Page 12 of A Dash of Wolf

“I don’t mean to take up your time,” Chief Wolfe said, his deep voice carrying easily across the room. “Or take you away from your customers. I was just doing a walk-through of the shops on Tide Street and introducing myself.”

“I think it’s past time for introductions,” Herschel called out from his usual seat by the window. He took a bite of his Soother Scone and waggled his eyebrows. “Word on the street is you strip searched her.”

“It was humiliating,” Princess Muffin Top said, somehow managing to look indignant even while lying in a fancy cat bed.

Adeline’s mouth fell open. “He did no such thing!” She felt the heat rush to her cheeks and quickly turned her attention back to Rachel. “Is that all you needed, Rachel?”

Rachel nodded, her eyes bouncing between Adeline and the chief like she was watching a tennis match. “Yep. Just the cinnamon rolls. But I’m in no hurry if you need to get the new chief’s order.” She gave Adeline a knowing grin. “Take your time.”

Adeline sighed. If she wanted to move her customers along, she was going to have to give them what they wanted. “Chief Wolfe, can I interest you in a Bad-Day Brownie, or maybe a Zest-for-Life lemon scone?”

He made his way slowly to the counter. Not hard to do seeing as how every customer in the bakery parted like the Red Sea to let him through. Adeline caught the way he frowned as he looked into her display case, and her hackles immediately went up. Why was he frowning at her baked goods? Didn’t he like sweets? She didn’t trust anyone who didn’t like sweets.

He looked up and met her eyes. “I guess this explains why you smelled like sugar and vanilla yesterday.”

She didn’t miss the knowing looks being exchanged all around her. “Guess it does. So, what can I get you?”

He glanced back down at the display case. “Are these all...” He hesitated. “Magically enhanced?”

“If you’re asking whether I use kitchen magic in my baking, the answer is yes.” She crossed her arms. “But nothing I make forces anything on anyone. They’re intentions, not commands. A Bad-Day Brownie lifts your mood. It doesn’t brainwash you into happiness.”

“Good to know.” He straightened up. “I’ll pass for now.”

Adeline stared at him. He’d pass? Nobody passed on her baked goods. Nobody. She reached into the display case, pulled out a Cocoa-Courage Truffle and set it on a napkin in front of him. “On the house, Chief. Consider it a peace offering from the innocent woman you arrested yesterday.”

“I don’t need⁠—”

“It’s a truffle,” Adeline snapped, “not a bomb. Just eat it.”

He reached for it at the same time she pushed it forward, and their fingers brushed. The contact was brief...but it was enough. They both pulled back too fast, and the truffle rolled off the napkin and plopped onto the counter.

Neither of them moved.

Princess Muffin Top’s ears perked up from her bed. “Well, well, well. Did everyone see that, or was it just me?”

“I saw it,” Herschel called out.

Adeline snatched up the truffle, set it back on the napkin, and slid it across the counter. “Enjoy the truffle, Chief.”

Before he could respond, the front door banged open and Edgar from the hardware store came barreling in, his face red and his chest heaving like he’d run the whole way.

“You’re not going to believe this, Adeline!” Edgar leaned against the door frame and caught his breath. “Ivan’s bulldozer won’t start. It seems somebody went out to the marsh last night and removed the battery cables. He’s down there right now, screaming his head off. Says he’s going to sue you for tampering with his equipment!”

Every head in the bakery turned to Adeline.

Including Chief Wolfe’s.

Adeline held up both hands. “Don’t look at me. I have an airtight alibi. I was dancing naked under the full moon last night with Emory, Cassie, and Tempi.” She paused and looked directly at Chief Wolfe. “It wasn’t me.”

“And I can vouch for them all,” Princess Muffin Top said. “I was supervising from a lawn chair, pointing out areas they may need to work on.”

It wasn’t exactly true, of course. They weren’t really dancing naked, but it was funny to see the chief look flustered, like he didn’t know what to say.

Emory came bursting through from the coffee shop side, her dark curls flying. “Did you hear, Adeline? Ivan’s bulldozer⁠—”

“We heard,” Adeline said. “I already told Chief Wolfe it wasn’t us.”

Chief Wolfe’s radio squawked from his belt, and he lifted it to his mouth. “This is Chief Wolfe. Go ahead.”