Frosted on the Ferris Wheel by Laura Pauling Read Free Book Online Page B

white blouse, then said, gushing, “Oh, I’m so sorry. My dog must’ve smelled your food. Normally, he’s so obedient. He usually likes everyone.”
    The waitress eyed her. “You brought in a dog?”
    Holly made sure her mouth dropped open in innocent surprise. “You mean dogs aren’t allowed? I’m so sorry. I’m used to bringing him with me everywhere. I had no idea. And such a mess.” She turned her innocence onto Millicent. “What a beautiful blouse. Let me pay for it.”
    “Stay away from me!” Millicent practically leaped across the table into Trent’s arms. “She tried to kill me.”
    The manager spoke over the chaos. He sounded nervous. “Well, I wouldn’t say that. Dinner’s on the house.” When that didn’t earn a response from Millicent, he added. “And free meals the rest of the summer.”
    “I guess so,” Millicent said.
    The manager turned to Holly, a storm crossing his face, his lips trembling with rage. “And you. Out. Now.”
    Holly plucked Muffins from the mess. “I’m terribly sorry.” Without looking at Trent, not wanting to see his frown and disappointment, she left the restaurant, pride barely intact.  
    Later that evening, the dinner hour almost over, Holly strolled down Main Street. After the excitement of Trent and Millicent’s sabotaged date, Holly had left Muffins snoozing on his doggie bed. She didn’t regret her earlier actions; the look of horror on Millicent’s face was priceless, but she felt bad for the manager and the waitress. She felt bad for lowering herself to Millicent’s level—sabotaging a date.  
    And finally, she had to admit they were on a date. It hadn’t been her intention when disrupting their dinner, but she’d thought he’d storm after her and chase her down with his sirens wailing.
    But nothing.
    He hadn’t called or texted or shown up, even now, an hour later.
    Holly let out a sigh. Time to call it quits for the night and possibly, maybe, work on that smoothie recipe. She was running out of time.
    At the Fairview Inn and Restaurant, Holly turned to head back to her apartment. A sleek yellow convertible pulled up to the side of the road.  
    Joel Atherton and Judy Schilling.

Holly did a double take.  
    Right in front of her was the couple she’d been chasing down all night. And now, after a night of disaster, they just appeared.  
    Frozen on the sidewalk, she watched Joel climb from the driver’s seat of his sweet ride and walk over to open the door for Judy. He held out his hand, his smile dashing and debonair. She accepted it with grace, and together, looking like old friends, they headed toward the Inn.  
    The promised dinner date. Where Joel would comfort and walk Judy through anything she needed done.
    For some reason their appearance bothered Holly, but she couldn’t figure out why. Of course, they were friends. Their husbands were—or had been—in business together. It made sense that the two people who probably knew him best would console each other.
    Holly didn’t need to think twice. She followed the couple into the Inn and peered beyond the front desk to see that Joel and Judy were led to a seat by the windows overlooking the green and the coming fairgrounds. With a pleasant smile, that showed nothing of the stress and strain of her evening so far, she asked for a window seat.
    The waitress told her it would be a wait.
    Ten minutes passed but it felt like hours. Holly tried not to nibble her nails as Joel and Judy ordered their food and talked. Conversation she was missing! Crucial evidence! Important clues!
    Finally, the hostess called her name. Holly followed the young woman, but instead of heading toward the window seats, near Joel and Judy, the hostess led her to the lone window seat on the other side of the restaurant.  
    “Could I possibly sit on the other side? I love watching the fairgrounds in process.” Holly asked as nicely as possibly.
    “It would mean a much longer wait. We do accept