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  “Eva's Delicious Mystery: A Donut Hole Spin-Off”

  Pink Hot Chocolate & Murder

  An Oceanside Cozy Mystery - Book 20

  Susan Gillard

  Copyright 2017 by Guardian Publishing Group

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means such as printing, scanning, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Pink Hot Chocolate & Murder

  1. Think Pink

  2. Dropping by for Donuts

  3. Party Prep

  4. Set Up

  5. Dancing and a Dead Body

  6. The Crime Scene

  7. The Sweet Harts

  8. Crime Contemplations

  9. Chocolate Gold

  10. The Cookie Server

  11. Mini Cupcake Questions

  12. Waggin’ Walk

  13. The Mousse Man

  14. Jenny and Gerri

  15. Chocolate Crime

  16. Hot Chocolate Ideas

  17. The Vent

  18. Movie Night

  About the Author

  Also by Susan Gillard

  Pink Hot Chocolate & Murder

  Think Pink

  “Heather, my dear boss, you do know that we need to make these donuts for the Annual Valentine’s Day Weekend Sweet-Hart’s Chocolate Tasting and Dance, don’t you?” Luz asked.

  “That’s quite a mouthful, isn’t it?” Heather said, chuckling at the long name of the event where they were going to make a donut delivery.

  “These donuts are going to be too,” Amy joked. “Or at least, I can’t wait until I get to put one in my mouth.”

  Heather smiled at her bestie. She was eager to try one of her newest creations as well. However, her two assistants joining her in the donut shop kitchen were frowning. The maternal Luz looked like she was trying to find the best way to broach a delicate subject, while the nervous Nina was looked down at the floor.

  “They do look delicious,” Luz said. “But they are for a chocolate event.”

  “Luz, what’s the matter? Heather asked.

  “Well,” Luz said, looking to Nina for support before facing Heather. “They’re pink.”

  Heather smiled with realization as she understood the situation. “I never did tell you the name of newest flavor when I called you in here, did I?”

  The others shook their head.

  “But what’s in a name? A donut by any other name will still taste as sweet,” Amy joked. “I think Digby’s theatricality might be rubbing off on me.”

  “Are you talking about me?” Digby asked, entering the shop to begin his shift. “I hope it’s about how excited you are to all see my show in a few weeks.”

  “We were talking about my new flavor, and you’re just in time for it,” Heather said. “Allow me to introduce you all to the Pink Hot Chocolate Donut.”

  “Por supuesto,” Luz said, clapping her hands. “We should have trusted you.”

  “I didn’t know you could make pink hot chocolate,” Nina said.

  “I was pleased to find out you could myself,” said Heather. “I made some for my daughter, Lilly, and thought using it as an inspiration for a donut would be perfect for a Valentine’s Day event.”

  "It will be," Luz said. "The only reason why I was concerned was because I know that this event can be very particular about its chocolate. Even if it were a wonderful donut, they wouldn't have liked it if it was chocolatey."

  "I spoke to Teresa Hart, the woman running the event, about it already. She was fine with us using white chocolate in our recipe, and that allowed me to play with the color. This is actually a complex donut, even compared with all our gourmet flavors.”

  “And I’d love to hear all about it,” Amy said. “But I’d like to taste it even more.”

  “Go right ahead,” said Heather.

  The others happily picked up a Pink Hot Chocolate Donut and prepared to take a bite. Heather couldn't help explaining all the parts that made up her newest sweet treat as they sampled them.

  "The donut base is a white chocolate cake that I made pink for the holiday."

  "So, it's pink chocolate? Not white chocolate?" Amy teased, taking a brief break from her snack to make her comment.

  Heather nodded and then explained what she used for the filling. “Inside is chocolate whipped cream. I decided to use this for the center because I wanted both the full chocolate flavor and to recognize the whipped cream that we often put on top of our hot cocoa drinks.”

  “What’s on top of this donut?” Nina asked. “It’s not regular vanilla icing.”

  “It’s marshmallow icing,” Heather said. “Another topping I love to have on my cocoa, and can also be easily dyed pink. And of course, I needed to add some festive sprinkles on the top. Red, pink and white for Valentine’s Day.”

  “Perfecto,” Luz said. “They are going to love them at the dance.”

  “I love them right now,” said Amy. “Can I have another?”

  Heather passed her friend another donut and took one for herself. After creating such a fun new flavor, she felt entitled to another sample as well.

  "And they taste even better when they're warm like they are now," Heather said.

  “That makes sense,” said Amy. “After all, it is a hot chocolate flavor.”

  “We’re going to make the donuts in our own kitchen tomorrow and transport them to the event,” said Heather. “While we won’t do any baking at the event, there is a kitchen that we can use to heat them up when we arrive.”

  “I bet our tasting table will be the most popular,” Nina said.

  "Yeah," Digby said. "I think Heather was showing off a bit when she made this new flavor."

