to the Piggly Wiggly ’bout ten miles down Route 4 for any supplies between now and then.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œLuther Milton, the general store’s owner, is recuperating from gall bladder surgery and closed the store for a few days. But don’t you fret, Miss Jamie, Nick’ll be back soon. Paradise Lost may not be fancy, but I predict you’re gonna fall in love with the place. It’s sure to grow on you.”
    Yeah. Like mold on cheese. Before she could state that opinion, Jack said, “Try the circuit breaker—that’s most likely the problem. If not, there’s sure to be emergency candles and a flashlight in the house. No need to worry about airconditioning—far as I know Paradise Lost doesn’t have any. So just do what the locals do—open the windows and enjoy the ocean breezes. That’ll air the place out and take care of your fish smell problem, too.”
    Had he just said no air-conditioning? Holy Freakin’ Heat Wave. She was going to die here. In the dead clam inferno. “But—”
    â€œOh, and just in case you were planning a walk on the beach, don’t go too far. Another frog strangler like the one last night is fixin’ to blow through in the next little bit.”
    â€œFrog strangler?”
    Jack chuckled. “A sudden, heavy rain—comes down so fast the frogs can’t escape.”
    Jamie didn’t particularly fancy herself a girly girl, but yuck. An image of hundreds of poor, struggling frogs being strangled by a wall of rainwater flashed through her mind. Damn it, who thought up that crappy expression? She’d probably have nightmares. “Uh, thanks for the warning.”
    â€œMy pleasure. Oh, and a word to the wise—you might want to steer clear of your neighbor on the other side, Melvin Tibbs.”
    â€œWhy? Is he an ax murderer?” Which would be just her luck.
    â€œNo. At least not that I know of. Ha, ha, ha. But he’s as ornery and grumpy as they come.”
    Swell. But grumpy Melvin wasn’t going to be a problem because she wouldn’t be staying more than one night.
    â€œOops, the wife is callin’,” said Jack. “I gotta get a move on. Welcome to Seaside Cove, Miss Jamie. There’s no other place like it in the world.”
    Uh-huh. She didn’t doubt that for a New York minute.

Chapter 2
    A fter ending the call with Jack, Jamie slipped her phone back in her pocket, drew a deep breath, then headed toward the door. Since she was stuck in Casa Stinko for the night, there was a lot to do, and she made a mental list as she carefully maneuvered her way down the rickety stairs. Drag up the rest of her luggage she’d left on the driveway before the frog strangler (ewww!) hit. Check the circuit breakers—although she apparently didn’t need to rush to do so because if that wasn’t the problem, then she was apparently shit out of luck.
    What else? Oh, yeah. Find emergency candles and flashlight. Locate source of fishy stench—not something she was looking forward to. Dispose of source of fishy scent—again, not looking forward to. Set up food, water, and a makeshift litter box for Cupcake since the general store was closed due to gall bladder surgery. Good thing there was lots of beach sand around here. Good Lord. Could this get any worse?
    As if to answer her question, she heard an ominous rumble of thunder. “Perfect. Just freakin’ perfect.”
    She heaved her three overweight suitcases—jeez, had she packed anvils in them?—over the gaping hole caused by the two missing steps, up the stairs, and abandoned them in the kitchen. Grabbing the keys, she trotted down the steps again and crossed the carport to the storage closet