Doughnuts and Deception (Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery Book 3) Read online

  “I’m under investigation at work,” Barker said, dropping his head to the floor. “For operating outside of the official borders and for putting civilians in danger. I couldn’t deny any of it after my statement and my involvement.”

  “Investigation?” Julia replied, shaking her head. “What does that mean?”

  “It means they’re going to look into my conduct,” Barker said, his voice darkening. “They’re going to try and see how well I do my job, and if I deserve to keep it. I’ve been suspended without pay until they make a decision.”

  Julia pulled her hands away from Barker’s and jumped up. She immediately started to pace her bedroom, her hands disappearing up through her hair. How could she have been so blinded by her own need to discover the truth? Had it been worth destroying Barker’s career?

  “Are they going to fire you?”

  “Not necessarily.” Barker jumped up and grabbed Julia’s shoulders, forcing her still. “You did the right thing. We did the right thing. You were right about them never believing you. After Jerry, they had been questioning Carl Black and they were close to charging him because he didn’t have an alibi. He might not be a very nice man, but he’s not being charged for a murder he didn’t commit because of you.”

  “But this has ruined your life.” Julia sighed heavily, leaning into Barker’s hand as he rested his palm on her cheek.

  “Far from it,” Barker whispered, pulling her in closer. “Even the darkest clouds have silver linings. You said a lot of things when you were trying to get Stella not to kill me. I wouldn’t blame you if you stretched the truth to get through to her.”

  “I meant every word,” Julia said automatically without taking a second to think about it; she didn’t need to.

  Barker pulled her in and he softly brushed his lips up against hers. All of the stress, and the trouble her meddling had caused melted away. She was old enough to know happy endings didn’t exist, but she felt as close to happy as a person could be in that moment, and that was enough for her. They pulled away, their eyes slowly opening and their smiles spreading.

  “I love you too,” Barker said, cupping both of her cheeks in his hands. “And since you asked, my favourite colour is green, like your eyes, and my middle name is Fergus. Don’t ask. My mother was Irish.”

  “But you love your job too,” Julia mumbled, her stomach knotting out of control as her heart thumped wildly in her chest.

  “It’s just a job,” Barker said, shrugging and letting go of Julia’s face. “Some things are more important.”

  Hand in hand, they walked through to the kitchen. Julia didn’t care about Jessie’s sideways glances, or even what the village would say. They could talk all they wanted because she had realised what, and who was most important to her. Tommy had been right about family being important, but she knew he hadn’t just been talking about the family people are born with, but the family people choose. The people at Fenton Industrial Park had been a family, Jessie and Tommy were family, and Julia felt like she had just added three new people to hers.

  Inhaling the floral scent of the white roses, she squeezed Barker’s hand and smiled at Jessie through the petals as she hugged Mowgli, knowing she was more than ready for whatever life threw at them next.

  The End

  • • •

  The FOURTH book in the BESTSELLING Peridale Café series, Chocolate Cake and Chaos, is coming April 2017! Join Julia South and friends for another murder mystery adventure!

  • • •

  If you enjoyed Doughnuts and Deception, don’t forget to leave a review on GOODREADS and AMAZON!

  OTHER BOOKS IN THE PERIDALE CAFÉ COZY MYSTERY SERIES

  Pancakes and Corpses (Book 1)

  OUT NOW!

  Lemonade and Lies (Book 2)

  OUT NOW!

  Doughnuts and Deception (Book 3)

  OUT NOW!

  Chocolate Cake and Chaos (Book 4)

  COMING APRIL 2017!

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