  Heather shrugged. "Maybe. Donut Delights has been involved in some events here in Key West, but this is the first one that's specifically food-themed."

  “Well, there is food and dancing,” Luz said. “My husband and I used to go to the event more often when we were younger. You get to sample chocolates from all the chocolate bakers and vendors, and then you can dance to romantic songs on the dance floor. The Harts do a very nice job with it.”

  “Who are the Harts?” asked Amy.

  “Rich people on the island,” Digby paraphrased.

  "They own the hall where the event is taking place," Heather explained. "Teresa Hart explained it to me. Usually, they rent out the hall for private events throughout the year. Businesses like to come here for conventions through the year because it's tropical. However, because the Harts love Valentine's Day, they always have this chocolate tasting event the weekend after it."

  “It is quite lovely,” Luz said.

  “You think they could have come up with a better name for it, though,” Amy said. “What’s the full name?”

  “The Annual Valentine’s Day Weekend Sweet-Hart’s Chocolate Tasting and Dance,” said Luz.

  “Yeah,” Amy said. “You can’t even turn that into an acronym. What would that be? A.V.D.W.S.H.C.T.D.? That doesn’t work.”

  “I think they usually abbreviate it to Sweet-Hart’s around here,” said Nina.

  “That’s less of a mouthful,” Amy agreed.

  "And I want you all to
have fun at the event," Heather said to her staff. "We'll make the donuts in the morning and afternoon, and then we'll close a little early so that everyone will have time to get ready for the dance. We'll take turns manning our tasting table so everyone will also have a chance to sample the other chocolates and to do some dancing."

  “We won’t be working the entire night?” Nina asked.

  “Nope,” said Heather. “I want everyone to have as much as fun as possible.”

  “If we get to eat these donuts, it will be fun,” said Amy.

  They heard the door to the shop open.

  “The lunch rush must be beginning,” said Heather. “Though it does seem a little early.”

  The staff hurried to the front of the shop to assist the customers. Heather smiled when she saw who was there.

  Eva and Leila were her two favorite customers. The senior ladies were now her dear friends and also lived next door to her. They loved her donuts as much as they loved her company.

  Heather turned to her assistants. “Why don’t you begin practicing making the Pink Hot Chocolate Donuts so we’ll be able to make them quickly and efficiently tomorrow? I’ll take care of these customers.”

  She made sure they were set with the recipe and then told Eva and Leila about the newest chocolatey creation.

  “That sounds divine, dear,” Eva said.

  “Even though it’s not chilly in Key West, I’d still like some hot cocoa,” Leila said. “Especially in donut form.”

  Heather put the donuts on plates and brought them to the ladies’ usual table in the shop. She and Amy sat down with their friends. They complimented the donuts, but somehow Eva didn’t seem quite as enthusiastic as usual.

  “Is everything all right?” Heather asked. “Is something wrong with the donut? Or is something bothering you?”

  “The donut is perfect,” Eva assured her. “I’m afraid I have something else weighing on my mind.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Eva looked at Leila who nodded.

  “It’s about Vincent,” Eva said.

  “Is there trouble in paradise? In paradise?” Amy asked.

  “I don’t know,” Eva said. “He’s been acting strangely recently.”

  “He has,” Leila agreed. “He had always been very outgoing, but recently he’s been secretive.”

  “He had always been somebody who wanted to go out into the world and do things with me. Remember how he wanted us to go up in a hot air balloon?” said Eva. "Well, now he canceled our date to go out to lunch today and asked if he could just visit me at home this evening."

  “Is that very odd?” asked Heather.

  “Not so much the changing of plans,” Eva said. “But the feeling that’s coming along with it. I feel like he’s trying to hide that he’s with me.”

  “But why would he do that?” asked Amy.

  “He went to the doctor last week and came back with a clean bill of health for his age,” said Eva. “So, it’s not a medical issue. It’s an emotional one.”

  “It always seemed like he was crazy about you,” Heather said, remembering the poems that he had left for her.

  “I know,” Eva said. “But before we started dating, I had heard rumors that he was a player. I’m afraid he might be trying to hide our relationship so he can see other women.”

  “If that’s the case, he’d have all of us to deal with on your behalf,” Heather told her friend.

  “I don’t think he’d want to face that,” Amy said, giving her best tough-guy impression.

  “I know,” Eva said. “And I hope it’s not the case. But I am worried. I was sure he’d want to go to this chocolate tasting and dance, but he suddenly stopped talking about going with me.”

  “Do you want us to look into this?” Heather asked, gently.

  “No, no,” Eva said. “We wanted to talk to you as friends. Not as private investigators.”

  Heather nodded. She hated seeing her friend this sad. She brought some more Pink Hot Chocolate over to the table, wishing there was more she could do.

  Dropping by for Donuts

  “I’ll make sure to bring home some chocolate samples from every display for you,” Heather promised her daughter.

