Chapter 3

In walks a six-foot-tall wall of muscles carrying the most adorable pooch you ever did see, and every woman in the bakery with functioning ovaries stops to gawk his way—and at the handsome detective holding him, too. Have I mentioned the fitted Italian suit the detective is wearing? Cooper is basically a masterpiece in motion.

The little furball in his arms wiggles with excitement and he's as cute as a pumpkin patch. Instantly, the bakery erupts in a chorus of coos, as if someone unleashed a horde of adorable kittens—or in this case, puppies.

"Watson," we all cry at once at the furry little cutie and Lottie runs over and steals the fluffy little floof right out of Cooper Knox's arms.

"Would you look at this little angel?" Lottie sings. "My heart just melted faster than a marshmallow in hot cocoa. I'm claiming this cutie as my own personal Halloween treat."

Watson would be the butter blonde golden shepherd puppy that Cooper and I inadvertently adopted together about a month ago, and we've been swapping him out between us as any good co-parents would do. Mostly he stays at my place, but when I need to be here, Cooper takes the little guy to work with him.

"What's going on?" Cooper sheds a short-lived smile. With his dark wavy hair and marbled blue-green eyes, my heart or my hormones never stood a chance.

Niki sheds her own quick grin, albeit far more mischievous. "We were just talking about Effie's knack for stumbling into danger. I think we can both agree it's a lot like watching a blind cat in a room full of rocking chairs."

I'd frown at my sister for likening me to a blind cat, but I can't take my eyes off the lethally good-looking detective in front of me.

And why a blind cat? Is that the vibe I'm giving off?

Cooper shoots me a stern look as if agreeing and my stomach cinches on cue.

I can't help it. He gets me with that stern expression each and every time.

Who wants a guy who smiles like a clown all day when you can have Cupertino Lazzari give you dirty looks every chance he gets?

Don't judge me. I've always had a hankering for the dark side.

Suze shrugs as she walks away. "Whether it's Effie tripping over a body or Lottie following the scent of trouble like a bloodhound, I have a feeling Honey Hollow is about to get spookier than a haunted house on Halloween night."

Cooper nods my way. "I have a feeling she's right."

"Why is that?" I practically hop over the counter in an effort to lean his way.

"Because you live here," he flatlines.

"What about me, big boy?" Niki asks while swinging her hips his way like a sultry witch on a broomstick. "Let's not count me out of the fun. I may have the grace of a drunken zombie, but my gut instincts are as sharp as a vampire's fangs. I can get spooky with the best of them."

I can attest to that. She's scared her last three boyfriends right out of town.

The chime goes off on the door once again and in struts Naomi Turner, a sultry seductress with a reputation for turning heads and dragging any man she wants straight to bed.

And if history proves to be the best teacher, then I already know which man she has her sights set on.

She swoops across the room, her eyes laser-focused on Cooper as her lips curve into a seductive smile that could charm the fangs right off a vampire.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Detective Knox," the stunning brunette purrs, her voice dripping with enough seduction to make any halfway decent saint blush. "It seems you've stumbled upon quite the welcoming committee." She takes a moment to glower my way. "I hope you're not easily frightened," she says, gliding her finger down his tie.

Cooper chuckles. "I can handle a cupcake or two." He glances my way and my insides bisect with heat at the thought of being one of the cupcakes in question. "So how are you doing?" he asks and Naomi lights up like a Christmas tree.

I can't help but frown at him.

Why would he care how she's doing?

Unless he's about to arrest her for a homicide, I don't see any business he has with this woman. We both know she spent all last month trying to sink her claws into him.

"Funny you should ask." Her eyes twinkle his way. "I've got a juicy secret to share. I'll be moonlighting over at the new Tavern of Terror by the lake. I'm helping out as a hostess until they find someone to permanently fill the position."

"The Tavern of Terror?" Lottie asks. "That's a part of that new haunted house attraction just down the street, isn't it?"

"That's right," Naomi says. "A couple of investors decided on profiting from the fact this town is haunted from top to bottom and they're running a haunted house with a restaurant on the ground floor. It's bound to give your mama's haunted bed and breakfast a run for its ghostly money."

Everyone knows Miranda Lemon's bed and breakfast is haunted by genuine ghosts—or so the rumor goes. Seeing that Suze happens to live there doesn't surprise me at all. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Suze herself was the reason for the permanent haunting at that place.

Hey? Maybe Suze is a ghost?

Nah. We're not that lucky.

Naomi winks over at Cooper just as Lily slides over a scone and a latte to go for her bestie.

"Anyway, it's going to be the hottest spot in town for some spine-tingling fun," Naomi tells him in an effort to lure him to her zombie-riddled lair. "You should swing by tonight and join the fright fest."

"Actually, I am headed that way this evening," he tells her. "I guess I'll see you there."

Naomi takes off and Niki is the first to growl his way.

"Don't fall for it, Coop," Niki warns. "That temptress is about to suck your soul out by way of your?—"

"Niki," I hiss and shake my head at her.

"I was about to say toes," she insists. "Should I be concerned about some competition?" Niki hikes a brow at him.

"You've got nothing to worry about," he's quick to assure her as Suze glides a coffee and a chocolate glazed cruller his way—Coop's usual. "I'm not falling for her seductive siren song." He casts a quick glance at me. "I've got enough mysteries to unravel when it comes to women."

He's got that right. Although if he unravels mine, it might land us both in the grave. As it stands, he's the only one staring at an open hole in the ground. And I'm the unlucky soul that's been sent to push him in.

"Ooh, and dinner at the Tavern of Terror," Lottie says while nuzzling with that furball who steals half the bed at night—my bed to be exact. "You'll have to tell us what it's like."

"Talk about a coinkydink." Niki grins his way. "Effie and I were plotting a dinner at the Tavern of Terror tonight ourselves. I guess we'll see you there."

Cooper cocks a brow at me. "I guess you will. I'll see you later." He nods as he scoops up Watson and ducks out of the bakery.

And just like that, our impromptu date is locked and loaded and ready to go—or in this case, blow.

The Tavern of Terror.

Just the mention of it sends a shiver down my spine.

Halloween is almost upon us—a night where tricks abound and secrets spill like candy.

Here's hoping my own secrets can stay in place and Cooper is none the wiser to my Glock-wielding ways.

Although that whiteboard behind his desk with a picture of every one of my so-called hits does raise a brow. Cooper was assigned to the task of unraveling the mystery that landed a rash of men in the ER with bullet wounds, and yet not one of them wanted to file an official report. He's already let me know he thinks it's a sloppy mob job.

Sure, those may not have been his exact words, but I know he was thinking it. And sadly, I would be the one doling out the sloppy hits.

Face it, he'll be onto me soon enough. But I'll do everything I can to divert it.

"Buckle up," I say to Niki as Suze and Lily get back to work. "I have a feeling this Halloween is going to be filled with more twists and turns than a haunted corn maze."

"And let's hope those twists don't involve murder," Lottie says as she walks by.

I'd agree, but I don't think we're that lucky.