Joseph Lemon was the man who found me all those years ago when I was a wiggling infant left on the floor of the Honey Hollow Fire Department. He and my mother, Miranda Lemon, adopted me right away, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. But sadly, my father died of a heart attack years ago, and, truthfully, our lives haven’t been the same ever since.
Dutch, of course, insisted on coming along tonight, and since I have no idea how to stop him from doing anything at all, here he is. And I don’t mind it one bit. Oddly enough, last month that black bear that once belonged to Eve Hollister was able to move objects in the material world, but Dutch thankfully hasn’t picked up that haunting skill.
He barks up a storm before darting fearlessly into the crowd. There’s that. He always makes his way back home, though, so I never have that foreboding feeling as if I’ll never see him again. Ever since Waffles, Nell’s Himalayan, came to live with us, Dutch has needed much more outdoor time than before.
Tinsley Shields struts by with a determined look on her face, her red shimmering gown with its perilously plunging neckline and up-to-there hemline makes my own dress look as if I plucked it out of a nun’s closet, and I can’t help but frown. I was hoping to be all Noah Corbin Fox could see tonight, and it’s quickly proving to be impossible.
A thought comes to me as she passes me by. “Oh, hey—Tinsley?” I call out, and she takes a step back, pausing to look my way. “The door to your van is open.” I shrug into my seemingly good deed.
To be honest, when I spotted it that way in the parking lot, I figured they were through hauling in their goodies and simply forgot about it. This kind of weather can really do a number on an expensive refrigerated van like that. I should know. I have one myself. Everett purchased mine as a thank you for getting him off the suspect list of a murder. But he assured me he did not purchase the van for The Coffee Cake Break. He simply helps them load it whenever they feel the need.
She rolls her eyes, and I can’t help but admire the way her bright red lipstick pops off her olive skin. I know firsthand that shade would look garish on me.
“That’s a Greer move.” Tinsley glances past my shoulder. “Her head is all over the place today. But when isn’t it?” She takes off, and I have a feeling she was more thinking out loud than she was filling me in on something I already know.
Greer may be the leader of their fearless pack, but she’s also the ditsiest of them all. Okay, so she’s not all that ditzy. But she’s mean. Right to the bone. You can tell with some people, and she is definitely one of those people.
I do a quick visual scan of the room and ironically spot Greer and Nikki, both looking equally stunning, might I add, and my stomach sours on cue. Greer has her hair pulled back, long chandelier earrings that glitter like diamonds—she’s so rich they might just be the real deal. She’s donned a tight white dress, a color that a real baker would be quick to eschew, especially if she knew she’d be in charge of making sure her sweet treats were needing to be replenished all night. Nikki looks a bit more practical in a glittery navy number.
They seem to be having an animated conversation. Nikki cowers a moment as if she were afraid Greer might strike her, and yet Greer bursts out laughing instead. Nikki shakes her head, and Greer looks as if she’s ready to roll on the floor before her demeanor shifts on a dime. A dark-haired man enters their midst, and a crowd moves between us, blocking the rest of the show from my line of vision.
I’m a bit relieved. I can’t change the fact my competition is in the same room with me, their desserts side by side with my own, but I can do my best to not pay any attention to them.
Nicole Brand, the woman I met at the Cutie Pie Bakery, stands by the refreshments table looking every bit the wallflower, and I make a mental note to say hello to her asap. But I spot my mother and Brad Rutherford and head their way first. It’s not until I’m two steps shy of their presence does Carlotta step out of the shadows, laughing at something ridiculous Brad just said, her long caramel waves, twins to mine, her dark crimson dress almost a replica of the one I have on, and now all I want to do is strip my own dress off. I’d be far more comfortable in my underwear than playing twinsies with Carlotta Gold Digger Sawyer.
“Lottie.” She tips her head my way, and both Mom and Mr. Rutherford turn around.
I’m about to say something, say anything when I spot tucked in Carlotta’s arms a miniature snow-white, adorable as heck, long-dead Chihuahua. It’s snuggling against her chest, while she scratches between its ears, its eyes happily squinted shut. I can see the rest of Carlotta’s arms through its crystalline body, and every muscle in me seizes. I can’t catch my breath. She’s doing this right here, in front of my mother and her guests as if she’s taunting them, taunting me.