  “And you’ll have Pink Hot Chocolate Donuts for me to eat tonight?” Lilly asked.

  “Of course,” said Heather. “I’m sorry I can’t bring you tonight.”

  “I understand. Even if there’s chocolate there, it’s more of an adult event. It goes really late, and you’ll have to stay even later than that to clean up your supplies. Not that I think you’re going to have any donuts left. They’re so good. They’re all going to get eaten right away.”

  “I certainly hope so.”

  “I don’t mind,” Lilly said. “When I’m a little older, I can go to these things with you and dad. But for tonight, I’m really excited about the babysitter who is going to hang out with me.”

  Heather smiled. Her friend Bernadette who ran the local bookstore was going to watch Lilly that night. Bernadette had not been looking forward to going to another dance without a date and had jumped at the chance to babysit. Heather couldn't blame her; at the last dance that Bernadette had attended, she had not felt any sparks with an EMT and then a murder had occurred on the dance floor.

  “Bernadette said that she would read some of the dinosaur detective stories that I wrote,” Lilly said, happily. “And she knows all about books. I hope she likes mine.”

  “I’m sure she will,” said Heather. “They’re a roaring good time.”

  Lilly laughed at the joke. Then, they heard a knock at the door.

  “I bet that’s Amy,” said Heather. “Trying to figure out her outfit that she can both serve donuts and move around the dance floor in.”

  She was half right. Amy and her boyfriend Jamie were both there.

  “Can you tell Jamie that he is being ridiculous?” Amy asked.

  “You’re being ridiculous?” said Heather. “Why?”

  “No. I’m not,” said Jamie. “I’m trying to be more tech savvy. I think that will help my dog grooming business, and I want to implement more technological things into my everyday life.”

  “That makes sense to me,” Heather said.

  “Tell her how it relates to the dance,” Amy said with her hands on her hips.

  “Well,” Jamie said. "I was using this new app on my phone to determine what outfit I should wear to the dance tonight. It's very high-tech, and it told me the perfect outfit. But Amy doesn't seem very supportive of this new technology and is saying she doesn't want to be seen with me."

  “Show her the outfit it recommends,” Amy growled.

  He complied, and Heather had to bite her lip to stop from laughing.

  “I know I’m not the most fashionable person,” Jamie said. “That’s why I thought this could help.”

  “It really wants you to wear lime green and orange?” asked Heather.

  “It’s eye-catching,” Jamie suggested.

  “And do you think you’ll be able to dance in those work boots?” Heather asked.

  “Maybe not,” Jamie admitted.

  “I think in this case, you might want to rely on your girlfriend’s expertise instead of the phone’s,” said Heather.

  “I can see I’m outnumbered,” Jamie said. “Fine. But what do you think I should wear?”

  “Wear that nice suit you wore for the New Year’s Eve Ball,” said Amy. “But with a red tie or something festive.”

  Jamie relented. They heard another knock on the door. Heather turned to see Lilly admitting Eva, Leila, and Vincent Valentino into the room.

  “Hi, dear,” Eva said. “We wanted to see if you had any more of those Pink Hot Chocolate Donuts here. We wanted to give Vincent one to try."

  "Didn't you leave Donut Delights with a box of them?" Heather asked.

  “True,” said Eva. “But we did stop by the senior activity center today and gave a few of them to our friends there.”

&nb
sp; “And,” Leila admitted. “We both really liked the taste of them.”

  Heather laughed. “Of course, I have some more. And I’d love to share them.”

  Everyone followed Heather into her kitchen and squeezed in. It was one of her favorite things to do: handing out donuts to her family and friends.

  Heather’s pets Dave and Cupcake ran into the room. Heather wasn’t sure if they were more excited to see people who loved to scratch their ears or to try and get some donuts.

  “I hear the kids say this as a compliment these days and it’s fitting based on its namesake,” said Vincent. “This donut it hot!”

  “Vincent,” Jamie began after he finished his own donut. “You seem like an example of a fashionable man. You have your own style, and you always look great in your bowties.”

  “Thank you, young man,” Vincent said, touching his bowtie that has a bumblebee design on it that day.

  “Do you think I should wear a suit with a red tie to the dance tonight? Or this?” he asked, showing Vincent the truly terrible ensemble that his phone was recommending to him.

  “The suit,” Vincent said quickly.

  Jamie realized he was not gaining any allies on the app’s side. “Are you wearing a suit to the dance tonight?”

  “Oh. I don’t think I’ll be attending it,” Vincent said.

  “Why?” Jamie asked. “It’s a chocolate tasting event. And I thought you and Eva loved to cut the rug. Don’t you all want to go?”

  Heather and Amy exchanged a look.

  “Truth be told, I would love to go tonight,” said Eva. “You know how I love chocolate and dancing.”

  "But it's going to be very crowded there," Vincent said.

  “Our friends will be there too,” said Eva.