Plus, the method fits,Chip adds thoughtfully.A crime of passion, using whatever weapon was handy. Very believable for someone who snapped under pressure.
“So, what happened at dinner?” Bizzy presses, leaning forward with the expression of someone who’s about to hear the best gossip of the year. “I need a play-by-play analysis.”
“Well, his mother clearly hates me. Like, activelydespises my entire existence. She spent the whole meal making passive-aggressive comments about my commercial enterprise and questioning my professional qualifications.”
“Ouch. What did Detective Dreamboat do?”
“That’s the thing,” I say, feeling that flutter in my stomach again. “He defended me just like he did yesterday at the souvenir stand. Multiple times. He told her I was intelligent, capable, and that my business acumen was impressive. He actually used the wordimpressiveabout me.”
“Oh my.” Bizzy fans herself and giggles. “A man who stands up to his mother for you? That’s serious romantic territory right there.”
Very promising mating behavior,Chip observes.Defending your chosen female against family disapproval shows strong commitment potential.
“And then,” I continue, warming to the subject, “when she was being particularly awful about the theme park, he started asking me questions about the business side of things. Like he was genuinely interested in how I turned around the park’s finances and expanded the merchandise line.”
“A man who appreciates your professional accomplishments.” Bizzy nods approvingly. “Even better.”
“But the best part was when she made some snide comment about my ‘theatrical’ approach to marketing, and he said that turning a crisis into a profit opportunity while maintaining customer loyalty took real skill.”
“Stop it,” Bizzy gasps. “He said that?”
“He said that. And then when I mentioned the Halloween expansion plans, his whole face lit up as if I’d just solved world hunger. Started asking about projected revenue and customer demographics like he actually cares about my success.”
The man has excellent taste in business partners,Fish observes approvingly.Also, in treat-dispensing humans.
“Oh honey.” Bizzy shakes her head with a grin that could meltevery chocolate cookie on that platter. “You are in so much trouble. The good kind of trouble, but still trouble.”
“Why am I in trouble?”
“Because you’re describing a man who sees you, appreciates you, defends you against family criticism, and is genuinely interested in your dreams and goals. That’s not just attraction, Josie. That’s the foundation for something real.”
My heart does a little tap dance at that thought. “You think so?”
“I know so. And judging by the way you light up when you talk about him, I’d say the feeling is mutual.”
So let me get this straight,Sherlock woofs, his voice carrying the weary tone of a cute pooch who’s heard too many improbable stories.You two found another body. At a baking symposium. And now there’s a fancy poodle involved?
Her name is Cupcake,Chip announces with the kind of reverence usually reserved for discussing premium tuna.And she’s magnificent. Like a cotton candy sculpture that learned to walk and developed opinions about petit fours.
Fish’s tail twitches with barely contained disdain.She’s a D-O-G, Chip. A pampered, rhinestone-wearing, probably-eats-from-crystal-bowls D-O-G.
A beautiful, sophisticated, well-groomed D-O-G,Chip corrects dreamily.Did I mention she smells like vanilla and good decisions?
You’ve mentioned it approximately seventeen times,Fish replies with the patience of someone explaining basic mathematics to a particularly slow toddler.We get it. You’re smitten with the circus poodle.
“They met during all this symposium chaos,” I explain to Sherlock. “Chip defended her honor against the feral cat army, and now he thinks he’s starring in his own romantic comedy.” I give him a quick scratch because of it.
It was very gallant,Fish admits grudgingly.Thoughcompletely unnecessary. We could have handled the situation with our natural feline superiority.
Natural feline superiorityis overrated when a lady’s honor is at stake,Chip declares with the righteousness of someone who’s clearly been watching too many old movies, and may quite possibly be in love.
Bizzy glances at the grandfather clock in the corner and stretches. “Well, as much as I’m enjoying this romance strategy session, I should probably head home before Jasper sends out a search party. He gets anxious when I’m out past nine on weeknights.”
She stands, scooping up Fish, who settles into her arms with regal dignity. Sherlock rises and stretches, his freckled coat rippling in the firelight, and we exchange goodnights.
“But Josie?” Bizzy pauses at the library entrance. “For what it’s worth, I think you deserve someone who looks at you the way Detective Dreamboat looked at you today. And I think you’re brave enough to find out where it leads.”
Goodnight, Orange One,Fish calls to Chip.Try not to do anything too embarrassing while I’m gone.
