Free Mango Madness Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 15 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) by Carol Durand

little too loudly, drawing puzzled looks from the
other guests. “That happened to you on the beach, I saw him, (she pointed to
the husband/boyfriend/whatever who was standing behind the woman), grab you and
push you. You know darn well that I didn’t do that!” her kitten grey eyes
flashed fire.
    The
woman’s eyes narrowed and just as she opened her mouth to respond, Chas
intervened smoothly.
    “Excuse
me ma’am,” he spoke to the woman in a low, cordial voice. “I’m going to have to
steal this lovely lady away from you for a moment, won’t you excuse us?” he
smiled politely, spiriting Missy away before her temper burst forth again.
    “Good
riddance,” Missy heard as they glided to the far side of the parlor where they
could have a bit of privacy.
    “Chas,
that, that…woman…” she began.
    “Is
entirely wrong and we both know it,” he said gently. “I vote that we go back
upstairs, get dressed up and head into town for a really expensive dinner, what
do you say?” he suggested, trying to distract his fuming bride. Not trusting
herself to speak, she shot a dark glance at the woman’s back and nodded. They
took a wrong turn down one of the corridors downstairs, trying to find the back
staircase to their room, and happened to end up near the administrative office,
where they heard the sound of someone crying. Peeking in the door, Missy saw
their host, sitting at her desk, wiping away tears and trying to pull herself
together enough to return to the tea party.
    “Maggie?”
she knocked softly on the door frame, startling the poor woman. “Are you okay?
Is there anything we can do?” she asked, moving slowly into the office with
Chas behind her.
    The
innkeeper smiled wanly, wiping her face with a tissue. “I’ll be okay, I just
spoke with the owner of the inn, and he said that he has to sell it. His wife
has been in poor health for quite some time, and they just don’t want the
hassle of dealing with yet another business,” she explained.
    “Oh
no! That’s awful,” Missy sympathized.
    “Yes,
it is,” Maggie nodded. “This place has been a respite for travelers for more
than a hundred years, and when it closes, not only is it the end of an era, but
it’ll be the end of my job,” her lower lip trembled and she bit down to still
it.
    “What
if someone new bought it? Could it stay open then?” she asked, trying to give
her hostess some hope.
    “Even
if they did, there’s no guarantee that they’d keep it as a B & B, or that they’d
retain me. Developers have been trying to get at this prime piece of real
estate for years,” Maggie sighed. “I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t even be
talking to you about this,” she shrugged hopelessly.
    “Don’t
feel bad,” Missy replied. “We won’t say anything. If we can help in any way at
all while we’re here, just let us know, okay?” she offered, her southern
hospitality rising to the surface.
    “Thanks,
but I’ll manage,” Maggie attempted a smile. “You two enjoy your evening.”
    **
    Chas
drove them into the nearest town and headed for a 5-star seafood restaurant
that he’d read about before making the trip to Florida. Since it was a weekday,
and they arrived just after five o’clock, getting in wasn’t a problem, and
sooner than they expected, they were making goo-goo eyes at each other across
the table, and enjoying an ocean view and sunset that was spectacular. They had
an amazing meal which included sweet, tender lobster tails, a chunky, creamy
clam chowder, and young, succulent asparagus. The cuisine reminded Missy of the
delightful fare that Becca Rogers had created for their wedding reception, and
the memory brought a smile to her face.
    “What?”
Chas asked, taking her hand across the table and enjoying her contented
expression.
    “I’m
just so happy,” she confessed, twining her fingers in his. “You know, I’ve been
thinking…” she began.
    “Uh-oh,
that means trouble,” her husband teased.
    She
grinned and