Groomed for Murder (Going to the Dogs) Read Free

Owen. She resolutely pushed away the wistful feeling. Even though dating was less than spectacular now, she would someday have her own wedding and husband. And, for now, she was accustomed to going it alone. Well, no, she wasn’t alone, she reminded herself firmly. She had her ancient, beloved bulldog, Roscoe, her loving, uncritical, steadfast companion since childhood.
    The attendant entered the room beaming, followed by another woman pushing a rack of frothy white lace, buttons, and bows. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
    Everyone settled themselves for the fashion show, and, in the silence, the loud pop as Poe uncorked the second champagne bottle made Brooke jump nervously. She shook her head and firmed her lips. The edginess she was feeling would pass. All she had to do was get out of her head and stop worrying about Pawlish. Everyone chuckled at Poe’s noisy reminder that it was time for fun, and Brooke laughed along with them. “Yes, let’s get this party started,” she said.
    “Oh. My. God. Brooke! These bacon and mushroom mini-quiches are rockin’. I think bacon should be in the periodic table. It’s so good.” Poe said with a smirk.
    “Like an element?” Brooke asked.
    “Yes!” Poe nodded vigorously. “I can see the description now. Bacon with the symbol Bn is a meat product derived from the back of the pig where the leaner meat is found, which gives you a slice that is 85% meat and 15% fat. Due to popular demand, it has replaced hydrogen in the number one slot on the Periodic Table. When it is cooked, it gives off a sweet, tasty aroma. The reaction to bacon is pronounced. Saliva forms and causes Homo sapiens to engage in ‘grabbing-the-last-piece’ syndrome.”
    Mirth bubbled up from her diaphragm as all her friends, Callie’s mother, and even the attendants burst into laughter.
    Poe giggled. “But instead of atomic power it would have to be pig power.”
    “To what degree?” Callie asked between giggles.
    “The tenth!”
    “I have to agree with Poe,” Callie said, holding her sides and laughing through her tears. “Bacon is so good it should have been a subject in school.”
    Poe nodded, unable to contain her enthusiasm. “I’d definitely teach that class. Bacon 101 or Baconology.”
    “Well, if you’re going to those lengths, I want an honorary degree in bacon.” Harper chimed in.
    “Nice, a doctorate in bacon! And all I have is this darn DVM degree!”
    “You are crazy, Poe. Are you sure you should be doing surgery on animals?” Harper said, her words rippling with laughter.
    “I’m very vet-like at St. Mark’s,” she replied, struggling to keep a straight face.
    “You have to be. The dogs can’t talk back,” Brooke said.
    “No, but I’m sure they’re laughing inside.”
    The room erupted again in peals of laughter.
    “Bacon is no joke. In fact, I’m sure if a zombie was chasing you, and you had bacon on you, you could throw it like a stick and they’d chase the bacon instead of you.” Poe took another bite of the mini-quiche.
    Harper raised a brow. “Poe, if a zombie was chasing me, I’d just trip you.”
    “Oh, that would be okay! I would have bacon.”
    Harper grabbed Poe around the neck and said, “You are such a nerd.”
    Poe wrinkled up her nose, and said, “Come over to the dork side. We have Pi.”
    By then Brooke was holding her sides and could barely catch her breath. Suddenly everything was all right again.
    Thirty minutes into the fitting Callie had rejected every single one of the gowns the attendant had selected. Brooke hadn’t noticed that Harper had disappeared until she returned with a dress in her arms.
    “Callie,” she said softly, “try this one on.”
    Callie turned toward Harper, and her audible gasp as she saw the gown made everyone sit up with interest.
    As the lace-covered satin slipped over her daughter’s head and flowed down her body, Kate covered her mouth, and Brooke’s heart lurched. What she wouldn’t give to have her own