Read The Diva Frosts a Cupcake for Free Online

his response to Humphrey. “Everything’s fine. She . . . has her moments. Sophie, would you tell Nina that I’m coming to get Buddy, the dog I liked so much?”
    “Fantastic!” I worried, though, that it could have been news of the dog that had set off Clarissa’s screaming fit. If she didn’t want the dog, maybe the adoption wasn’t such a good idea.
    I felt unsettled as we drove away. Something was clearly wrong. Nevertheless, I phoned Nina to tell her Spenser intended to adopt the black and tan dog.
    Humphrey blocked traffic by double-parking in front of Sugar Baby. Horns honked at us immediately.
    “Isn’t there a back entrance?” I asked.
    Humphrey hopped out of the car, flipped open the back hatch, and struggled with the desk. He had it partway out when I said, hoping he would catch on, “Isn’t there a delivery alley behind Sugar Baby?”
    He paid me no heed whatsoever and continued to struggle with the desk, apparently oblivious to the protesting horns and the blocked traffic. People were looking out of shop windows to see what was happening.
    “Humphrey! For heaven’s sake, someone is going to shoot you if you don’t move this car!”
    “Huh? Could you give me a hand here?”
    Was he really so besotted with Renee that he couldn’t hear me or the honking horns? I waved apologetically at the car behind us.
    “Renee lives upstairs over top of the shop,” he said. “Think we’re strong enough to carry it up the stairs?”
    “Yes. But only if we park in the alley!” I shoved the desk inside the car and slammed the back door shut. “Let’s go!”
    Humphrey finally figured out what I’d been saying. “Oh, I see. The alley
would
be easier.” He drove around the corner and into the alley that ran behind the stores, parking in back of Sugar Baby.
    Once again, he struggled to pull the desk from the car. I wedged in next to him and tugged on the other side. It slid toward us.
    The delicate desk was far heavier than I’d expected. I appreciated the fact that it was made of solid wood, but the weight would make the stairs hard to negotiate.
    A Saab that looked like a station wagon with a hatch in the back rolled into the alley and parked. Spenser stepped out. “I thought you might need a hand getting it up to Renee’s apartment. Sorry to be so late. Traffic was at a standstill.”
    Summoning every bit of strength I had, I didn’t mention who had caused the traffic to stop.
    Humphrey gladly accepted his offer. The men removed the desk from the car and carried it to the stoop. I opened the back door of the building. The three of us entered a small foyer, which smelled heavenly, thanks to cupcakes that were baking.
    Muffin Pruitt emerged in the hallway wearing a cute pink Sugar Baby apron over a white polo shirt and a jean skirt. Black Mary Jane shoes adorned her feet. She looked like an adorable advertisement for happy baking. “Hi! Renee said you’d be coming by.” She opened a door and pointed. “Just take it up the stairs, if you don’t mind. Renee will be so thrilled to have it.”
    I led the way up to a small landing that opened into an empty living room with two French doors overlooking the quaint street.
    Huffing and puffing, the guys reached the living room and set the desk down. The delicate desk seemed even smaller in the empty room.
    Spenser leaned against the wall to catch his breath. Humphrey, not at all used to physical activity, bent over, his hands on his knees.
    Spenser choked out, “What happened here? There’s not even a sofa or a TV.”
    Humphrey glanced around before whispering, “Joy must have wiped her out.”
    His breath coming hard, Spenser asked, “Didn’t she have furniture of her own?”
    Humphrey straightened up. “I thought Renee and Joy were good friends. Maybe I should have a word with Joy?”
    “Humphrey,” I cautioned, “you probably shouldn’t get involved in someone else’s argument.”
    “I disagree, Sophie. Someone should intervene on