Chocolate Filled Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 16 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) Read online

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  Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright 2015 by Maven Publishing & Summer Prescott Books - All rights reserved.

  All rights Reserved. No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means such as printing, scanning, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

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  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Introduction

  Having a dead body show up in the swimming pool of the cozy little Bed and Breakfast was the last thing that spunky, blonde, Melissa Gladstone-Beckett expected on her honeymoon. Her dashing new husband, Detective Chas Beckett, had stepped in to assist local law enforcement in the investigation of the matter, and had been relieved when, despite the deceased’s turbulent relationship with his wife, the drowning appeared to have been accidental.

  “Should we just go home?” Missy worried, rattled by having a death shatter their otherwise idyllic honeymoon.

  “I don’t necessarily see any reason to cut our trip short, simply because of a tragically unfortunate mishap,” Chas replied pragmatically.

  His new bride shuddered. “Well, it’s not like I can go in the pool now,” she made a face.

  “I understand,” the detective nodded. “If you want to go home, we’ll go, it’s as simple as that.”

  “But…” she was torn.

  “But, what?” he kissed her forehead.

  “I still want to think about buying this place,” she said, gratefully allowing him to pull her into his embrace.

  “Leaving now doesn’t mean that we can’t think about buying this place,” he chuckled softly, her head beneath his chin. “Maybe going home will give us a better sense of perspective about the whole thing.”

  Maggie, the silver-haired live-in Innkeeper, had told them that the historic Inn would be going up for sale, and that commercial developers had been waiting for years to get their hands on the premium beachfront property. Missy had been horrified at the thought of the charming pre-Civil-War B&B being torn down, and had immediately suggested to her husband that they buy the graceful mansion.

  Chas had inherited billions when his father had passed away, and was in a position to live anywhere that he wanted, but had made it quite clear to his wife that he would live a life of service and purpose, despite his wealth. He insisted upon having a job no matter where they lived. When working with the Chief of Police on the swimming pool incident, he had discovered that the small beach town’s Lead Investigator had died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving a vacancy in the department. If Missy wanted to relocate to the sleepy little town beside the ocean, he’d have a built-in position.

  “I think I’d like that,” Missy snuggled closer to the tall, dark-haired detective. “Let’s go home and weigh our pros and cons without the undue influence of waves crashing nearby,” she smiled, content. The couple went upstairs to the honeymoon suite to pack their belongings and make an adjustment to their airline reservations.

  Chapter 1

  It was so good to be home, in sweet, little LaChance, Louisiana, despite the bittersweet goodbyes that Missy had endured since her return. Ben and Cheryl, the managers of her stores, who were like her very own children, and their little girl, Cammie, had moved to California, where Ben had accepted a research position at UC Irvine. Their absence left not only a huge hole in her heart, but a bit of a logistical nightmare as well.

  She’d hired new personnel, for both of her highly successful cupcake shops, Missy’s Muffins and More in LaChance, and Crème de la Cupcake in the nearby town of Dellville, but she sorely missed the competent strength of the husband and wife dynamic duo who had been managing her stores for more than a couple of years. The only staff member who wasn’t new, was a shy, artistic young man, Grayson, who had started working with Missy shortly after Cheryl joined the staff. The pale, soft-spoken youth was a favorite among the customers, despite his tattoos, piercings and dark clothing. He was now managing the LaChance store, and doing a fantastic job, but Missy was having to spend far too much time at the Dellville store, training the new manager and staff.

  Also, moving and leaving a trail of tears in her wake, was Missy’s best friend Echo, a vegan, fiery-haired, free-spirited Californian who could resist the siren’s call of her home state no longer. The abusive ex-boyfriend who was the reason for her fleeing the “Golden State” to begin with, was now in prison for murder and would no longer be a threat to her. After many hugs, tears and promises to visit, Echo had embraced her friend one last time, disappearing into the crowd flooding into the airport as Missy stood, bereft, watching her go.

  Thankful for the simple, loving presence of her golden retriever, Toffee, and her spunky little Malti-Poo, Bitsy, Missy kept them cuddled close on nights when Chas had to work late, but it still felt like something was missing, and there were many nights that she brushed away silent tears of loneliness.

  Every time she visited her Dellville store, Missy looked across the street and saw the transformation of what had once been Echo’s vegan ice cream shop into just another fast food establishment. She’d shared much laughter and more than a few tears with her best buddy over delicious bowls of Vanilla Bean Dream, and the thought of the once-charming little shop being turned into a “get-em-in, get-em-out” burger joint, saddened her tremendously. But, she’d always been a survivor, holding fast to the theory that life goes on, and she tried to make peace with her new reality.

