Free The Cats that Played the Market (The Cats that . . . Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Karen Anne Golden Page B

Asking Jake to be my escort?” Katherine asked quizzically.
    “No, not that. I meant, was that a good idea, laying out your new dress, considering that your cats chew on clothes?”
    “Oh, no problem. I shut the door.”
    Colleen filled the tea pot and put it on the stove. “Later, send me a selfie of the two of you. Daryl’s picking Mum and me up at five. He’s taking us to meet his parents — ”
    “Oh, really. Meet the parents?” Katherine interrupted.
    Colleen frowned. “I’m a nervous wreck. What if they don’t like me?”
    “Just be yourself.”
    “Katz, I don’t mean to be mean , but you’re yourself around Jake’s mom, and she acts like she can’t stand you.”
    “Oh, so you noticed. She could have at least come over and said hello, but that’s her problem. I’m dating Jake, not Cora.” Changing the subject, she said facetiously, “Want a cookie to go with your tea?”
    “I ate too many. I feel sick. Now I have to eat dinner with Daryl. How am I going to pull that off?”
    “You’ll be fine. Just stop worrying.” Katherine glanced at her watch and stood up. “Don’t have time for tea. I’ve got to get a move on if I’m going to make my hair appointment. I’m getting the works: hair, nails, and makeup.”
    “Okay, see you later. If I’m not here when you get home, I hope you have a wonderful time.”
    “Oh, Colleen, can you do me a big favor? Can you feed the cats before you leave? They’re used to eating dinner at five.”
    Colleen scrunched up her nose. “Okay, just point out the food.”
    “Super, it’s on the counter! Give them each a small can. They like eating in here. Thanks so much.” She grabbed her bag and hurried out of the mansion.

    Chapter Five
    When Katherine returned to the pink mansion, the cats hardly recognized her. The hair stylist had cut wispy bangs, which emphasized her large green eyes. A cosmetic artist applied makeup she’d never dream of choosing herself, but as she looked in the salon mirror, she broke out in a wide smile. She wondered how Jake would react when he saw her. With her short black hair styled, her nails painted a rich burgundy, and a Hollywood-worthy makeover, she couldn’t wait to put on the short cocktail dress.
    Walking in the atrium, the cats greeted her at the foot of the stairs. They eyed her suspiciously. Iris danced in and out of her legs and nearly tripped her several times.
    “Miss Siam,” Katherine scolded. “Stop trying to kill me.”
    “Yowl,” Iris sassed.
    Katherine began climbing the stairs. Scout and Abra had already gone ahead. Several times, they stopped and turned around to look at the alien, who looked like their person, but smelled differently. Abra turned up her lips in apparent disgust. Scout hissed.
    “Okay, that’s it! It’s me,” Katherine said. “I’m trying to look good for the big event, but you fur kids don’t seem to approve.”
    At the top of the stairs, Katherine turned left to go into her great aunt’s former bedroom and was startled to see the door open — wide open. She had specifically shut the door so the cats wouldn’t go into the room.
    “Scout,” she accused. “I know you opened it.”
    Scout and Abra turned on their heels and ran down the stairs. “Ma-waugh,” Scout cried defensively.
    Rushing through the doorway, Katherine immediately realized her mistake in laying out the dress. There, on the bed, was her sexy black cocktail dress — for the event of the season — completely covered with cat hair.
    “Oh, no. You didn’t!” she exclaimed. In shock, she stared at the disaster for a moment, then directed her attention to Lilac and Abby who sat on their haunches at the foot of the bed.
    “Proud of yourselves?” she asked the guilty-looking cats.
    Abby hiccupped. “Chirp!” she cried brightly.
    Immediately, Katherine remembered a similar scene where Abby had eaten a hole in Colleen’s Irish cable-knit sweater. “Oh, no,” she said, quickly picking up the dress and