“Lottie!” Mom pulls me into a quick embrace. “You look ravishing, dear.” Her hand touches her lips a moment as she looks to her partner in coital crime. “I think I’m about to spill a secret.”
“Oh, don’t do it.” Carlotta winks as if egging her on in the opposite direction. If I didn’t think this woman was trouble before, I sure know it now.
Mr. Rutherford chuckles. “When Miranda Lemon sets her mind to something, there’s no stopping her.” He gives Mom’s ribs a quick tickle, and she nearly chortles herself to death.
“Lottie, you won’t believe what’s about to happen.” She pulls me in as her blonde curls bounce over her shoulders. “Forest let me know that he’s going to pop the question to Lainey this evening!”
“What?” I match her enthusiasm as my fingers bite into her flesh. “My God, that’s fantastic! I can’t believe it. This really is going to be the very best Valentine’s Day ever.”
Carlotta clears her throat and gives the pretty pooch in her arms a kiss, those hazel eyes of hers never leaving mine.
The music takes a turn for the hopelessly romantic, and Mr. Rutherford reels my mother into his arms. “Miranda Lemon, I’ve got a surprise planned for you that will have you squealing twice that loud.”
They share a charged laugh as if they were both in on the sick and twisted joke.
“Is it legal?” Mom purrs as if they were the only two people in the room.
“Not in the state of Vermont, but that’s never stopped us before.”
They sail away into the crowd, and suddenly Carlotta and I find ourselves standing on the dance floor as couples sway all around us to the melodic rhythm.
“What are you doing?” I hiss right at her. And for the first time since she’s been in Honey Hollow I’m standing less than a foot from her.
She glances down at the specter in her hands. “Did this catch your eye?” A devious smile glides up one side of her cheek. “It’s about time you paid me an ounce of attention.”
“Paid you attention? You don’t want my attention. You came for Nell’s money. My guess is payday hasn’t quite arrived yet or we’d be seeing your taillights by now.”
She lifts a brow, and my stomach cinches because she looks frighteningly like me. “You haven’t heard? My dear brother, William, is contesting the will. Your portion of it specifically. He’s never been good at sharing. The courts have frozen everything. It could be months, years until it’s all sorted.” A thin smile glides over her lips. “I guess you’ll have to get used to seeing me around. Like every time you look in the mirror.” A laugh bubbles from deep inside of her.
“You’re sort of a brat. You know that?”
Her mouth rounds out playfully. “How dare you speak to your mother that way. I was hoping you were raised better than that.”
“My mother is over there in the arms of—”
“A pervert.” Carlotta doesn’t mind one bit finishing the sentence for me.
“Okay, so you’re perceptive.”
She nods. “And privy to all the twisted things those two do together. Miranda has taken a real liking to me.” She squeezes the specter in her hands with glee, and it does its best to lick her silly with that little pink tongue of his.
“
Yes, well, my mother has never been the best judge of character.” I snarl at this sassy version of myself.
Dutch bounds over and stops shy of Carlotta and me, looking to each of us with slight confusion before letting out an ear-piercing bark.
“Hey, boy,” I say, offering him a quick scratch. “It’s okay. She’s just like me. A little too much so for my liking,” I say that last part under my breath. “So we share this thing.” I glance to the adorable baby cuddled in her arms before giving it a quick tickle under its chin and, my God, I think it just growled at me. “I take it they don’t belong to you.”
“You wish.” She wrinkles her nose at me. “Speaking of death wishes, you wouldn’t happen to have a death wish yourself, do you? Because keeping that handsome devil around is bound to cause you all sorts of problems, and one of them can very much be lethal.”
I gasp as I look to Dutch. “Nell alluded to as much. She said it could be very bad luck for me to keep him by my side.”
Dutch lies on the ground and whines while looking up at me with those big glowing blood red eyes.
