Page 23 of Trick or Stalk

“She’s obnoxious.”

Penny yawns.

“Thank you for your support.”

Bramble & Bean smells like heaven. Coffee. Vanilla. Cinnamon. Fresh pastries.

Basically, everything I need in my life right now.

The bell above the door jingles as I walk inside with Penny tucked against my side.

Gracie looks up from behind the counter and smiles. “There she is.”

I smile. “Hi, Gracie.”

Her gaze drops to Penny. “And there’s the baby girl.”

Penny’s tail immediately starts wagging.

Everyone loves Penny. And vice versa.

Gracie grins. “Coffee?”

“Yes. Desperately.”

“The usual?”

“Please.”

I set Penny down, keeping hold of her leash while Gracie rings me up.

Walter, Gracie’s fourteen-year-old male dachshund, immediately comes out from behind the counter, moving slowly. His tail wags as he greets Penny.

I clear my throat. “So.”

Gracie gives me the total, and I swipe my card.

“That sounds ominous,” she says.

“Apparently everyone in Hollow Creek thinks everything I say sounds ominous.”

“Maybe it’s your delivery.”

“Rude.”

She laughs, then turns toward the espresso machine and reaches for my cup. Her elbow hits something. The machine hisses.

Gracie squeaks as espresso shoots sideways. “Shit!”

She jumps back, nearly colliding with the counter behind her. Espresso drips down the side of the machine.

I can’t hold back my laughter.

“It’s probably for the best that this place doesn’t have two of us working here.”

Gracie looks confused as she grabs a towel.

“I had an incident with my grandma’s espresso machine.” A sheepish smile curls my lips. “I kind of blew it up.”