Enchantments and Espresso by Jinty James

Author:Jinty James [James, Jinty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Before Maddie had a chance to talk to Suzanne, her nemesis, Claudine Claxton, walked over to the truck. A stout, forty-something woman with jet-black hair cropped short, she’d been Maddie’s boss from hell. Until Maddie had quit and opened Brewed from the Bean with Suzanne – and Trixie.

“Guess all your customers visited my café for lunch.” She smirked.

“We were busy,” Maddie said coolly, when Suzanne didn’t reply.

“Did you close your truck again?” Claudine tsked. The whining nasal sound of her voice went straight through Maddie’s ears. “You’ll never keep your customers if you keep playing hooky.”

“Was there something you wanted, Claudine?” Maddie tried to keep her voice polite.

“Just wanted to let you know that some of your customers are mine, now.” Her eyes lit up with satisfaction.

“I don’t think so, Claudine.” Suzanne finally spoke. “When our customers realize we’re open for lunch tomorrow, they won’t give you a second thought – or a second chance.”

“We’ll see about that.” Claudine hmphed, and turned on her heel, stalking back to her café across the town square.

“I’m sorry for our customers.” Suzanne shuddered.

“I still can’t believe some people drink her coffee.” Maddie winced. “It’s truly horrible stuff.”

“And even your awesome barista skills couldn’t save it.” Suzanne shook her head. “I honestly think that woman is deluded.”

“Let’s not even talk about her.”

They had a few more customers that afternoon, but just after three o’clock they considered closing up a little early.

“I can make some health balls now so we’ll have plenty for tomorrow.” Suzanne grabbed her phone. “I’ll just write a list for the grocery store.” She checked her watch. “And we’ll even be finished by four.”

“Hello, Maddie and Suzanne.” An attractive male voice with a faint Spanish accent.

“Ramon,” Maddie and Suzanne murmured to each other.

“Hi Ramon.” Suzanne bounced to the counter, her ponytail swishing.

“Hello, Suzanne.” Ramon’s eyes crinkled at the corners. He was in his early forties, and had charcoal hair and liquid brown eyes.

“Hi, Ramon.” Maddie hopped off her stool.

“How was your first catering job?” he asked, an interested expression on his handsome face.

“You haven’t heard?” Suzanne suddenly looked troubled.

“No.” He looked at her in inquiry. “Tell me, Suzanne. What is wrong?”

Ramon was a talented masseuse, with his own salon in the corner of the town square. Suzanne raved about his massages, and the two of them were flirtatious with each other at times, but now, he looked concerned.

When Suzanne just shook her head, Maddie quietly told Ramon everything that had happened so far.

“I didn’t do it, Ramon.” Suzanne looked like she was about to cry. She hardly ever cried.

“Of course you did not,” he told her. “No one who met you could ever think you are a killer.”

“Really?” Suzanne asked hopefully.

“Really,” he confirmed, giving her a smile that in other circumstances Maddie suspected would make her friend swoon. It nearly made her swoon, and she was madly crushing on Luke!

“Detective Edgewater is investigating the case,” Maddie told Ramon.

“That is good. He seems to be a fair man.”

“Yes.”

“And we’re going to

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