Burned in Broken Hearts Junction: A Cozy Matchmaker Mystery (Cozy Matchmaker Mystery Series) by Meg Muldoon Read Free Book Online Page B

always, that made me feel a little uncomfortable. I wished that it weren’t so cold outside and that instead, we could be sitting out on the nursing home’s large deck, overlooking the river, far away from the depressing fluorescents of the cafeteria.
    But despite the bad atmosphere, it was worth it to see Lawrence for our weekly donut day. Every Sunday morning, I’d come over with donuts, and he’d school me at card games.
    He took another bacon maple bar from the pink pastry box, and bit into it. His eyes lit up behind his thick bifocals.
    “It’s nice to know that some things never change,” he said, taking another large bite, closing his eyes and savoring each moment of the fried sugar dough.
    Hank, who I always brought along when I visited Lawrence, sat with his head on the old man’s lap, looking up hopefully at the donut.
    Lawrence broke off a small piece and dropped it down to the St. Bernard. He caught it in his mouth and chowed down, acting the part of starving and deprived dog. Which we both knew couldn’t be farther from the truth.
    “So, seems like things are getting rougher at The Cupidthese days,” Lawrence said, a passing concern flitting across his face as his eyes fixed on my swollen cheek again.
    I shrugged.
    “Just another Saturday night.”
    “Wasn’t that way when I was in charge,” Lawrence said, a faraway look in his eyes. “The Cupid was a no-nonsense establishment back then where women didn’t get hurt.”
    I pat his hand.
    “I’m fine,” I said, for the hundredth time.
    He grumbled something inaudible, taking another bite of his donut.
    Once upon a time, Lawrence had owned The Cupid. He got the nickname “Law Dog” back then because he didn’t take crap from anybody, and because he was notorious for kicking people out.
    Especially minors with fake IDs.
    Which is how we had met, all those years ago, the night I tried to get in to see The Rusted Spurs .
    I spent years being angry at him about that, but these days, it seemed like ancient history, given everything we’d been through together.
    About seven years ago, Lawrence sold The Cupid and used the money to retire on. I think he’d have rather had his son or grandson take over, but neither of them had any interest in running the saloon.
    “Dale and Courtney still at each other’s throat?” he asked.
    “Those two are more mismatched than a cat and a snake,” I said. “All they do is fight. Which means I’m the only one in the place who works.”
    “Who was playing there this week?” he asked.
    “Some band, called themselves Cattle Carnage .”
    “Were they any good?”
    “I think Dale and Courtney’s fighting provided better listening,” I said. “Or nails on a chalkboard, depending on your tastes.”  
    He smiled.
    “Some things never change, but I guess The Cupid just isn’t one of those things,” I said. “The acts that come through these days are a real sad sight.”
    “Needs new ownership if you ask me,” Lawrence said, stuffing the last of the donut in his mouth. “That place used to be the pride of Broken Hear—”
    Lawrence stopped mid-sentence as his eyes drifted up behind me. They suddenly grew wide.
    “Quick! Cover up them donuts. Nurse Ratched is coming through.”
    I took the cue and draped my jacket on top of the pink box, covering it over completely. I heard soft footsteps on the linoleum behind us and then saw her shadow fall over Lawrence’s face.
    Obviously, her real name wasn’t Nurse Ratched. Lawrence, along with lots of other residents in the assisted living home, liked calling her that because of the parts of her personality that resembled the hated nurse in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest . I, myself, didn’t think she was all that bad of a person. Belle O’Malley was just a middle-aged lady with a hard, thankless job.
    But if she caught old Lawrence snacking on some donuts, I knew neither him or I would ever hear the end of it.  
    “Well, hello, Loretta,” she said,