Cocktails & Casualties by Carly Wayne

Author:Carly Wayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery, amateur sleuth, tropical island, summer read, beach
Publisher: MoonShine Caravan
Published: 2023-07-01T00:00:00+00:00

Distant Early Warning

Ronnie continued to handle the bar brilliantly. Things got a little tense during happy hour, as he had to consult the recipe book Teddy had provided for almost every drink. The orders became a little backed up, and Teddy had to take over to get the customers satisfied again.

“You’re doing great, Ronnie,” she consoled him. “You’ll memorize the recipes soon enough. Just take your time and learn to do them correctly.”

“I’ll never get all these formulas in my head. Is it okay if I take this book home to study it?” He asked.

“Sure, of course. Just remember to bring it back.” She appreciated his determination to learn.

Once the dinner rush was over, Nate arrived at the bar, his shoulders tense and his hands fidgeting. He cleared his throat. "Hey, Teddy," he said. "Do you have time for a quick meal? I've got some information I can share with you."

Teddy glanced up from the notepad she was reading. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to interpret Nate’s clues on how to act after his declaration this morning. She didn’t want to hurt him further. "Absolutely," she replied, her voice guarded. "I've got some stuff to tell you too." She motioned toward a nearby table, her gestures stiff and hesitant. "Why don't you have a seat at Hawk's table? I'll be right over."

Nate’s brows furrowing in disappointment. He tried to hide the lingering hurt in his eyes as he forced a smile. "Maybe Jazz can join us? I'm sure she wants to hear it too."

Teddy's shoulders tensed even more, a subtle flinch escaping her. She swallowed hard, her lips trembling slightly. "Oh... okay," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's about time for her break. I'll let her know."

He nodded and headed toward the table. Teddy motioned to Jazz to join them.

“Hey! What’s up?” Jazz said.

Teddy asked, “Do you think you have time to take your break now? Nate says he has some information for us.”

Jazz looked around at the dining room, noting that there were only a few customers in her section, “Yes, absolutely. Hey, Nate. Can I put an order in for you first?”

“Sure. I haven’t eaten dinner yet. I’ll just have whatever Javier has on special tonight,” he said.

“Just bring me an appetizer sampler,” Teddy said, “I haven’t eaten yet either.”

“I’ll be right back,” Jazz turned and headed for the kitchen.

The silence felt awkward, so Teddy tried to fill it. “So, how’s your day been?” It was a generic question, but given the situation, probably the wrong one. This was a totally new situation for Teddy. She never knew anyone long enough for them to fall in love with her. How was a girl supposed to act when she turned them down? She hated the fact that even though she was thirty-one years old, she was as naive as a teenager when it came to navigating relationships.

“It’s been fine,” Nate replied. “I talked to Clayton today. He said that Hawk’s body will be delivered to the funeral home on Saturday, so we can finally get a memorial service planned.

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