you’re a police detective,” she reminded him. She started making more hot chocolate. The fragrance of chocolate filled the kitchen. She added some peppermint to a mixture of coffee and hot chocolate in a mug for herself, and she was in heaven.
“I’m here about the stolen reindeer,” the detective said.
She raised a brow, taking a sip of her peppermint mocha She’d heard that peppermint could help lower blood pressure, and hers was on the rise because of his badgering. “I didn’t steal it. He was standing on my patio when I left the house.”
“You said he was in your courtyard.”
“My house is behind the shop.”
“Show me exactly where you found the calf.”
The guy was so exasperating. “Don’t you have anything better to do with your police time?” She pointed out the kitchen window. “There. See the holly bush by the back porch to my house? That’s where he was. Standing there. Eating my holly berries.”
“Hell, those wolf statues have to be worth a small fortune at the very least. You need to lock your gate.”
Brooke wanted to growl at him, and she was sure she gave him her most growly look. Mostly because she knew he was right.
Someone rang the bell on her checkout counter.
“Coming!” she called out.
She carried the hot chocolate pot into the shop and set it on the trivet by the scones. Then she grabbed her peppermint mocha and went to ring up more sales. “Sorry. I had to set out more hot chocolate. Did you get some?” she asked the customer.
“Oh yes, thanks. It’s great on a Christmassy cold day. And the reindeer is so cute.”
“He is, and luckily we’ve found his home.”
“Oh good. Merry Christmas,” the lady said.
“Merry Christmas.” Brooke had been so rattled from the events of the morning that she hadn’t even been wishing anyone a happy holiday.
The police detective went over to pet the reindeer, thankfully, but then returned to stand by the counter again. “Where were you last night?” he asked.
“At the shop, getting ready for the open house. Later? At home, making dinner. Then I went to bed. No, wait. I took a shower first, brushed my teeth, and then went to bed.”
The detective looked like he was fighting a smile. Then his expression turned stern again. “Does anyone else live with you who could verify your whereabouts? Or whether you closed the gate last night?”
This was too much. Brooke folded her arms. “Are you really a cop?” If he was going to hassle her, she was going to hassle him back, just a little. “You didn’t show me your ID.”
With a hint of a smirk, he handed his ID to her. “Police detective.”
She gave it a long, hard look. Teach him to badger her.
A man hurried into the shop who didn’t look like he was interested in shopping. He instantly went over to pet the reindeer and give it a hug. The owner? He looked a lot like the detective inquisitor, except that his eyes were more amber, not as dark a brown, and his hair was a lighter shade of brown and shaggier. But he had the same hard, square jaw and angular features and the same good looks. They had to be related.
After greeting the calf, the guy headed straight for her, smiling. “I’m with Wilding Reindeer Ranch. Maverick Wilding.” He offered his hand to her. He took a deep breath and smiled appreciably.
Just like she was breathing in his wolfish scent. She wondered how many red wolves lived in the area. She smiled and shook his hand. Things were looking up. When she’d realized she was going to have to take over the shop for three years, Brooke had begun hoping to join the red pack.
“I’m Brooke Cerise, owner of the shop. I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Then Maverick frowned. “You’re Ivy Cerise’s great-niece, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“My condolences. So she left you the place in her will?”
“Yes. I visited her whenever I could in the summers. I lived in Arizona.”
“We’re so glad to have you here.” Maverick smiled broadly.
She didn’t think everyone was glad to see her here.
“You’re staying here, right?”
“Uh, yes.” At least for now. She smiled again.
“I’d still like to know how Jingles got into your fenced-in yard.” The detective acted as though he still thought she was involved in the stolen reindeer caper, and he wasn’t letting her off the hook, even though Maverick, the owner of the calf, didn’t seem to believe she had anything to do with it.
“That makes two of us.