Sealed with a Hiss by Addison Moore (read 50 shades of grey .txt) 📕

a wedding to plan? And Georgie, that bacon isn’t going to feed itself to the dogs.”

Georgie jerks back to life and asks Diane’s permission to give Gizmo the tasty treat.

“Go right ahead,” she says before looking to Mackenzie. “So when’s the big day?”

“The fourteenth,” Mackenzie says just as Sherlock and Gizmo growl and snarl as they work to vacuum up every bit of bacon Georgie just flung their way. “Right here at the inn. In the ballroom, in fact. But don’t worry. The party you’re throwing doesn’t deter me. I’ve always wanted a big wedding. As long as I don’t have to feed them, I don’t care how many desperate saps looking for love show up to admire me in my fabulous dress. Speaking of which.” She checks her phone. “My time here is up.”

Diane and Lacey share a quick glance and nod.

“A wedding!” Lacey tosses up her hands with glee. “This is exactly the type of thing the Perfect Pairing needs right now. I’m Lacey Lovelace, of Bobbie and Lacey.” She quickly thrusts her hand at Mackenzie, and they share a vigorous shake. “You’re more than welcome to have the wedding at any time during the night you like.”

Mack takes a moment to scowl at her. What the heck kind of a name is Lacey Lovelace? Most likely her dancer name.

“It’ll be a double wedding.” Mackenzie shudders at the thought. “As it turns out, the father of my groom-to-be is getting hitched, too.”

Lacey gives a long blink. “A double wedding? I couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate a night dedicated to love. I’ll tell you what. I’ll get ordained and perform the ceremony for the entire lot of you. What do you say, Mayor Woods? Do we make a perfect pair?”

Mack nods. “As long as it’s legal, I wouldn’t care if one of these dogs did the deed.” She glances to her phone again. “I have to run for now. I’ll see you all later.” She trots off. “Yes to the tree, Georgie,” she calls out as she heads for the door. “But I get a free ornament!”

“Yes!” Georgie shoots a fist into the air. “That almost makes up for the fact I don’t get to perform the sacred rites.” She scowls at Lacey. “You swiped that rug right from underneath me, lady.”

Lacey laughs at the thought. “That would be my specialty.”

Diane’s chest bucks with a silent laugh. “You can say that again.”

The women take off, and I stare at them long after they leave.

“What are you thinking, kid?” Georgie leans in so close I can feel her breath on my cheek.

“I think we’re going to have a good time talking to Keegan Merritt tonight. It looks as if all of the bullets are pointing her way.”

“I’d better rustle up a date. Know any single seniors willing to mingle?”

“No, but Juni might have a spare. Maybe you can ask her?”

She makes a face. “It’s no use. Her mother never taught her to share. And before you go pointing out the obvious, I’m well aware the culprit is me. But don’t worry. I’ll be there with bells on—and so will the hottie I’m about to hunt down.”

She takes off, ready to stalk her prey, and I stare out the window at the frozen world just outside the inn. The snow is coming down hard, as icy and cold as the killer’s heart.

Someone killed Chip Buckingham.

And Keegan Merritt might just be the one with a glacier in her chest where her beating heart should be.

It’s date night at the Match Box.

Here’s hoping Jasper and I score more than a free dinner—here’s hoping we get a killer out of the deal, too.

Chapter 7

The Match Box happens to be a bar nestled along the boardwalk overlooking the water down at Whaler’s Wharf.

Outside it’s a clapboard building comprised of dark wood that appears wet to the touch, and inside it has a weathered appeal with dark floors and matching furniture. The music is loud, the sound of boisterous laughter hovers a decibel or two over that, and the scent of fresh grilled burgers sends Jasper, and the two gentlemen who have joined us for the adventure, moaning with delight.

Georgie gave up her hunt for a man about halfway through the day and twisted Juni’s arm into lending her one of her own. So Juni is with Dr. Bernstein, the two of them clad in black leather jackets like a couple of biker peas in a Harley pod. And Georgie, true to her word, has shown up with bells on—little silver jingle bells sewn right on the edges of that red kaftan of hers. And she happens to have her arm around Bobbie’s brother, Buck.

That’s right. Juni and Georgie did the boyfriend switcheroo, and neither of them could be any happier.

Buck, the blond surly man, claps along to the music.

“Come on, hot mama.” He does his best to nudge Georgie toward the dance floor. “I’m in the mood to shake and bake with a lady in red.”

“Hold your horses, Chef Boyardee. We’ve got to compete with the young guns here for our free dinner.” She spikes a finger his way. “I hope you memorized that script I gave you.”

I make a face at Jasper. “Don’t worry,” I whisper. “We’re the only real couple here. We’ve got this on lock.”

“You better believe it.” He gives a sly wink. “What’s your favorite color again?”

“Funny.” I give him a playful slug in the arm. “And it’s blue in the event you forgot.”

Or was it lavender? Heck, I could never make up my mind.

The hostess comes over and we ask to sign up for the next slot available to play their reindeer couple’s games.

“The Perfect Match? You’re in luck,” she says. “I’ve got another game opening in less than an hour. I can seat you if you want to enjoy some appetizers until them. Or you can order dinner and, if one of you wins, we’ll deduct the winners’ meals from the bill.”

Georgie snaps