I nibbled a small bite of my sandwich, but it had a strange taste to it now. Broadrick didn't notice as he shoved his fork into his salad again and again.

"When will you know if they hire Ridge for the project?" I asked.

Everything in the diner slowed as I waited for his answer.

"Soon," he said and stabbed his fork into the lettuce again. "Ridge is flying there to finish their talks this week. Think of it, babe."

"Hmm." I was thinking about it all right.

"Florida is your dream state," Broadrick said with a grin.

I tried my best to smile back, and a little came naturally. He was right. Florida was the place of my fantasies. It's the only place I thought of when I talked about moving. I even had a little jealousy toward my aunt and uncle for their Florida retirement plans.

I just never thought it would really happen. At least not anytime soon.

A chunk of lettuce fell into my cup of mayo as I dunked the edge of my sandwich. "Yeah, it is."

"Imagine it," Broadrick said and waved his hand out wide. "The warm water. Beaches."

We technically had the beach part in Pelican Bay, but it differed from a Florida beach. Rockier than sand and we didn't have the warm water part. Even in the middle of summer, the bay was always chilly. You just got used to it.

"I thought you liked it here," I said, but it came out like a question.

Broadrick looked at me with his boyish grin. This news had him excited. Why couldn't I get on the same boat? "I love it here because you're here."

"Is that the only reason?"

Where else did he have such a large concentration of SEALs to do... SEAL things with? I still wasn't positive about what they did all day in the security building, but he had a group of his people here.

He shook his head. "No, but you've always talked about Florida."

I did.

"I hear the sun is warmer there," I said with a smile. It was one of the first online arguments we had before Broadrick became my boyfriend. He' said he'd never felt a cold summer day, and I told him he'd never been to Maine.

We laughed.

Broadrick returned to his salad, and I stared at my weird-tasting sandwich.

Florida had all the things he mentioned. Sun. Beaches. Dolphins. Warm water. Palm trees.

But it didn't have everything. They didn't have a bakery or Katy, Anessa, Tabitha, all the girls. What if they were stuck up women in Florida? Plus, hurricanes. Those were a real bitch, and they happened every year. I didn't want to end up in the suck zone of a hurricane.

"Just think on it," Broadrick said, noticing my hesitation. "But don't start packing or anything."

"Ugh." I groaned. Packing? I hadn't finished unpacking from my move earlier in the year. He didn't expect me to pack again. Did he?

"No, thanks," I said and bit into my sandwich.

Florida had to wait. I needed to solve Mick's murder before I made any other decisions.

**

The next morning, Broadrick kissed me on the forehead as he leaned over the bed. Completely dressed.

I groaned. "What time is it?"

"Early." He pushed back a piece of my hair. "I'm getting ready to leave. NB has already been walked, and I gave Jasper his breakfast."

I cracked open one eye in the dark room. "No carrots?"

"No carrots." He chuckled. "I'm covering for Ridge today, but I'll check in later."

I waved my hand at him because opening my mouth took too much energy.

Broadrick gave me another kiss and then left the room. I waited until I heard the front door close and then rolled over. My brain pictured dolphins jumping in the water. My bladder sent me signs it needed a release.

Five minutes passed as I thought of pillows and fluff and heat.

I rolled onto my back. Damn it. I'd used too much energy saying goodbye to Broadrick and woke my brain up. Ribbons of sunlight let themselves into the room from the open blinds and I squinted at them in disgust.

My bladder threatened to burst if I didn't visit a bathroom. I did and then crawled back under the covers. They were still warm, and I refused to waste the heat. NB curled up at my feet, and I sprawled out in the middle of the bed with my arms thrown out.

"I'm the worst, NB," I said as he circled three times and then plopped down by my foot's new location. He let out a short huff, letting me know I wasn't to move again.

I even disappointed the dog.

"How am I going to solve a murder when I have zero clues?"

I'd bet money Anderson had clues. Of course, he never shared any of his good stuff.

"Why aren't I better, NB?" I'd gone to college for this. Mick wasn't a great mentor, but he taught me about money shots. I'd solved murders in the past. Why was this one so hard?

Because liars.

And murderers.

Although, without those, I wouldn't have any clients.

If I didn't prove someone else besides me killed Mick, I was going to end up in jail. For a murder I didn't commit! If I had to wear prison orange, I at least wanted it to be for something I'd actually done.

My phone rang from beside the bed where I left it plugged in last night. I stretched my arm, trying to grab it, but didn't come close.

"Sorry, NB." I rolled over to my side, disrupting the puppy, and grabbed the phone before rolling back into place. "Hello."

"Hey, I'm just returning your call," Braisley said, sounding super bright for this early in the morning.

I checked the time.

Shit.

When did it get so late? How did I spend two hours in bed wallowing in misery? Maybe I fell asleep and didn't realize it. No wonder it seemed brighter.

"What's up?" I asked and then racked my brain for why I'd called her yesterday in the first place.

Oh right. I wanted information about her and Dalton. I forgot in all the news of Florida sunsets, and self-pity.

"You called me, remember?" she asked, sounding confused.

I didn't blame her.

"Right." I pushed back the covers. "I need a cupcake."

"Okay," she dragged out the word for an extra five syllables.

NB mini barked in my direction as I got out of bed and headed toward the closet with fresh energy. "Juicy gossip is always better with sugar."

"Your gossip is juicy? I like it."

"No, the gossip you're going to tell me will be juicy." I grabbed a pair of black pants from a hanger and then my favorite black blouse with the silver buttons up the center.

Braisley paused. "I don't have gossip."

"Oh, you do. You just don't realize it yet." Or she didn't realize that I realized she did. I got tangled up in my head with the circular logic. The soft pants slipped from my fingers and I caught them with my foot before they hit the floor. "Meet me at the bakery in ten."

"This is the weirdest phone conversation I've ever had," she said before agreeing.

They always had comments, but they always showed up when they were supposed to and that's what made a friend.

I made it to the bakery in twelve minutes and found Braisley waiting for me at a table next to the window. It was my favorite spot, and I'd bet money Anessa placed her there so she could hear the gossip, too. It was in a prime location right across from the register.

The pink bell above the door rang as I walked into the building. The bright Pepto Pink bakery never failed to make me smile. Anessa had replaced the Easter pillows with ones that had bright spring tulips on them. They were adorable.

"You're wearing all black," Anessa commented as I came inside. "Do you have big plans later?"

Big plans for her meant sneaking in somewhere.

I shook my head. "Mick's funeral is later today. I only have time for breakfast."

Anessa checked her watch but didn't comment, and that's why she was one of my favorite people on the planet. "Two chocolate cupcakes coming up."

"Morning," Braisley said as I sat across from her.

"Thanks," I said to her and Anessa as the bakery owner placed the cupcakes in front of me. "And I'm sorry I haven't been able to pick up any shifts lately. It's been weird."

Anessa flipped back her hair and laid her hand on my shoulder. "Girl, you're successful. I'm proud."

"Thanks." Her honesty brought forth a smile. No one said that often. I didn't need to hear it, but I enjoyed it when I did. "I might need some soon if I don't solve a case."

Technically, solving the murder wasn't giving me a payday, so the only thing bringing in money was if my mother paid me for bunny sitting. And I doubted she'd do that.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" I asked Braisley as she peeled the wrapper from her strawberry cupcake.

She widened her eyes. "You called me and then you told me to meet you at the bakery for juicy gossip."