Candy Canes, Corpses and the Gothic Haunt Page 3

  Finn Valentine had been Jack’s best friend forever. Pike had been madly in love with him all through college, but she’d been too shy to tell him. The last time Juniper had seen him was on stage with his band at their graduation party.

  He reached Juniper just as she turned around, and pulled her in for a warm hug.

  “I’m glad I caught you,” Finn said. “Jack said you’re usually here late.”

  His cinnamon-brown hair still had the same waves Juniper remembered, and although there were a few lines around his brown eyes now, he didn’t look much older. It made her wonder what he was doing in Bohemian Lake right now. The last she’d heard he was working for a big advertising agency in the city. He’d been a musician once upon a time but that hadn’t worked out.

  “I’m actually leaving early tonight. It’s been a long day.”

  “Jack mentioned what happened,” he said. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Have you had dinner yet? I’d like to talk to you about something.”

  Now that he mentioned dinner, she realized she was starving. “Sure. I know a cozy little pub not too far from here.”

  They exchanged idle chitchat while they drove. After they were seated, she gave him some recommendations on what was good.

  “Isn’t this place your competition now?” Finn asked.

  “I guess. But it’s a friendly competition.”

  Finn grinned, showing off his trademark dimples.

  The server brought their drinks, and they ordered burgers. Finn tried a local craft beer called peppermint porter at Juniper’s suggestion, and then Juniper came right out and asked what he was doing back home.

  He took a long pull on his beer before he answered. “I moved back here a few weeks ago. My parents are snowbirds now, and their house is empty. I’m house sitting for the moment—at least until I find another place.”

  Juniper frowned. “So you’re not working in the city anymore?”

  “No, I’m done with agency life.”

  He took another drink and pushed his glass aside. “Tell me about the Gothic Haunt.”

  Nice change of subject. “What would you like to know?”

  “Everything,” Finn said. “Your menu, your plans.”

  “Okay, as long as you’re not planning on stealing the Inn out from under me.”

  Finn made a devious face and threaded his fingers together like a mastermind. Juniper laughed and started talking.

  “Sounds like it’s going to be great,” Finn said after Juniper shared her plans. He lifted his glass. “To new endeavors.”

  They clinked their glasses together, and then Juniper thought of Pike, “You know, Pike’s back in town as well. You seein’ anyone?”

  “Not at the moment.” He grinned and wriggled his eyebrows.

  Easy boy.

  “How ‘bout you and Jackie boy? I can’t believe you stole him back from that uptight Snaub.”

  Juniper laughed at his play on words.

  Before she could say anything else, their meals arrived, and they moved on to reminiscing about the old days. When the server cleared their plates and brought the check, Finn passed him his credit card over her objections. After the server left, Finn said, “Jack told me you’re going to need a new chef.”

  “I am. Do you know someone?”

  Finn cleared his throat. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “I need someone who can start right away. Like tomorrow. Feliz was completely in charge of the kitchen from the food all the way to hiring the kitchen staff.”

  The server brought Finn’s card and the receipt back. As he signed the slip, she said, “So, are you going to tell me who this person is?”

  He leaned forward. “It’s me.”

  “You?” This had to be a joke. Juniper wondered if Jack had put him up to it. “You’re an advertising executive.”

  “Was an advertising executive. I’m now a certified chef.”

  “No way. That’s quite the career change.”

  Finn nodded. “Yep. I had to do something else—too many sharks swimming in those waters. I always liked to cook, so I started taking classes. I thought I’d open a little café or something like Pike did, but the Inn and Taproom sounds like just the thing for me right now.”

  He was serious. This could be the answer to her problem. With the opening coming up so quickly, she needed to act fast. But what if he couldn’t cook or take direction? She didn’t like the idea of bossing around a friend. And did he know anything about tapas?

  Finn stood, reached for her hand, and helped her up. “You don’t have to decide right now,” he said as they headed for the exit. “Just think about it and let me know.”

  He held the door for her and they stepped outside.

