Trouble in the Tarot Read Online Free PDF Page B

puff mess.
    Not the way I had wanted to greet him for thefirst time. I had wanted to look hot…not like a hot-crossed bun.
    “Why am I not surprised to see you involved in this ruckus, Tink?”
    “Funny, Grumpy Pants,” I said with a smirk.
    He’d nicknamed me Tink—short for Tinker Bell—when we first met, while I’d nicknamed him Grumpy Pants because of his permanent scowl and cranky disposition. Though I had to admit, he’d grown on me. The nicknames had somehow stuck but were uttered with much more endearment these days.
    “I, uh, stopped by your fortune-teller booth at the carnival. You know, to see you first,” he said, looking awkward at having to reveal even that much affection, especially in front of a captive audience. “Sean was there, looking pretty comfortable.” Mitch frowned, his scowl slightly back. “Anyway,” he shrugged, “Sean sent me here.” Mitch surveyed the scene around him. “What on earth is going on?”
    “Anyone care to tell Detective Stone what’s going on, ladies?” I crossed my arms and stared down the crowd.
    “Whoops, look at the time. The flour’s all yours, Gertie,” Fiona said, and with that, she and her Nanas scooted out of the store as quickly as their little old legs could carry them.
    “Darn right it is,” Granny Gert hollered after her. “And don’t bother coming back because I’m buying all the bags off the delivery truck, just see if I don’t.”
    “Who’s going to pay for this mess and damaged goods?” Gretta asked.
    “Don’t you worry, Ms. Frey. I’ll take care of the damages. I’ve got plenty of dough of the monetary kind in my shoe boxes and freezer bags back at the house. It will be worth every penny if Fiona gives up and leaves town for good. In the meantime, send me the bill, dear,” Granny said to Gretta. “I’ve got more cookies to bake.” She left the store without another word.
    “Welcome home, Detective.” I gave him a sheepish grin.
    “I’m not so sure I want to be back after all this.” He grunted. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”
    “He’s all yours,” Gretta said to me. “It’s going to take me all day to clean up this mess.”
    “Speaking of messes. I’d like to clean up a little myself. Rain check?” I asked Mitch, hoping he would understand.
    His gaze softened. “Sure,” he said in a gentle tone. “I just got in anyway. I need to unpack and check in with the captain. I’ll call you later.”
    “That sounds good.”
    He looked like he wanted to hug me, but then he must have thought better of it. “See you later.” He turned to leave but stopped just short of the door and looked over his shoulder, a bit uncertain and a whole lot uncomfortable. Then he cleared his throat and said in that deep smooth voice I’d missed so much, “It’s good to see you again, Sunny.”
    My smile came slow and sweet, and my heart fluttered as I melted inside. “You too, Mitch. Really good.”
    He nodded once and then walked out the door.

3

    The rest of the day went by in a blur. After showering and changing at home, I went back to the carnival and sent Sean home. I kept my eyes open, but there were so many outsiders in town because of the carnival, it was hard to see anything suspicious. Nothing eventful happened to top the mini-mart incident, so I went home that evening to wait for Mitch to call.
    He didn’t.
    It was only his first night back and he had a lot to do, but still. What about me? Us? Didn’t he miss me like I did him? He hadn’t dated in a very long time. Maybe he’d forgotten how. Who was I kidding? Maybe this was all one big mistake.
    Morty appeared at that moment and gave me alook that confirmed my doubts, his plaid bow tie firmly in place. It was hard to take him seriously when he looked like that. He wore a knowing expression, then stuck his nose in the air and pranced out of the room with his arrogance swirling cosmically around him. He’d warmed up a smidgen toward Mitch, but not