Mystic Legends: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery by Cindy Stark

Author:Cindy Stark [Stark, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blackberry Moon Publishing
Published: 2024-08-22T00:00:00+00:00

Fifteen

I’d flipped my closed sign for the evening and was counting out my till when a knock on my shop’s front window startled me. Butternut hissed, and I glanced up to see Nick’s handsome face peering through the glass. He thumbed toward the door and then headed in that direction.

Part of me wished I had blinds on the big picture window so I could pull them down and ignore him. The other half of me practically skipped to the door to unlock it. At least I was smart enough to pause and get my emotions in order before I opened it.

Nick stepped forward as if he would enter Enchanted Elements until he realized I wasn’t budging. I lifted my brows in a cool manner. “Yes?”

The engaging detective seemed perplexed by my question and then widened his eyes in a challenge. “Can I come in?”

It was so, so tempting to tell him no, but I couldn’t do it. I glanced heavenward as I stepped aside. “I suppose.”

I thought my annoyed reaction might generate a similar response from him, but a slow smile curved his lips instead. “You’re mad at me.”

I nudged his arm with my hand to push him aside, eyeing his handgun as I did, and closed the door behind him. “I’m not mad. I’m just busy.”

He studied me for a long moment, leaving me uneasy, but his smile didn’t wane. “Okay. If you say so. Sorry I couldn’t get away to see you the day we found Roxie’s body. Double sorry if I sounded rude when I told you to leave. But it wasn’t smart for you to be there.”

I’d been insulted enough for one day. “Are you calling me stupid?”

An entertained laugh spilled from him. “Of course not.”

I planted my hands on my hips and shifted my weight to one leg. “Perhaps you think of me as the crazy lady who’s always butting into other people’s business. Annoying like a gnat you wish you could swat.”

He narrowed his gaze then, seeming to catch on to my mood. “That’s not how I would describe you. Has someone else referred to you that way?”

I shrugged. “Not that I would care if they did. I learned a long time ago to do my own thing and not give a fig about others.”

Nick tilted his head and leaned his face closer to mine. “Even me?”

His flirty gesture went straight to my heart. I huffed in annoyance, turned, and strode back to the counter, happy to place the physical object between us.

He followed me over, looking far better than he should in his uniform, and leaned against the counter. His glance slid to the front window where Butternut watched us, and his expression brightened. He abandoned me and strode closer to her.

She sat up, watching him with wary eyes, but she didn’t hiss. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag of Butternut’s favorite treats. For a moment, I wondered how he’d known which ones to buy, but then I

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