Free Buttercream Bump Off by Jenn McKinlay Page A

last night with the detectives?” he asked, taking a seat at the counter.
    “It could have gone better,” Mel said. She opened the back of the display case and began shifting cupcakes to make room for a fresh batch of Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes. It was one of her favorites, an orange cupcake topped with vanilla buttercream and garnished with a candied orange peel.
    “What detectives?” Angie asked as she came back from delivering Mr. Zelaznik’s water.
    Mel hadn’t told Angie about the night before, because she didn’t want to have to admit that she’d blabbed about Angie’s date to save herself.
    “It was no big deal,” she said. “They just had some more questions.”
    “No big deal?” Tate gaped. “They impounded my grill.”
    “Come again?” Angie looked between the two of them as if they’d suddenly started speaking Swahili.
    The bells on the door jangled, and in strode Roach, looking every inch the rock star that he was. Angie broke into a smile at the sight of him, and he grinned at her in return.
    Hopping up and leaning over the counter, he planted a kiss on her that did not give Mel the impression that this was new territory for him.
    “I missed you,” he said, tossing his long black hair over his shoulder. “I have a few hours before rehearsal. Come away with me.”
    “I . . .” Angie glanced at Tate and Mel. “Um . . . we ran into each other at RA, the sushi restaurant, and . . .” Her voice trailed off, and her cheeks flushed bright pink.
    “Ange, I don’t think . . .” Tate began, but she froze him with a hard stare and said, “Let’s keep it that way.”
    Angie glanced back at Roach. Then she took off her apron and tossed it onto Tate’s shoulder. “You can cover for me, right partner?”
    “But . . . but I . . .” Tate stammered.
    “I’ll meet you guys later for the show,” she said. She tucked her hand around Roach’s elbow, and with a wave he led her to the door. It shut behind them with a soft sigh, and Tate turned to Mel.
    “She’s dating that? Our Angie is dating that?”
    “Tate, you knew it was Roach from the Sewers. He looks just like he does in his videos. What’s the surprise?”
    “How is it he knows her well enough to kiss her like that?”
    “I guess they had a good time last night.” Mel shrugged.
    “Last night?” Tate huffed. “Before I had a chance to check him out? He could be a murderer! Has she thought of that? Huh?”
    “Oh, I wouldn’t go there if I were you,” Mel said. She still had scorch marks from Angie’s temper yesterday when she’d forbidden her to date a possible murderer.
    “Did you see those tattoos?” Tate continued. “They look like jailhouse tattoos to me.”
    “I thought he looked cool,” Mr. Zelaznik said around a mouthful of cupcake. “I bet I could get any babe I wanted if I looked like him.”
    “Well, who asked you?” Tate snapped.
    Mel tied the apron on Tate, ignoring his hysterics.
    “Why don’t you go get another batch of cupcakes from the cooler?” she suggested. “I think you need some time to chill.”
    Tate grunted and, still muttering, banged through the door to the kitchen.
    Mel shook her head. It appeared Angie had finally gotten Tate’s notice. But judging by how happy she looked with Roach, maybe it was too late.
    Tate helped Mel load the cupcake display case. From his silence, she could tell he was still fuming about Angie and her date. She put him to work wiping down the tables before the post-lunch rush while she boxed up several special orders in back and put them in the cooler to await pickup.
    Tate was just putting away his cleaning supplies in the closet when his phone rang its distinctive James Bond theme. He yanked it out of his pocket and checked it.
    “Yes! I’ve been waiting for this,” he said to Mel. “Do you mind if I take it in your office?”
    “Not at all,” she said.
    She glanced at Mr. Zelaznik, who had looked up from his cupcakes and crossword, and they both