  “I don’t need to think about it,” Juniper said. “Come in tomorrow at ten and make me and Pike lunch. If we like it, you’re hired.”

  Finn’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “I’ll be there. You won’t regret this, Junie.”

  Four

  _____________

  J UNIPER woke to the sound of “Jingle Bell Rock” and hurried to dress for work. She’d slept like a yule tide log. Thank goodness for alarms. In less than twenty minutes she was strolling through the streets of Bohemian Lake, where strands of Christmas lights sparkled in the evenings, wound around porches, and traced roof lines. By the time she reached Cookies & Corsets, the place was packed.

  She got in line behind a woman in a white fur-lined coat who hummed along to “Frosty the Snowman” and tapped her fingers happily against the countertop while she waited for her peppermint tea.

  Pike had all of her holiday specialties out and they smelled delicious. Everything from peppermint pancakes to candy cane cupcakes. Yikes. Between Pike’s pastries and sampling the menu for the Gothic Haunt, she was going to have to join the local martial arts class that Penny Trubble taught; although, with two businesses, Juniper hardly knew when she’d have the time to go.

  “Ho, ho, ho.” Jack Sr.’s voice boomed from the doorway behind her. He cut in front of the line and scooped her up for a hug. Juniper’s feet dangled for a moment, just as Pike turned and waved to them from behind the glass counter. She was decked out in her usual quirky attire. Today’s outfit was a retro vintage dress, complete with a Santa apron and hat.

  The man behind them sighed loudly when Jack Sr. asked Juniper about the Inn. “For cripe’s sake. Hurry it up, would ya, Hart?” he said.

  “Keep your pants on, Evan,” Jack Sr. said. “You’ll get your Nutella doughnut.”

  Juniper turned around and instantly regretted making eye contact.

  “Yeah, but in what decade?”

  Jack Sr. shook his head and gave her another hug, then he disappeared to a table in the corner where the Vianu ladies who owned and ran Bohemian Lake’s Caravan Manor sat. Jack’s dad was such a flirt, not that Jack’s mom minded. She always joked that one of the ladies should take him up on his offer and get him out of her hair.

  Evan sighed again. “I haven’t got all day, woman.”

  Pike rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind him, folks. Evan has confused his name with Ebenezer this morning.” She chuckled at her own joke.

  Juniper decided now was the time to bite the bullet. She smiled and extended her hand as she swung back around to face him. “Hi, I’m Juniper Palmer.”

  Evan ignored it. “Oh, the girl who’s trying to put me out of business.”

  Juniper forced herself not to step back and stood her ground. “I’m not going to put you out of business.”

  “Oh, I know that. I said ‘trying.’”

  Pike finished waiting on the woman in the white coat, who made a wide path around Juniper and Evan, no doubt expecting fisticuffs. Without asking what Evan wanted, Pike put two doughnuts in a bag and held it out to him.

  “Your order is on the house today,” Pike said. “Please, Santa, let it sweeten you up.”

  He snatched the bag out
of her hand and turned back to Juniper. “Watch yourself, Palmer. I’m not about to have some home wrecker steal all my clientele.”

  “I hardly think—”

  “You’ll be sorry you ever messed with me and mine.” He stomped to the door and shoved it open so hard the little bell at the top broke off and hit the floor.

  The encounter rattled her. Juniper jammed her hands into the front pockets of her jeans to stop them trembling.

  Pike came around the counter and put her arm around Juniper. “Don’t you let him get to you. He’s all talk.”

  “Really? You saw what just happened.”

  “Oh I know. He’s a grumpy Grinch, no doubt about it, but I talked it over with Eve and we don’t think he’s capable of murder. Eve says he’s too much of a yellow belly.”

  Juniper almost spit her gum out on the floor. “She said what?”

  “Yes, I believe she also called him lily-livered. She’s been watching a lot of westerns lately—traded in her dime novel fetish.” She patted her arm and went back behind the counter. “Just keep an open mind.”