“But he’s not going anywhere,” I say, partly to make him feel better. “Besides, I wouldn’t know how to send him back if I tried.” I look to the puppy in her arms. “It looks as if you’ve taken to someone. It doesn’t seem as if you’re put off by the idea of bad luck or death.”
“You wouldn’t wish either of those things on me, would you?” There’s a tenderness in her eyes I haven’t seen before, but in all fairness, I haven’t seen all that much of her to know if I would. She’s affable. I’ll give her that. I can see what has the rest of my family so smitten with her. But I still think she’s a con artist. “Anyway…” She shrugs as if acquiescing to the fact I’m not answering her morbid question. “Have you noticed the gorgeous flowers here tonight? Rhonda Gilbert donated them all. She owns the—”
“The Enchanted Flower Shop,” I finish for her. “I think I’m a bit more familiar with Honey Hollow than you are.” Rhonda Gilbert has a daughter about my age, Felicity Bell. Rhonda has always been a bit of a whimsical character, always wearing the seasons right on her sleeves. In the fall, she has about a dozen or so jackets and sweaters with pictures of fall leaves and pumpkins sewn onto them, same with Christmas. Rhonda is notorious for her ugly sweater collection. I have no doubt she’s decorated herself with pink and red sparkling hearts tonight just for the occasion.
She crimps her lips as if I’ve finally managed to offend her. “I’m staying with Rhonda. She was my best friend growing up, just like Keelie is to you.” Her lips quiver before she narrows her gaze my way. “I bet you have questions about our little gift, don’t you?”
“Nell told me enough.”
A barking laugh jumps from her throat. “Nell didn’t know the half of it herself.” She presses a kiss to the forehead of that paper white puppy. “But I do. I know the whole of it. I know it from top to bottom. And if you want in on all of my deep, dark secrets, you just need to do one little thing. Hear me out. And when you’re ready to do just that, find me.” She nods. “And judging by the fleet of ghosts you have floating around here tonight, I’m guessing that will be very, very soon.” She glances to Dutch before leaning in. “And, Lottie, I know exactly how to send that beautiful beast back where he belongs. And if I were you, I’d do so sooner than later. The repercussions of putting it off could set your destiny veering way off course.”
She takes off just as a tall shadow darkens my presence. I look up to see Everett’s unfriendly frame, and I can’t help but smile at him. He’s so dapper in his dark suit, his fiery red tie, that a breath hitches in my throat at the sight of him.
“You look like you need a hug, Lemon.”
Dutch leaps up and bounds happily back into the crowd. How could that beautiful beast cause my destiny to derail? It doesn’t seem possible.
My gaze meets with Everett’s haunting blue eyes. “I guess you have a beating heart after all. And to think I thought maybe you lost it in that van while helping load all of the competition’s goodies.” I lean in. “Rumor has it, Greer Giles is going to let you stuff her full of goodies, too—goodies that are attached to your body. Lily didn’t take it very well. Prepare for a bloodbath.”
He winces. “I may have witnessed a salty exchange from the two of them just a few minutes ago. But, in my defense, I never intended to start a war.”
“Let me guess. You’re a lover, not a fighter.” A laugh bubbles from me just as my phone bleats in my hand. I glance down. “It’s a text from Noah. He’s sorry he’s running late.” I read the last line and gasp. “He says he has something very important to ask me tonight.” My face flushes three different colors.
Before either of us can say anything, Lainey and Forest pop up along with Keelie and Hook. Lainey and Keelie look like they should have crowns on their heads, they’re that gloriously beautiful tonight and both men look dashing.
“Look at this!” Keelie shoves a ring-clad finger in my face, as does Lainey.
“They proposed!” My sister does an odd little tap dance as my mouth falls open. “They both proposed?” I cock my head toward Hook Redwood with a questioning look, and he offers a sober nod.
“Keelie’s the one for me. Some might say I came back to help my old man out, but it was all a cover.” He pulls my best friend in close like he means it. “She’s always been the one for me.”
I’m not sure I’m buying it, but Hook is so painfully tall, dark, and handsome, I’m thrilled for Keelie.
“Congratulations to you both,” I say and Everett echoes my sentiment.
Lainey leans in. “We’re going to be taking off soon.”
