Punch, Pastries, and Poison by Harper Lin (ebook reader for pc and android .txt) 📕

my shoulders. I searched his face for any sign of malice but came up empty. I couldn’t imagine that Todd had anything against me.

“Todd? What are you doing here?”

Todd dropped his hands from my shoulders as he turned and saw his girlfriend. “Karli! Hey. I thought I’d stop in to see Fran now that Antonia’s is open again.”

She looked from Todd to me in disgust. I wanted to tell her that I was not interested in her boyfriend, not by a long shot. I had my own boyfriend. He and I might have been going through a rough patch, but I wasn’t looking to trade him in. Instead, I just gave her a warm smile. “Hi, Karli!”

She ignored me and looked at Todd. “I was going to surprise you with a coffee.” She pouted.

“How about I buy you one instead?” He wrapped his arm around her bare shoulders. Winter was definitely over, but I didn’t know how she wasn’t cold in her layered tank tops (blue and green today).

“Okay.” She pursed her lips and tipped her head up. Todd glanced at me sheepishly before giving her a quick kiss. I was surprised that they were being so openly affectionate when they were still trying to hide their relationship from Karli’s parents. She turned to me triumphantly. “I want a large iced latte with extra vanilla syrup.”

I nodded with my best attempt at a bland, neutral smile. I didn’t want to do anything that she might construe as passing judgement on her drink choice.

I made her drink and gave Todd the black coffee he ordered. They left the café with their arms around each other, and I turned to greet the next customer.

Chapter 26

I had planned to stay at the café from open to close, but around late afternoon, I started to flag. Thirteen hours was a long time to be cheerfully greeting people who might want me dead. Sammy was gone, but Rhonda had come in, and business was slow.

“Why don’t you just go home?” Rhonda asked. “I can handle the rest of the day.”

“I’m fine. I was at home for days,” I replied.

The truth was that as long as I was busy at the café, I wasn’t thinking about how Matt and I hadn’t spoken in almost forty-eight hours. Every time I thought about it, I felt nauseous and doubled down on my work.

“Fran. Seriously. Go home. You don’t need to be here. I’ve got this.”

I looked around at the few occupied tables and sighed. Even my level of stubbornness had its limits. “Okay, fine.” I pulled my apron over my head and gave her a hug. “Call me if it gets busy.”

“Will do, chief.” She gave me a mock salute.

I went in the back and hung up my apron. Ryan had been relieved around midday, and I told his replacement I was ready to go home for the night.

“Sure thing,” he said. “I’ll let Detective Stanton know.” He started tapping on his phone.

I grabbed my purse, and I noticed that Sammy had forgotten her skillet. I’d have to remind her tomorrow and make sure she knew that it was a gift. I didn’t need it back.

My cell phone dinged as I put my bag on my shoulder. I pulled it out, expecting some kind of warning from Mike to be careful, but I saw Matt’s name on the screen. And underneath, I love you. I’m sorry.

I replied immediately. I’m sorry too. I love you.

His reply came back before I could even put my phone away. Romantic dinner for two tonight at Fiesta?

My mouth dropped open.

His next message popped up. Mike told me he set you free ;)

My reply was one word. YES

I felt like I was floating on air as the officer escorted me home. I’d had a good day back at the café, and Matt and I had kissed and made up. Well, we’d made up. The kissing would come later.

Latte greeted me at the door like I’d been gone for ten days instead of ten hours.

The officer inside grinned at me. “He’s the best stakeout partner I’ve ever had!”

“He’s a good boy! Yes he is! Yes he is!” My voice descended into doggie-talk as I got down on my knees to give him good scratches. “Can I take him for a walk?” I asked the officer.

“Let me arrange it,” she said.

“Arrange what?” I asked.

“Someone to tail you. Detective’s orders. You’re not allowed out alone.”

I sighed and played with Latte for a few minutes while I waited for the officer to tell me I could go.

Finally, she nodded. “Okay, you can go. Go right at the end of your front walk. There’s an officer waiting at the end of the block to the left. He’ll be following you the whole time but at a distance. His job is to blend in, so don’t worry if you look back and don’t see him. If you do start to get worried, call him. I’ll give you his number.”

I programmed the officer’s phone number into my cell and made sure it was ready to call if I needed to. “Anything else?” I asked her.

“Enjoy your walk!”

I hooked Latte’s leash onto his collar and headed out. At the end of my front walk, I glanced to the left. At the end of a block, a man in jeans and a T-shirt was staring down at his phone. I glanced at my front window. I couldn’t see her, but I knew the officer inside was watching. I took a deep breath, turned to the right, and started walking.

The day was glorious. The sun was shining, the birds were singing in the trees, and a light breeze brought the scent of the ocean to my nose. It was the first time I’d been alone and outside of my house in days.

At the corner, I turned right to go toward Main Street and the beach. I’d forgotten to bring a ball to use for fetch on the beach, but we could walk along