Sea-Salt Lavender for Aphrodite

By Julie Howard

Rosella Rivers enjoys the perfect life, loving her new ice cream food truck business featuring exotic flavors. But her beach view parking space is not so lovable when she finds an acquaintance stabbed to death in the boardwalk bathroom.

Detective Mark Pruitt knows murder is bad for small-town Olympus Bay. He must find the suspect before he strikes again. When he first sets eyes on Rosella, the only witness, he is smitten. However, there's no time for romance when danger lurks.

Together he and the lovely ice cream maker must discover the killer before he turns his sight on Rosella.

• Language: Unknown
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Jun 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781509231522

Julie Howard

Julie Howard is the author of the Wild Crime and Spirited Quest series. She is a former journalist and editor who has covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. She has published a number of short stories in several literary journals. She is a member of the Idaho Writers Guild and founder of the Boise chapter of Shut Up & Write. Learn more at juliemhoward.com.

Book preview

Inc.

The echo of a drip-drip-drip resonated from within. Rosella glanced around, wishing a man would pass by, someone she could send inside on her behalf. On this side of the structure, though, the beachfront was hidden from view and the building backed by sand dunes. Unless someone needed to use the facilities, they wouldn’t approach.

Mick?

A distant chime from the town clock made her heart sink. Ten a.m. Opening time. She had to get back to her truck. A fresh round of anxious yips sounded. She scooted to the corner of the building and peeked toward her truck. Aphrodite stood at attention, straining at the leash. The dog barked twice at spotting her and renewed efforts to break free of the tether.

She returned to the doorway. Mick, I’m just going to step inside since I’m a little bit worried, just to make sure you’re okay. Let me know if I shouldn’t come in. No response sounded. All right, coming in.

The odor hit her first. Heavy, sweet, sickening. Then her eyes registered the scene. Mick lay face down in the middle of the tile floor, a steady stream of deep red blood winding its way toward a drain.

Praise for Julie Howard and…

SPIRITED QUEST: One of those ‘make you feel good’ kind of books… Julie Howard is an author to check out.

~Long & Short Reviews

~*~

This book is a fast read loaded with mystery, paranormal and ghosts that take center stage. This is a quick, fun read I highly recommend.

~Tena Stetler, best-selling author of

Mystic Maples and A Magic Redemption

~*~

WILD CRIME: One of the best mysteries I’ve read in a long time. Julie Howard is a brilliant mystery writer who leaves clues for the reader, like breadcrumbs. Fans of Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson will love this suspenseful thriller. Highly recommend!

~N.N. Light Book Heaven

Sea-Salt Lavender for Aphrodite

by

Julie Howard

One Scoop or Two

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Sea-Salt Lavender for Aphrodite

COPYRIGHT © 2020 by Julie Howard

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Kristian Norris

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Crimson Rose Edition, 2020

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-3152-2

One Scoop or Two

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

To ice cream lovers, everywhere

Chapter One

Rosella Rivers wrenched up the awning of her food truck, swung open the windows and set out the hand-lettered menu board. The morning sun’s rays glittered on the ocean waves at idyllic Olympus Bay, and cast a yellowish glow over the boardwalk. She breathed in the salty Pacific Ocean air and the familiar brine coated her tongue.

Today was Sunday, June first, which meant an entirely new crowd of customers. School would be out soon and long-planned vacations loomed. Families would flock to the seashore, seeking excitement and relaxation. Tourists didn’t count calories while on vacation. They’d gorge on snacks of all kinds, from exotic-named ice cream treats to any foodstuff capable of being deep-fried—and clamor for more. Sundays were always more relaxed; customers strolled slower, and laughed more as they eked out the final hours of their weekend. As people loitered, they were more likely to order a triple scoop or—maybe double back for a second helping.

Confident her new ice cream truck couldn’t fail, Rosella’s only problem so far was settling on the perfect name for her business. But that was a molehill, not a mountain. She stood back and admired the scrolled lettering on today’s sign.

June’s favorite: Nasturtium orange

A drawing of a nasturtium vine with its trumpet shaped flowers encircled the words. The delicate yellow and orange blooms in the ice cream flavor of the month originated from her own back yard where the prolific leggy plants had taken over the entire garden bed like a weed. One of the edible types of flowers though mostly flavorless, nasturtiums added to an orange-cream base provided flecks of color and a silky texture.

The newest name of her business, Creative Creations, sat at the top of the chalkboard menu. None of the other names she’d come up with over these first two months in business sounded quite right, but there was nothing wrong with sampling a variety before the general public. Sooner or later, the perfect appellation would present itself. She felt it in her bones.

Her entire life’s savings, as well as her heart and soul, resided in this pink-and-cream truck with an indigo-striped awning. The long days were worth it.

So far, everything was as perfect as could be.

Now, here was a new month and the official launch of Olympus Bay’s summer season, the peak time for selling ice cream. The roar of the Pacific’s waves and high calls of seagulls became the ideal background music. Let the summer revelries begin.

****

As it was way too early for customers, nearby stores along the long stretch of boardwalk were still dark and closed tight. A handful of food trucks abutted hers, the owners inside, busy with prep work. Five years as a baker and pastry chef had transformed Rosella into an early riser. Now as the owner of a food truck, the extra hours gave her a jump on the day. And a lock on the best location along the beach: close to both the parking lot and the bathrooms. And a nearby cooling fountain for customers to sit while