Dead Before The Wedding: A Carly Keene Cozy Mystery (Carly Keene Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Ruby Blaylock Read Free Book Online Page A

jingled. She glanced up, expecting to see one of the employees from one of the businesses on Main Street, but instead she saw a timid-looking redhead with big green eyes.
     
    “Hey, there,” Carly offered, “what can I get for you?”
     
    The redhead hesitated, then walked up to the counter. Carly couldn’t help but notice how pretty she was, with all that coppery red hair and pale skin. She was wearing the prettiest shade of burgundy lipstick that would have undoubtedly looked too loud on anybody else, but that seemed to suit this young lady just fine.
     
    “Excuse me, miss, but I was wondering if you’ve seen a man around here? I mean, I’m looking for someone, and his truck is parked outside of your store.”
     
    Carly frowned. This was getting to be a little too familiar. She walked over to the window, and peered behind the blinds. Sure enough, Larry Gaston’s pickup truck was parked out front, with Larry nowhere to be seen. Doesn’t he ever go to work? Carly suspected he was working all right, working on the gal over at the beauty salon.
     
    “Oh, shoot, hon, no...I didn’t see him park that there. He doesn’t usually come in here anyways, he just parks there because it’s...convenient.” Carly tried to keep her face neutral, but she was pretty disgusted by Larry’s behavior. If he was still running around on Mona, this marriage was doomed before it started.
     
    “Well, miss…”
     
    “Carly, Carly Keene.” Carly reached out to shake the girl’s hand, and noticed that her eyes were red and a little puffy. She definitely had a case of the ugly cry-eye going on, and Carly only hoped that it wasn’t because of Larry.
     
    The redhead took Carly’s hand and shook it timidly, and spoke again. “My name’s Tina Nicholls. I’m looking for Larry Gaston, that man that owns the truck. Does he ever come in here?”
     
    Carly shook her head no, then replied, “Sorry sweetie, he hardly ever comes in here. And, I can’t say I’m too disappointed. He’s not the greatest guy I know.”
     
    Tina blushed, and looked away. “Yeah, don’t I know it. If you see him, will you tell him to call me? He has my number.”
     
    Carly thought for a second. It really was none of her business, but she didn’t think Larry ought to be calling any other redheads, especially when his wedding was so close. Tina probably ought to know about the wedding. It might just change her mind about needing to talk to Larry.
     
    “Tina, hon, he’s getting married soon. Are you sure you can’t wait to talk to him until later on?” Carly tried to give her a look that said ‘ and by later on, I mean never’ , but she wasn’t sure how effective it was.
     
    The redhead spoke again, this time, with a fire in her eyes. “Yeah, I’d heard that. He’s marrying Mona Durham. He was with me before her, but things got...messy. He’s not a great guy, but I need to talk to him.”
     
    Carly decided to press further. Something about Tina just seemed too sweet and innocent to be saddled with a problem like Larry. “He’s really not worth bothering over, sweetie. I don’t think he’s changed his ways, even with getting married and all.”
     
    Tina sighed. “I wish I didn’t have to talk to him. I don’t want to try and get back with him or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s just that, well, I need to talk to him about something really important, and he needs to know about it before his wedding.”
     
    Carly was about to reply when Shell walked out of the kitchen. “What’s this about Larry? What’s he done this time?”
     
    Carly introduced Tina to Shell and explained why Tina had come looking for Larry. “Oh, my lord...that man is too much. I would say that I’m sorry we haven’t seen him, Tina, but my mama always told me not to tell lies. If I were you, I’d run as far and as fast in the opposite direction of that man as was humanly possible.”
     
    Tina apparently decided that it wasn’t worth