  “You seem sad, Lovebug,” Chas observed over a plate of fettuccini at their favorite Italian restaurant. Missy had been listlessly poking at her food rather than eating it, and had been unusually quiet. She looked up, seeing the loving concern in her handsome husband’s eyes and her lower lip trembled slightly.

  “I’m sorry, Chas,” she sighed, putting her fork down. “Things just don’t seem the same anymore,” she lamented. “I mean, I love you so much, it’s not you at all, it’s just…Echo is gone, and Ben, Cheryl and baby Cammie are gone…” she trailed off, trying not to cry.

  Her husband smiled at her tenderly and covered her hand with his on the tabletop. “I know it hurts right now, but it’ll get better eventually,” he soothed.

  Missy met his gaze directly. “I don’t know that it will, and that’s okay. We’ve entered a new chapter in our lives, and I
think we should make a new start somewhere else,” she said firmly, having given the matter much thought.

  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

  She nodded, and a ghost of a smile played about her lips. “Yes. I want to buy the Bed and Breakfast and move to Florida,” she said quickly, before she could change her mind.

  Chas grinned broadly and squeezed her hand. “I had a feeling you’d say that,” he replied, looking like the cat who swallowed the canary.

  “What did you do?” she asked, smiling and wondering what her husband was up to.

  “I bought the Inn. We can take possession of it whenever you’re ready,” he admitted, bringing her hand to his lips.

  “How is it that you knew what my decision would be before I did?” she challenged, shaking her head.

  “I know my girl,” he grinned and winked.

  “Yes, you do, and I love that about you,” Missy replied, relieved that her mind was finally made up. She’d been wrestling with the decision for weeks, and Chas had wisely just given her all the space that she needed, never saying a word, but purchasing the Inn shortly after they returned to Louisiana.

  Chapter 2

  “Grayson, honey, can you come back here and talk to me for a few minutes?” Missy called from the office of her flagship cupcake store, Missy’s Muffins and More.

  The young man came trotting back to where she sat in her worn leather chair, peeking in the office expectantly. “Yeah, boss?” he said with an affable grin.

  “Have a seat,” she indicated the club chair across the desk from her.

  “Uh-oh, am I in trouble?” he asked, teasing. He knew that she’d been more than pleased with his performance ever since he’d been made manager, before Ben and Cheryl left.

  “Not that I know of,” his boss grinned back. “How do you think things are going?” she asked.

  “With the shop? I’d say that we’re finally back on track. The staff that we have now is reliable, and the customers are happy, so I’d say we’re in good shape,” he nodded. “Why do you ask?” he inclined his head slightly, hoping that he wasn’t about to hear bad news.

  “I wanted you to be the first to know that I’ve decided to close the Dellville store,” she said, releasing a big breath.

  “Wow,” Grayson was stunned. “But…it’s been doing really well too. The numbers are…” he began.

  “Sweetie, I know that the numbers are good, but there are things in life that are more important than money,” she interrupted him. “I want you to always remember that. We may work for a living, but work shouldn’t be our whole life,” she said, looking at him fondly, her words a mystery.

  “Umm…okay,” the young man said, confused. “So, should I say “I’m so sorry” or “congratulations?” he asked, looking at her carefully.

  “A bit of both I suppose,” she smiled softly. She took a deep breath before divulging the rest of what she had to say. “Chas and I are buying the Bed and Breakfast Inn that we stayed in for our honeymoon…and moving to Florida,” Missy said, watching Grayson for a reaction. His eyes widened in shock. His mouth fell open in a stunned O of surprise.

  “I…well…wow,” he stammered, thrown completely off. “So…does that mean that you’re closing this shop too?” he asked, trying hard to keep the panic from his eyes and voice.

  “That depends,” Missy smiled at the dear young man in front of her. He’d been a driving force in the shop ever since he started, and had blossomed from a pathologically shy youth into a creative and enterprising young man, whom she counted on to come up with new cupcake flavors and designs, as well as efficiently and effectively running the shop.

  Grayson swallowed hard, not knowing what to think, and more than a bit worried about his future. His job at the cupcake shop had allowed him to go to art school and move out of his mother’s pig-sty of a home. Without it, he’d probably have to either drop out, or move back home, neither of which was an appealing option.

  “Depends on what?” he asked.

  “On you,” Missy looked him dead in the eye.

  “I…uh….me? How? What do you mean?” the confused lad asked, blinking.

  “Chas and I want to give you the shop as an early graduation present, if you’ll accept it,” she beamed at her young protegee. “This shop had been in my family since before I was born. When my parents died in a car crash, I was just a bit younger than you, and I kept it going, with the help of friends and kind souls in the community. You’re the only “family” that I have left in LaChance, Grayson, and I’d like you to continue the family business, if you’re willing,” she explained, her voice trembling with emotion.

