Page 2 of A Whisker in the Night

I cast a quick glance at Jasper and he’s already halfway done with his second bunny.

It’s obvious his competitive streak is shining through brighter than a golden egg in an Easter basket, and twice as prideful.

“How are you doing over there?” he asks and his words are muffled by a mouthful of deliciousness. Jasper has thick dark hair, light gray eyes, and dimples that make me melt on cue. He also happens to be the lead homicide detective down at the Seaview Sheriff’s Department.

“Living out one of my favorite fantasies,” I manage as I reach for my second bunny as well—even though he’s suddenly onto this third.

Across the table, my best friend Emmie sits, looking like the picture of springtime elegance in a pink and blue floral dress. And despite her advanced stage of pregnancy, she looks rather dainty while nibbling on her first bunny as if it were a treat at a tea party.

Emmie notices me gawking at her and pauses from the chocolate task at hand. “Don’t look at me like that, Bizzy.” She offers up a wry smile. “I’m just here for the fun.”Besides, youknow Leo has this on lock for the both of us. He’s in it to win it.She nods over to her husband who sits dutifully by her side gnawing away on chocolate bunny number four because clearly Leo isindeedin it to win it. The man is tearing through his bunnies like a sugar-hungry hitman.

“This is not a drill,” he growls between bites.

Leo is your standard tall, dark, and handsome sheriff’s deputy, and it’s the exact reason Emmie was drawn to him like a pregnant woman to pickle-flavored ice cream. And yes, the ice cream exists, and both Emmie and I have devoured a pint. And we’re also looking forward to our next pint, too.

“We’re taking home that basket, Emmie,” Leo calls out.

“You meanI’mtaking home that basket,” Georgie grunts his way before devouring the bunnies in front of her with the ferocity of a sugar-seeking missile (albeit a senior citizen missile), leaving a trail of gold foil carnage in her wake. And just like that, three more chocolate bunnies are placed before her. “Go on, Bizzy,” she goads. “Don’t let the baby slow you down! Even though I’m going to win, I want you to get eating!”And don’t think I’m sharing the loot with you either.

She gives me the side-eye as the greedy thought crosses her mind.

Not many people know I can read minds, but Georgie is one of them, as are Jasper, Emmie, and Leo. And well, oddly enough, Leo shares my supernatural abilities, too. I sort of regard it as an odd quirk, but on occasion, it’s more of a curse.

My name is Bizzy Baker Wilder and I can read minds. Not all minds, not all the time, but most of the time—and most of the furry species are included in that supernatural number. As usual, the furry species among us have better things to say than humans.

Georgie glances my way again. “I said get to eating, woman!”

And get to eating I do.

I chomp down on all three bunnies and three more appear in their place, offering me the same vacant blue-eyed stares. Come to think of it, they look a bit frightened—and as they should. I’m about to make quick work of them as I introduce them to my digestive system.

By the time I’m halfway through my fourth bunny, it’s clear I’m not winning this competition.

I glance over at the other contestants and spot a strawberry blonde with a freckled face and an adorable baby bump absolutely demolishing her third tray of chocolate goodness. She’s going at it like a well-oiled machine and it’s quickly becoming obvious I’ll be admitting defeat—along with everyone else at this table.

A deafening buzz goes off and the entire lot of us lets out a collective groan—mostly from relief.

“And the winner is—” Mayor Mackenzie Woods bellows into the microphone in her hand and we all look up at once.

Chapter 2

“T

he winner is—Hammie Mae Westoff, ladies and gentlemen! The chocolate bunny queen herself!” Mayor Mackenzie Woods shouts to the crowd gathered here at the Chocolate Bunny Hop Festival just as the chocolate bunny eating competition concludes.

Hammie Mae stands and waves as her cheeks flush with triumph. She looks to be about my age, late twenties, has strawberry blonde hair, freckles, and a baby bump to rival my own.

“I’d better go congratulate her,” I say as Jasper helps me up and Leo does the same with Emmie.

“I’ll go with you,” Emmie says as she places her hands over her enormous belly.

Emmie is one week overdue and looks as if she’s hidden a beach ball under that paisley dress of hers. But she’s just as gorgeous as ever. Emmie and I share the same dark hair, blue eyes, and the same formal moniker,Elizabeth. We werepractically destined to be besties from the moment we met in preschool, and we have been.

Leo nods to Jasper. “How about we grab some drinks? Something manly like beer,” he teases as he wags a half-eaten chocolate bunny our way.

“Make it chocolate milk and I’m in,” Jasper says. “It’s not called the Chocolate Festival for nothing.”

“The ChocolateBunny HopFestival,” I say, offering him a kiss. “I’ll take a glass, too, if you don’t mind.”

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