Danger and Demons (A Spellbound Bookshop Mystery Book 11) by J A Whiting

Author:J A Whiting [Whiting, J A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J A Whiting Books and Whitemark Publishing
Published: 2026-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

13

Thursday afternoon brought the kind of lovely spring weather that made people forget winter had ever existed. The sky stretched overhead in unblemished blue, and a gentle breeze carried the mingled scents of the ocean, fresh flowers, and—most prominently at the moment—Lucy’s spectacular baked goods.

Shelby stood behind a white-draped table on the town common, arranging lemon tarts on a tiered display, while Lucy fussed with the handwritten menu board propped on an easel beside their booth. The pastry chef had decided to take advantage of the festival by setting up her own vendor space, showcasing the catering business she’d been building alongside her work at the Seaside Inn.

“Does this look professional enough?” Lucy asked, stepping back to examine the menu board with a critical eye. “I keep thinking I should have had it printed instead of hand-lettering it.”

“It looks perfect,” Shelby assured her, “personal and charming. People at a spring festival don’t want corporate polish—they want homemade and authentic, which is exactly what you’re offering.”

The booth was indeed charming. Lucy had draped the table in crisp white linen and added small vases of fresh tulips. Her pastries were displayed on vintage cake stands that caught the light—lemon tarts with glossy golden curd, strawberry cream cakes topped with fresh berries, chocolate lavender cookies dusted with purple sugar crystals, miniature apple galettes with latticed crusts, and cream puffs filled with vanilla bean custard.

A hand-painted sign declared: “Lucy’s Catering - Sweet Creations for Every Occasion” with contact information and a promise of “Custom orders welcome!”

Harper had insisted on coming along and now sat regally beside the display, as if she were the official quality control inspector. Her fluffy tail wrapped neatly around her paws, and she tracked every passerby with the intensity of a predator evaluating potential prey.

“At least Harper’s keeping the pigeons away,” Lucy said with a laugh, noticing a group of birds eyeing the pastries from a safe distance but unwilling to approach with a cat on guard.

“She takes her responsibilities seriously,” Shelby replied, knowing that Harper’s presence had less to do with pigeons and more to do with keeping watch over Shelby and Lucy in a public space where three professional killers were known to be operating.

Their first customer appeared almost immediately—a middle-aged woman with kind eyes who purchased three lemon tarts and enthusiastically praised the glossy appearance of the curd.

“These are exactly like the ones my grandmother used to make,” she said, carefully accepting the white bakery box Lucy had packed them in. “Are you available for catering? My daughter’s graduation party is in three weeks.”

Lucy’s face lit up. “Absolutely! Here’s my card. Just call or email with the date, number of guests, and what kind of desserts you’re interested in, and I’ll put together a proposal for you.”

After the woman left, clutching her tarts and Lucy’s business card, Shelby grinned at her friend. “See? I told you this was a good idea.”

“I’m terrified and excited in equal measure,” Lucy admitted, adjusting the position of a cream puff that had shifted slightly.

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