Nun of That (A Deadly Habit Cozy Mystery, Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

a new session of jabs and snipes.
    “Someone robbed the convent?” Gemma asked.
    I sighed. The night was going downhill rapidly. I proceeded to explain my encounter with the first attractive, young man to show up in town in years, perhaps in living history, for all I knew. According to Gemma, dinosaurs still roamed the earth the last time the town saw a really attractive man. Janet, of course, had to point out that her husband was voted best physical form last year. Gemma pointed out that form and face were separate things altogether. Trying to keep these two on topic was like trying to herd cats. Then again, Bernard would probably be easier to deal with than these two.
    “I have this darling dress I would lend you, Rose.” Janet studied me with a worried frown. “But I think it would be a little tight on you. How about you come to the gym for a health-wrap, and then a hard one hourly session? It's guaranteed to take a couple inches off.”
    “Oh gee, great pep talk there, coach.” Gemma and Janet glared at each other. Gemma turned her attention back to me. “Be comfortable. But try some heels. Show off those fabulous legs of yours.”
    “Come on you two. This is a murder investigation, not a date.” I felt my face color at the D-word. How long had it been since I’d gone out with someone other than my friends, come to think of it?
    “Well, it wouldn't be a conventional date, Rose.” Gemma gave me a coy look. “But c'mon. You're an innovative girl. You can find a way to talk him into going from the convent to coffee, at the very least.”
    “Not coffee. Caffeine is the leading cause of -” Janet started.
    “Back off the coffee and no one gets hurt,” Gemma said in a warning tone.

Chapter Five .
     
    I stood in the back room of my shop, sanding a rough edge of an old, wooden chair I had picked up for the store. I knew it would sell quickly - wooden chairs always did - but it needed a bit of love and care before it was ready for the shop floor.
    It was almost midday, and a steaming mug of coffee sat on the work table next to the chair. Customers had been thin on the ground that day, which on the one hand was good as it gave me more time to work on furniture, but on the other hand was bad, because it meant less money. I had just paused for a sip of coffee, when I heard the buzzer under the front door mat make its typical sound as someone entered the store.
    I picked up a rag and rubbed it across my palms, flaking away the small, wood shavings. I took up my coffee cup and hurried out into the store. There was a small counter that ran along the back of the showroom, and Adam was standing there. He looked every bit as handsome as he had previously. I was pleased to see him, but I was a little disappointed that he wasn’t a cashed-up customer.
    “Hi Adam,” I said, taking another sip.
    “Hey,” Adam said, lifting a travel mug up as he laughed. “Great minds think alike, huh?”
    I laughed. “Believe me, I live on this stuff.”
    “I hear you,” Adam said. Then he paused, and took a breath. “Have you eaten, or do you only drink your lunch?” he asked.
    I laughed. “There’s a bakery down the street, best chocolate éclairs on the planet. We could get some to eat on the way.”
    “Deal,” Adam said. “Lock up; I’m parked outside at the curb. I’ll drive.”
    “Okay,” I said. I hurried upstairs to grab a jacket and dump my coffee into my travel mug. I slapped the lid on it and rushed back downstairs. Outside I put on the light jacket, just enough defense against the chill breeze blowing as the world around us turned into autumn. Trees were a little less green, a little more red and yellow and brown.
    In autumn mornings, before the sun was fully up, when it was just something over the horizon which threw purple streaks heavenwards, you could see your breath before your face. But it was too late for that; the sun was well free of the horizon, fat and yellow, and the sky was blue, without a speck