  Juniper told her she would, but as she walked across the road to the Inn with her cappuccino and cream cheese and lox bagel, she couldn’t help but picture that awful man standing over Feliz Merlot’s dead body.

  The building inspector arrived at eight while Juniper was eating her bagel. It took him less than five minutes to check the repairs Jack made the day before, and the Gothic Haunt passed inspection. Score one for them, finally.

  The alarm company came just after that and went to work. While they fished wires and installed motion detectors, she repainted one of the Inn’s bedrooms. Juniper had already painted it once, but the color resembled that of a banana Popsicle, so she’d decided to tone it down. The bar area needed to be finished, but Juniper couldn’t help thinking about Feliz every time she attempted to install that wine rack.

  Juniper was putting on the final coat of paint when she heard Finn calling her name. “In here,” she hollered.

  He opened the door. “Good morning.” He was dressed in a crisp white shirt with black pants and a black apron, and he looked ready to work. He sniffed the air. “Painting, huh?”

  “Yeah. Actually, repainting. I think I’m being too picky about the color but I couldn’t bring myself to finish the bar area yet.”

  Finn put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Junie. Do you want me to do it?”

  Juniper gave him a slight smile. “Feliz would have been the first one to tell me to get a grip. So, are you ready to see the rest of the place and then do some cooking? Pike should be here soon and we expect to be awed, you know.”

  “Did you tell her it was me?”

  Juniper grinned. “Nope.”

  His eyes sparkled, and he held the door open for her. “Lead on, boss lady.”

  As they entered the taproom area, she waved to the alarm company’s installation technician, who was up on a ladder. The entry from the street led into the front vestibule and foyer. From there you could go into connecting rooms. The taproom was on the left and behind it was the kitchen. To the right of the foyer was the dining room and behind it was the parlor. Juniper pointed out the table arrangement in the dining room. “There are six booths, twelve of the square tables that seat four, and two round ones that seat six to eight, plus eight stools at the bar in the taproom.”

  They went behind the bar, and Juniper showed him the taps for the various beers. “I’m planning on having four beers year-round and I’ll add two others, depending on the season. For our launch, I’ve lined up a peppermint porter and candy cane ale.”

  “How festive,” Finn said. “I can definitely work with the seasonals.”

  “Alright,” Juniper said when they entered the kitchen. “I will leave you to your own devices. Happy Cooking.”

  A short time later, delicious aromas emanated from the kitchen as Juniper sat at her desk going over some bills that had come in the day before. Her stomach growled loudly just as one of the alarm installers poked his head into her parlor.

  He grinned. “I heard that belly growl and I concur.”

  Juniper laughed.

  “We’re almost finished, so if you want to follow me, I’ll give you a rundown on how everything works.”

  Juniper followed him out to the taproom, and they reviewed how the keypad near the front door worked, how to arm and disarm the system, and how to change and add codes. He also showed her where the motion detectors were located.

  As soon as the technician left, she headed for the kitchen. It was almost noon and Pike should be arriving any minute. Juniper burst through the door and stopped cold. Finn grinned, most likely at the incredibly dumb look on her face. “You’re early. Go sit in the dining room and I’ll bring it out.”

  “First, I’ll need to call up Santa and his elves. You cooked up a feast fit for a family.” Juniper waved her arm over the island.

  “It’s true. I might have gone a little overboard. The portions will be small, of course. It’s a tapa style lunch.”

  “No wonder my taste buds were salivating.” Juniper took a closer look and realized most of the dishes were from her menu. How in gadzooks had he gotten a hold of her menu? She paused in front of the chorizo flatbread pizza. It smelled heavenly. The next bowl held Spanish meatballs. He’d also prepared a charcuterie board with dried cured pork loin, salt cured beef, quince preserve, mixed marinated olives, dried cherries, roasted red peppers, an olive tapenade, and the classic manchego cheese. As if that wasn’t enough, then there were potato, mushroom and leek croquettes, grilled vegetables, calamari, and the ever-popular Spanish staple—paella.

  “How did you do all of this?”

