The Miss Fortune Series: Undercover Bubba (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Miss Chance meets Miss Fortune Book 3) Read Free Page B

We just ordered breakfast.” Gertie motioned toward their favorite table, where I’d been reasonably certain I’d find them at that time of day. Gertie’s elderly Cadillac with the bumper still, unbelievably, tied up with rope, had confirmed it.
    Francine came over as I slid into a seat. “Mornin’ Felicity. What can I get ya?”
    Dear, unflappable, Francine. It was as if I’d never left Sinful. “I’ll take a bagel with cream cheese and jelly please. And a fresh fruit cup.”
    Fortune grimaced. “You’re putting me to shame. I knew I should have ordered an egg white omelet instead of the chicken fried steak with gravy.”
    Felly sighed. “I’m so jealous. But my metabolism has apparently moved without a forwarding address.”
    Gertie, who already had food in front of her, sighed. “I know the feeling. I try so hard but I just can’t seem to lose these last two pounds.” Shaking her head, she shoved a dense and chewy cinnamon bun into her mouth. 
    Ida Belle arched a silver eyebrow in her direction. “Poor thing. I can see you’re starving yourself. Maybe if you looked under the other thirty pounds you need to lose you’ll find the two you’re looking for.”
    As Gertie cast a mutinous look in Ida Belle’s direction, I decided it might be a good time to tell them why I was there. “So, I got a call from my father yesterday.”
    Three gazes spun in my direction. I had their complete interest.
    “Have the Russians found him?” Fortune asked sotto voce .
    “No. Well, I don’t think they have anything to do with this. But one of the monks has disappeared.” I dug in my pocket and pulled out the figurine we’d found. “He seems to have left this behind.”
    Ida Belle took the carved piece of cypress and examined it carefully. “This looks familiar.”
    I nodded. “I thought so too. The question is, why is he trying to direct us to Sinful Catholic Church?”
    Gertie’s eyes went wide. “Oh no.” She lifted her frosting coated fingers, shaking her head. “I’m not going into the lion’s den again unless you let me bring a weapon.”
    Fortune’s gaze turned intense. “Does Cal have any idea what we’re dealing with?”
    I tried not to take offense at the fact that she immediately bypassed the idea I might have an idea in favor of Cal’s opinion. But I’m pretty sure a frown briefly took up residence on my face before I squashed it. “No. He’s going to visit with Carter to see if there’s anything amiss that might be connected.” I had a thought. “Has Carter mentioned anything to you?” I waggled my brows. “You know, pillow talk.”
    To my vast surprise, Fortune grimaced. “Not likely.”
    “They kind of broke up,” Gertie supplied helpfully.
    Fortune suddenly found a small chip on the edge of the table fascinating.
    “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”
    She lifted an almost angry gaze to me. “Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal. We just realized our goals were different.”
    Nodding, I looked up as Francine delivered our food. I had a pretty good idea which goals Fortune was referring to. She had the goal of finding bad guys and opening up a can of whoop ass on them and Carter had the silly idea that was his job. Not hers. “I guess we’ll have to do this the hard way then.” My words were dire but I couldn’t help smiling at the thought of going undercover with the wild and wily crew again. “I just hope we can get in and out without summoning up demon Celia this time.”
    Ida Belle and Fortune shared a look.
    “What?”
    Gertie sighed. “We’re kind of under house arrest right now.”
    I felt my eyebrows shoot skyward. “House arrest? But you’re in the diner.”
    “We’re allowed to go from our homes to the diner and to the General Store and that’s it.”
    I frowned. “Or what?”
    “Or Carter will throw us in jail.”
    “What in the world did you do?”
    Gertie shrugged. “Let’s just say we celebrated a combination Coyote Ugly and Happy