Nosey Rosie: Southern Fried Sass, #2

Copyright © 2023 Julia Mills

All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

NOTICE: This is an adult erotic paranormal romance with love scenes and mature situations. It is only intended for adult readers over the age of 18.

CONTENTS

JOIN THE CLAN!

Acknowledgements

NOSEY ROSIE

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Wanna See How the Southern Fried Sass Ladies Came to Be?

READ ALL THE STORIES IN THE SOUTHERN FRIED SASS SERIES!

The Story that Started the Whole Dragon Guard Series –

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Edited by Em’s Editing

Proofread by Book Nook Nuts

Beta Read by Linda Levy

For Mom - the best straight woman in the world who always laughed at my jokes.

NOSEY ROSIE

When the Goddess and the Universe team up, with Destiny and Fate shakin' their pom-poms on the sideline, it's more than a Witch can endure.

Buckle up, Buttercups. I'm the Witch your momma warned you about.

It was just another beautiful day in Hairy Wort when Taffy and I happened upon a dead body in the rubble of the Marshall Mansion –

That got up and walked away!

No! I am not messin’ with you. I swear. It really happened.

Just when I thought things were as low as they would go – think the creepy crawlies creeping and crawlin’ at the very bottom of the Swamp – a tall, handsome Panther with a glint in his eye showed up like he owned the place.

Then you know what he did?

He told everybody he was my Mate.

What the H-E-Double-hockey-sticks am I supposed to do with that pile of Grunch crap? Good Goddess, if you love me, send me a hundred-pound box of chocolate and a gallon of Miss Bunny’s sweet, iced tea.

Hey! Even better, come on down and hang out for a while.

Heaven knows I could use the help.

PROLOGUE

I heard what you said, and I don’t agree. I think…

Blah, blah, blah, I swear ever since my half-sister found her Mate, she’s somehow gotten even bossier than she was before. I know it’s hard for me to believe, too. It’s capital B-O-S-S-Y with exclamation points at the end, and she already acted like the Grand Poobah of EV-ERY-THING as it was.

Now, I understand that she’s the one who put up all the money for our Private Investigation business, Southern Fried Sass and that she's waaaay older than either me or Daisy. (Yeah, I went there. I'm in a pissy mood. Sue me.) But, just once, I mean one single time, I'd like her to listen to my ideas, smile and nod, and let me go about my business. When will she realize that she’s most assuredly not the end all be all of Witchy PIs?

Walking out the door and down the steps, I made a quick right into Miss Bunny’s diner for a big glass of sweet iced tea with extra ice and Meyer lemons. It was the only thing that would cool my temper after my latest ‘discussion’ with Faith.

You okay? Taffy, my tender-hearted little green Dragonette asked as she landed on my shoulder.

Yeah, I’m good, I harrumphed, opening the front door to Miss Bunny’s and walking into the best smellin’ place in all of Hairy Wart. That seven-foot pink Bunny with braids down to her bum knew how to cook, and that’s with a capital C-O-O-K.

Before moving to the backass of Nowhere, I'd never in my long life tasted tofu. As a matter of fact, I'd sworn off it, made fun of people who ate it, and vehemently avoided that aisle in the grocery store. But, here in the swamp, Miss Bunny can make that soft, white, goopy blob of nothingness taste like darned near anything. Color me converted. (And whenever you can, get on down here and try her Tofu Tacos. You’ll never look at Tuesdays the same way again.)

Hey, Rosie, how ya' doin'? Jessalyn, the latest addition to Hairy Wart’s population and the new counter help at Miss Bunny's asked. The short, thin redhead with freckles and bright blue eyes was also the first Kangaroo Shifter I'd ever met. Of course, I’d had to ask about the whole ‘joey’ in the pouch thing and how hard she really could kick. She’d laughed and answered all my questions the lilt of an Aussie accent that only added to her overall cuteness.

I’m good, Jess, thanks. How are you?

Hangin’ in there. You want your tea or are you steppin' onto the wild side today?

Yeah, that’s me, wild and wooly, I chuckled. I’m here for tea since it's too early for tequila.

Comin’ up.

Watching Jess as she made my drink and interacted with the other customers sitting at the counter, I couldn't help but think about the conversation I'd had with Faith. It didn't matter that she was older, that the business, although in all our names, was basically hers, or that she had my safety and best interests at heart. I wanted to follow my nose, or rather my instincts, or whatever the little voice in my head that refuses to be ignored was. Wanted to do things my way, at least part of the time. Something was going on at the Hayes Arboretum, and I was going to find out what it was, and Faith could blow it out her broomstick.

Having made up my mind, my spirits lifted and brought my mood right along with them. It wasn’t a shock that Taffy was the first to notice. What’re you cookin' up in that kooky, wonderful mind of yours? The smile in her voice and the weight of her Scottish brogue said she was in for whatever I had planned. (Ya’ gotta love a partner in crime that’s just a devious as you are.)

Nearly giddy by the time Jess returned with my tea, I thanked her in a sing-songy tone and all but skipped out of the diner. Taking the long way to the parking spots at the back of the restaurant, the ones reserved for Southern Fried Sass clients and employees, I jumped on my Pepto-Bismal pink Vespa and slid on my matching helmet.

Waiting until Taffy was safely in the seat Matt had made for her, I gently reminded my little friend, No helmet, no ride, Miss Thang.

With the words still echoing between us, she magicked a bright pink helmet just like mine onto her head and gave me the thumbs up. Placing my large, white, Styrofoam cup of fresh sweet tea in my custom-made sparkling pink cup holder, I turned the key, lifted us off the kickstand, and away we went.

Taking the backroads, making sure to avoid Beau, aka Gator-in-Law who was the Law in Hairy Wart, who Faith had told me was out patrolling the swamp, (Read that as hanging out with his family on Gator Perch.) I grinned from ear-to-ear. Whatever Sherriff Scaly was doing, I didn’t want to inadvertently run into him and have him saying something to my overprotective, overbearing sister. Playing it safe until I was farther out of town was the name of the game.

Whooping and hollering as we bopped over hills and took the crazy curves like mad women (Or insane Witch and giddy Dragonette, whichever you prefer.) Taffy and I had a blast. It also gave me time to think about the dreams, daydreams or hallucinations – depending on who was telling the story - I'd been having