  He stood back, looking very proud of himself. “I cheated. I prepped at home last night. I also picked Jack’s brain as to what you might have on your menu since you only glossed over that the other night.”

  Juniper didn’t have time to ponder any further because she heard Pike calling her name. Juniper poked her head into the taproom. “In here.”

  Pike pushed through the door. “I smell something heavenly. Where’s this new chef of yours?” She stopped cold when she spotted Finn.

  “You’re just in time. Pike, you remember Finn.”

  He reached out his hand. Pike took it, then dropped it like it was a hot croquette. “Oh, my gawd!” she squealed. “Finnegan Valentine!”

  Finn swept her into a hug.

  “I can’t believe it!” Pike said. “You’re the new chef. You’re staying in Bohemian Lake, really?” She turned to Juniper. “Why didn’t you tell me Finn was coming back?”

  “He surprised me, too.”

  “I can’t believe it. It’s been forever and a day.” Pike grabbed Finn and hugged him again. “I am so glad to see you.”

  Before Pike went after Finn again, Juniper steered her over to the door. “Why don’t we have a seat in the taproom so we can try some of this food before we hire him?”

  She took one last excited glance at Finn and disappeared into the taproom.

  Finn started laughing. “Wow. Pike looks good, huh?”

  “She sure does,” Juniper agreed and disappeared into the taproom.

  Five

  _____________

  T HE food was as good as Juniper had hoped. After they’d put a pretty good dent in the tapas, Pike took the leftovers as well as Finn over to the café. Juniper was sure they’d be celebrating all night. The three of them had cleaned up while Juniper filled him in on exactly what his duties would be. Before he left, she gave him all of Feliz Merlot’s paperwork, which included information regarding the kitchen staff he’d been interviewing and training. Juniper told him if he had any questions, they could talk about it the next day. Of course, Pike offered to help him with anything and everything.

  Five minutes after they left, her phone rang. It was Jack. “Finn just told me the good news,” he said.

  Happy to hear his voice, she smiled to herself. “That was fast.”


  “He wanted to thank me for giving him the heads-up about the job.”

  “You mean the inside scoop on our menu, you traitor.”

  Jack laughed. “He told you about that, huh? Anyway, he couldn’t say enough nice things about you… and Pike.”

  Juniper felt her grin get wider. “Well, that’s good, especially the part about Pike, since I have a feeling they’ll be seeing each other more often now.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  She’d never told Pike, but she had a sneaking suspicion Finn had always had a thing for her, too.

  After Juniper hung up, she checked the surfaces. Everything was in order, and for once Juniper didn’t have anything pressing that needed attending. Figuring this might be a good time to talk to some of the neighbors, she made sure all of the doors were locked, then grabbed her purse and headed for the main entrance. Before she reached it, the door opened and Rudolph Windsor stepped inside.

  Rudolph owned the pharmacy and gift store on the other side of the street along with the antique shop. Well, it was called The Chic Bohemian Antique Shop, but it was basically priced like a pawn shop. Still, Rudolph had nice stuff. It was where she’d gotten a lot of the period furniture for the Inn. It was definitely the cheapest antique shop she’d ever visited.

  “I heard about the accident and wanted to offer my condolences,” he said.

  “Thank you. You just missed a feast but can I get you a drink?.” Juniper pulled out a bar stool and motioned for him to sit.

  He shook his head. “I can’t stay. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  Juniper nodded. “I’m managing.”

  Juniper watched him as his gaze roamed the room. “I see you finally got an alarm system,” Rudolph said. “Smart move—especially the motion detectors.”

  The front door opened just then and Detective Bones came in. “Am I interrupting?” he asked.

  “Not at all.” Juniper said and the men greeted each other.

  “I’d best be going,” Rudolph said. “If you need anything, remember I’m right across the street.”

  Kaden and Juniper sat down at the bar. “I stopped to make sure you were doing all right,” he said, “and to tell you Mrs. Merlot has arranged to have Feliz returned to Spain.”