Reluctant Romance (18 page)

Reaching the kitchen at high speed, Lexy scooped up Sprinkle’s pink dog bowl and filled it with dog food from a stainless steel canister she kept handy on the counter. Glancing out the window, she couldn’t help but sneak a peek through the gap in the fence at Jack’s house.
Was he home?

Sprinkles danced in circles waiting for her food bowl, her nails making clicking noises which
stole Lexy’s attention from the window. She bent down, placing the bowl in front of the dog.
 

“You be a good girl.” She scratched the little dog behind the ears, then hearing her own stomach growl, she stepped over to the fridge.
 

Pulling the door open, she reached in and grabbed an eclair. Giving silent thanks that she was blessed with a high metabolism, Lexy shoved the end of it in her mouth. The cold, creamy filling coated her taste buds and she heard herself making little “nummy” sounds.
 

She stood there for a moment enjoying the rest of the eclair, then rummaged in the fridge for something to eat on the way in to work. She felt lucky she could eat whatever she wanted without gaining an ounce because it allowed her to bring home all the day-old bakery items she didn’t want to sell in the store and enjoy them herself.

 
Grabbing a cream cheese frosted pumpkin muffin, she closed the fridge door, then grabbing her keys from the key rack, she ran out the side door to her car.

***

Lexy rushed through the backdoor of the
Cup and Cake
without a minute to spare. She took a deep breath, the aroma of sugary baked goodness filling her nose. She stood there a moment to savor it.

“Morning!” Her perpetually cheerful assistant, Cassie, appeared in the kitchen doorway. Her magenta hair spiked up on her head gave the impression of an exotic bird. The vintage 1940s cherry patterned apron she wore was already covered with something red and gooey.
 

“You’re in early today,” Lexy said with a smile. Best friends since high school, Cassie always made Lexy smile. She had hired her when she opened the bakery and Cassie had proven to be an invaluable asset with her artistic creativity and dedication to the success of the bakery.

Lexy kept a peg rack by the door with a selection of vintage aprons. She choose a light green one with big pink cabbage roses on the front. Slipping it over her head, she peeked out into the main bakery area.
 

“Is anyone here yet?” The front of the store had a large window with an amazing view of the waterfall. To take advantage of this, Lexy had recently setup a few tables in front of it so people could eat their pastries and have tea or coffee while enjoying the view.

“No.” Cassie checked her watch. “I was just about to open, though.”
 

Lexy nodded, she could smell the pungent aroma of coffee brewing. “Thanks for starting the coffee, what do you have going in back?”

“This morning, I’m doing some raspberry turnovers.” Cassie said, pointing down to the red gooey stuff on her apron.
 

Cassie usually liked to get in before the bakery opened for customers so she could concentrate on some baking without interruption. Then, once open, the girls took turns at watching the front and baking in back. Their long time friendship kept them in tune and enabled them to synchronize the day perfectly. The arrangement worked for them both.

“OK, you keep at it and I’ll open up and then tidy some of the cases and put some of the freshly baked goods out.” Lexy pointed her chin towards the large glass front cases where the baked goods were displayed.

Cassie nodded and turned back to the kitchen. Lexy made her way to the front door. Unlocking it and turning the sign on the door to Open.

Grabbing some paper towels and a spray bottle filled with organic cleaner, she opened the big case in the middle of the store and started removing some of the items inside. She brought out trays of cannoli's, eclairs’s, half moons and some of her signature pieces - cupcake tops, and placed them on top of the case.
 

Wriggling to get a good position for cleaning, Lexy had her front half in the case, her back end sticking up in the air when the tinkle of the bells over the door alerted her to the presence of a customer.

“Just a sec.” She said, extracting herself from the case like a contortionist climbing out of a trunk.
 

“How can I help yo.....” Her words were cut off, her mouth forming a surprised O when recognition dawned on her. Standing on the other side of the case was Jack Perillo, her neighbor. But somehow he looked different. It took her a minute to realize the difference was the official looking badge he was holding in front of her face.

“Oh... Hi.” She said, her mind whirling.
Did he come just to visit her?
 
And what was the badge all about?

“Hi Lexy.” Lexy saw a look of discomfort pass his face. He quickly added, “I’m a detective with the BRPD, and, unfortunately, I need to ask you some questions.”

“Questions?” Lexy felt her face eyebrows knit together in confusion. “I don’t understand. What’s this about? Did something happen to my grandmother?”
 

“No, Mona is fine, it’s about your boyfriend Kevin.”

“Kevin?
 
He’s my
ex
boyfriend. I haven’t seen him in almost two years.”
 

“Well, I’m sorry to tell you he was found dead. Murdered.”
 

The impact of the news hit Lexy like a ton of bricks.
Murdered?
Kevin?
 
Even though they had broken up two years ago,
and
he had treated her badly, she still felt a pang of sympathy for him.
 

“Murdered?
 
But what does that have to do with
me
?”
 

“Well, that’s the thing,” Jack said, his face a mask of stone. “He was found face down in a box of your cupcake tops...they were poisoned.”

Lexy felt a jolt of shock, her head was swimming, her ankles starting to feel wobbly. She grabbed the side of the display case to steady herself, wishing that, just for once, she had the good sense to wear shoes with a lower heel.

Click Here to download a Sample or to order Killer Cupcakes from Amazon!