  The young man’s mouth worked as though he wanted to say something, but just couldn’t get the words out. “I…uh…are you….are you serious?” he asked, eyes wide.

  “Absolutely,” Missy nodded. “What do you say?”

  He looked at his boss in utter disbelief, never dreaming that things would’ve ever turned out this way for him. His mother was a raging alcoholic who had abused her mild-mannered son on more than one occasion, and he had no idea who his father was. He’d grown up in this conservative Louisiana town being bullied and mocked, and had managed to get good grades and stay out of trouble by keeping his head down and trying to blend into the woodwork. He ghosted through life, avoiding human contact, because in his world, human contact almost always meant physical or emotional pain, or both…until he’d met Missy, Ben, Cheryl and Chas, who became the family he’d never had.

  Unable to speak, he nodded his head, trying to keep a tight rein on his emotions. Missy would have none of it. She stood, came around the desk and held out her arms for a hug, embracing her “adopted” son while he cried tears of gratitude and love.

  Chapter 3

  Toffee and Bitsy stayed cool in the shade under Missy’s lounger while she soaked up the Florida sunshine on the beach in front of her B&B. She still found it sometimes hard to believe that it had actually happened, she and Chas owned The Beach House B&B. The dogs had happily adapted to life at the beach, and Missy was settling in too, thankful for the companionship of Maggie, the innkeeper whom they’d retained, and a steady stream of guests that kept them busy.

  Chas had taken the position that was left vacant by the untimely death of the previous lead detective, and was chafing a bit at the light workload and easily solved cases that seemed to characterize the simplicity of life in the small, sleepy, beachside town of Calgon, Florida. He was home for lunch every day, and hadn’t worked later than 4:30 since he’d started with CPD. Missy thought that he was a bit bored, but far too polite to say so. He was behind the Inn at the moment, talking with a contractor about expanding the parking lot so that guests wouldn’t have to park across the street, or on the sand.

  **

  “You Beckett?” the sun-leathered contractor asked Chas, squinting in the noonday glare.

  “I am,” the detective shook the man’s gnarled, calloused hand. “You must be Kepner.”

  “Yeah, that’s me,” the man confirmed. “I hear you’re the new lawman in town,” he said, seeming to appraise him.

  “That’s right,” Chas replied. “I’m just starting to learn the ropes. Things are a bit slower paced down here,” he remarked pleasantly.

  “Got that right, and that’s how we like it,” Dirk Kepner nodded. “Shame about the other guy though. Terrible thing,” he shook his head.

  “Did you know him?” Chas asked.

  “His son is one of my daughter’s friends – they went to the same high school, so I’d run into him from time to time at school events and such. Seemed like a nice guy,” he mused. “I guess we just never know what curve balls life is gonna throw us,” he shrugged, then surveyed the parking lot. “So…what’re you wantin’ to do out here?”

  The two men talked logistics for the project, plotting out how to go about expanding the asphalt parking lot, with Kepner giving Chas an estimate on the spot.

&
nbsp; “If ya want references, I got a list of names for ya,” he offered, but the detective shook his head.

  “Not necessary. You came highly recommended. How soon would you be able to start?” he asked, wanting the project to be over with as soon as possible. There were a few repairs and décor changes that he and Missy wanted to make, but the parking lot took first priority because there simply wasn’t enough room for guest parking when the Inn was full.

  “I can get a crew out here this afternoon to break up half of the old lot, and then we can throw down gravel and pour over the top of it tomorrow, and finish up the other half by the end of the week if that works for ya,” Dirk said, looking at the calendar on his phone.

  “That’s perfect,” Chas nodded. “We intentionally kept some of the rooms empty for the next couple of weeks for remodeling, so we’ll have a new parking lot when we’re ready to book at full capacity – couldn’t be a better arrangement.”

  “Alright then,” Kepner stuck out his hand again. “We’ll be makin’ noise and creating a mess shortly,” he chuckled, shaking Chas’s hand then heading for his truck.

  **

  Maggie came into the Wedgewood parlor, where Missy was curled up with a good book, her dogs and a Creamsicle Cupcake that she’d made earlier in the day, to let her know that the decorator, with whom she planned to work on revamping the guest rooms, as well as the private owner’s wing, had arrived.

  Popping the last bite of cupcake into her mouth, and telling the dogs to stay put, she followed the innkeeper out into the gracious foyer, where a tiny, dark-haired woman who looked to be about her age (early 40-something), waited with a huge bag of samples.

  “Hi, I’m Carla Mayhew,” the diminutive woman introduced herself with a lovely smile.

  “Missy Gladstone…er…Beckett,” she amended, shaking the woman’s tiny hand. “Sorry, I’m still trying to remember that I’m now sharing my husband’s name,” she apologized with a smile.