Forest nods. “I’ve got a little surprise for her back at the house.”
Lainey snorts as she swats him on the arm. “Don’t sell yourself short. There is not one little thing about you.” They take off deeper onto the dance floor, as do Keelie and Hook, leaving Everett and me in their wake.
My mouth falls open as a thought comes to me. “Do you know what this means? Noah is about to propose!”
“What?” Everett straightens. His voice rattles as if it were the most frightening thing he’s ever heard.
“Yes. Don’t you get it? He said he wants to ask me a very important question.” I pull Everett in by the tie until my chest is conjoined to his. “My God, he’s going to do it! Noah Fox is going to drop on one knee and ask me to be his wife! Of course, he is.” I shake my head, dazed that it didn’t occur to me earlier. “It’s practically a required action on a night like this.” I can hardly catch my next breath I’m so giddy over the prospect. “Oh my God, I can’t wrap my head around it.”
“Neither can I,” he says flatly.
“Everett.” I grip his arms and shake him. “You’ll have to lurk around us all night. I just have to have a picture of that special moment when Noah drops to one knee, and I burst into spontaneous tears.” Just the thought has my insides aching with delight.
A gagging sound emits from behind, followed by a slow stirring hum of general discontent, and we look to see a crowd of people gathered around the dessert bar pointing and coughing, and the scene makes both Everett and me speed that way.
Greer and Nikki stand in the thick of the melee, and Greer seems to be trying to garner everyone’s attention. Finally, Nikki belts out an ear-piercing whistle, and the angry mob settles down for a moment.
Greer lifts a hand as if taking an oath. “The Coffee Cake Break did not bake these terrible desserts.” She looks to Nikki and gives a curt nod while straightening her spine. “We baked the red velvet cupcakes. So you can take all of your complaints to the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery. We really don’t care.” Greer snatches one of my decadent red velvet cupcakes off the heart-shaped stand Bear built just for me and takes a swoony bite out of it.
The crowd begins to murmur among themselves again, and a choking sound emits from me.
I give Everett’s tie a quick tug. “Do you see what your wicked soon-to-be ex is doin
g?” It’s true. Everett has a penchant for collecting exes wherever he goes, and I have no doubt Greer will soon be one of them right along with Lily. “She’s trying to pass off that garbage you helped her load into that van as mine.” I clear my throat as I step into the crowd. “Excuse me, Greer—but the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery provided the red velvet cupcakes and not any of those other sugar-coated travesties. The rest of these platters filled with contents better suited for the garbage can, all came from that cheap knockoff of a bakery you’re running. If I were you, I’d close my door today and save yourself any further embarrassment. You’re nothing but an underhanded cheat who doesn’t have a creative bone in her body. And if I could, I’d chase you out of town myself!”
Greer seizes with that red velvet cupcake still firm in her hand before she plucks up Nikki’s hand and they take off for the back.
“Cowards,” I seethe, and Everett winces as he ushers us out of hostile baking waters.
“That was a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
“Are you kidding? They steal my recipes, my ideas, my name, they steal you, and now they’re trying to pass off their half-baked nonsense as if it were my own? I have a reputation to uphold.” I snarl into the crowd and spot Greer and Nikki going at it near the kitchen. I will admit, there’s something heartbreaking just witnessing it. “I guess I can imagine how bad it must feel to have everyone hate your hard work.” It would be soul crushing, actually. “Oh, all right. I think I’ll head over and apologize.” I take off just as Greer disappears into the kitchen, and Nikki takes off in the opposite direction toward the dance floor. I’ll never find Nikki in that mass tangle of limbs, so I continue to the kitchen. Just as I’m about to enter, angry voices explode from the other side, and I carefully peer in. It’s Greer and Tinsley. Great—now Greer is taking it out on poor Tinsley, too.
“And Tiger is here?” Greer balks as if that were the final straw. “Don’t you dare try to pull Cici into this mess. You hear?” Her voice is shaking. “I just need to get away right now. I can’t be here. This is getting insane. And don’t you think for a minute I won’t blow this thing wide open.”
Murder in the Mix (Books 4-6) Page 32
