The Iced Princess Read Online Free PDF Page A

as contract workers to avoid all the extra paperwork required by the state for regular employees. They had both agreed to those terms, and neither cared what they got paid, or if they got paid at all.
    I rolled out of bed wishing I had slept more than a few hours but hopeful things would go well. I showered and dressed and put on my usual light dose of makeup without trying to cover the light freckles that sprinkled my nose and cheekbones. A few people had told me they gave me a youthful look. I was thirty-seven and never really thought about how old I looked. And I had quit fretting about the generous curves I carried.
    A final check in the mirror confirmed I was good to go in my flowing navy skirt and ivory blouse. My wardrobe was not in the same league as Molly’s, but it was of good quality. I had a number of suits, both with pants and skirts, and I often combined a jacket with a nice pair of jeans, or a silk blouse with a skirt. Not too dressy, not overly casual. Just right for me.
    â€”
    W hen I got to work, Pinky was hustling around in her shop, cleaning up after her morning rush. “What are you doing here so early?” she said.
    I glanced up at the Betty Boop “Boop-Oop-a-Doop” clock that hung on the wall behind her counter. “I thought I’d get a jump on the day, seeing how we’ve got some job training to do. I’m going to write down procedures, like how to run the cash register till, how to ring it out, things like that.”
    â€œGood idea. Cami, as long as you’re here, would you mind covering for me while I run to the grocery store? I went through more milk and cream this morning than usual.”
    â€œWith it getting colder, that makes perfect sense. My parents used to tell me we need to put a little meat on our bones for extra insulation during our long winters. I know I get hungrier when it gets colder.”
    â€œYeah, I think they’re right. Milk and cream definitely add calories.” She grabbed her pocketbook from a cupboard under the counter. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
    A minute later the bell on her door dinged. I tensed up a bit when I saw it was assistant police chief Clinton Lonsbury and wondered why he had that effect on me. Clint wore his usual serious look all the way to the counter. “Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
    â€œI run the adjoining shop and make my way in here from time to time.” As if he didn’t know. My words came out with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
    He nodded slowly. “Where’s Pinky?”
    â€œRunning an errand. Do you need her?”
    â€œNot specifically. I stopped in for a cup of coffee.”
    Be nice to the patrons, Cami.
“I’m covering for Pinky. What can I get you?”
    Clint glanced up at the menu. The featured brew of the day was the Gobbler, a dark blend with spices and cream. “I’ll take the special, heavy on the cream.”
    My face broke out in a huge smile.
    â€œWhat’s funny?” he said.
    â€œYou just gave further support to my parents’ theory that we need extra calories in the winter.”
    He shrugged. “I guess we do. Shivering in subzero temperatures burns ’em all off.”
    I turned and walked to the other side of the counter, keeping my back to him so he wouldn’t notice how his commenttickled my funny bone. I served up his drink and set it down in front of him. He settled down on a seat at the counter and took a slurping sip that was so loud it sounded like he was wearing a microphone.
    A shudder ran through me. “Honestly, Clint, with all the cream in there, your coffee cannot possibly be that hot.”
    He didn’t care in the least. “Force of habit, I guess.”
    I considered making it my mission in life to break him of that annoying habit. There must be a guide out there somewhere with tips. There certainly were all kinds of them for things like quitting smoking and biting