Everett pulls back and inspects me with a stern expression. “Is everything okay?”
“It is now.” I nod to Noah. “I think we survived the worst of it.” I hike up and dot a kiss to his lips.
Everett’s chest expands wide as a wall as he takes a step back. “I’ve got a job for you, Lemon, if you’re up for it. I’m putting together a farewell party for Judge Shumaker before he leaves Ashford, and I’d love for you fill the bakery needs.”
“It would be my pleasure. Wow, that’s very nice of you to do this for him. It just goes to show you’re not upset in the least he was chosen for the promotion.”
“Nope. I firmly believe I’m right where I’m supposed to be and happy about it, too.”
I bite down on a smile, overwhelmed to have such fond affection from two great men.
“How about I get you both a cup of coffee and some warm chocolate chip cookies?” I offer.
Noah’s dimples go off. “That’s an offer I can’t refuse.” I go to take off, and he reels me back by the fingers. “Lottie”—he presses out a warm smile, and I melt on the inside—“the important question I was going to ask—it was, would you be my Valentine?” He winces.
My heart soars as I bubble with laughter. “Yes, Noah—each and every day.”
I glance to Everett as I turn for the kitchen and note the slight hurt look in his eyes, and my heart shatters just as much as it did for Dutch.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” I nod toward the register, and Everett follows me over.
I watch as Noah heads over to the Honey Pot and strikes up a conversation with Keelie and Lainey.
“Everett”—I look up into those rich blue eyes, and everything in me melts like snow—“I feel like a monster. But I have to get something off my chest, and in no way am I saying this to lead you on, but I’ve learned the hard way that people and pets don’t always get to stay in your life forever.” I step in close until his spiced cologne permeates me like a cloud. “I can’t get enough of you. I care about you so much that I actually love you.” I shrug. “I just do. I care so deeply about you.” His eyes widen a notch, and his chest expands as if he’s waited years to hear this. “I cherish our friendship.” And, just like that, his shoulders sag a notch, and I’m right back to feeling like a monster. “I need you in my life. You’re one of the most amazing men I’ve ever had the privilege to meet. I’m sorry for being so selfish. But there’s just something special about you. Thank you for always being there for me.”
“You’re welcome, Lemon. And no matter what the future holds, I’ll be right by your side. You say the word and I’m there. And remember, if Noah screws up, I’ll be waiting.”
A deep belly laugh escapes me. “If Noah screws up, you won’t have to wait.”
The door chime goes off and in walks a tall, strawberry blonde with long hair that covers one eye and gives her a sultry appeal, full glossy lips, an incredible fitted coat, and patent leather boots. She’s stunning and a bit cartoonish, and that only makes her that much more of an intriguing spectacle to look at.
“Can I help you?” I cinch my apron strings from the back in an effort to make myself look official. I’m not sure why I feel the need to look like anything around this woman, but instinctively I do.
“Yes.” She strides over with legs as svelte and long as a gazelle’s. “I’m looking for Noah Fox.”
“Oh, he’s right next door.” I perk to attention. “May I ask who’s inquiring?”
“Yes.” She blinks a smile. “I’m his wife.”
***Need more Honey Hollow? Read Bloodbaths and Banana Cake (Murder in the Mix 7) NOW!
Books by Addison Moore
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AddisonMoore.com
Mystery
Little Girl Lost
A Sublime Casualty
The First Wife’s Secret
Cozy Mystery
Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies (Murder in the Mix 1)
Bobbing for Bodies (Murder in the Mix 2)
Pumpkin Spice Sacrifice (Murder in the Mix 3)
Gingerbread & Deadly Dread (Murder in the Mix 4)
Seven-Layer Slayer (Murder in the Mix 5)
Red Velvet Vengeance (Murder in the Mix 6)
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake (Murder in the Mix 7)
New York Cheesecake Chaos (Murder in the Mix 8)
Lethal Lemon Bars (Murder in the Mix 9)
Macaron Massacre (Murder in the Mix 10)
Wedding Cake Carnage (Murder in the Mix 11)
Donut Disaster (Murder in the Mix 12)
Toxic Apple Turnovers (Murder in the Mix 13)
Killer Cupcakes (Murder in the Mix 14)
Pumpkin Pie Parting (Murder in the Mix 15)
Yule Log Eulogy (Murder in the Mix 16)
Pancake Panic (Murder in the Mix 17)
Romance
Just Add Mistletoe
3:AM Kisses (3:AM Kisses 1)
Winter Kisses (3:AM Kisses 2)
Sugar Kisses (3:AM Kisses 3)
Whiskey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 4)
Rock Candy Kisses (3:AM Kisses 5)
Velvet Kisses (3:AM Kisses 6)
Wild Kisses (3:AM Kisses 7)
Country Kisses (3:AM Kisses 8)
Forbidden Kisses (3:AM Kisses 9)
Dirty Kisses (3:AM Kisses 10)
Stolen Kisses (3:AM Kisses 11)
Lucky Kisses (3:AM Kisses 12)
Tender Kisses (3:AM Kisses 13)
Revenge Kisses (3:AM Kisses 14)
Red Hot Kisses (3:AM Kisses 15)
Reckless Kisses (3:AM Kisses 16)
Hot Honey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 17)
Shameless Kisses (3:AM Kisses 18)
Value 3:AM Kisses Boxed Sets
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 1-3
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 4-6
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 7-9
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 10-12
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 13-15
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 16-18
The Social Experiment (The Social Experiment 1)
Bitter Exes (The Social Experiment 2)
Chemical Attraction (The Social Experiment 3)
Low Down & Dirty (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook1)
Dirty Disaster (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 2)
Dirty Deeds (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 3)
Naughty By Nature
Heartless (Breakers Canyon Billionaires 1)
Wicked Heart (Breakers Canyon Billionaires 2)
Stone Cold Heart (Breakers Canyon Billionaires 3)
Beautiful Oblivion (Lake Loveless 1)
Beautiful Illusions (Lake Loveless 2)
Beautiful Elixir (Lake Loveless 3)
Beautiful Deception (Lake Loveless 4)
The Solitude of Passion
Someone to Love (Someone to Love 1)
Someone Like You (Someone to Love 2)
Someone For Me (Someone to Love 3)
BOXED SETS
Breakers Canyon Boxed Set (Books 1-3)
Lake Loveless Boxed Set (Books 1-3)
A Totally ‘80s Romance (Books 1-3)
3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook (Books 1-3)
3:AM KISSES (Books 1-3)
Young Adult Romance
Melt With You (A Totally ’80s Romance 1)
Tainted Love (A Totally ’80s Romance 2)
Hold Me Now (A Totally ’80s Romance 3)
Paranormal Romance
(Celestra Book World in Order)
Ethereal (Celestra Series Book 1)
Tremble (Celestra Series Book 2)
Burn (Celestra Series Book 3
)
Wicked (Celestra Series Book 4)
Vex (Celestra Series Book 5)
Expel (Celestra Series Book 6)
Toxic Part One (Celestra Series Book 7)
Toxic Part Two (Celestra Series Book 8)
Elysian (Celestra Series Book 9)
Perfect Love (A Celestra Novella)
Ephemeral (The Countenance Trilogy 1)
Evanescent (The Countenance Trilogy 2)
Entropy (The Countenance Trilogy 3)
Ethereal Knights (Celestra Knights)
Season of the Witch (A Celestra Companion)
Celestra Forever After (Celestra Forever After 1)
The Dragon and the Rose (Celestra Forever After 2)
The Serpentine Butterfly (Celestra Forever After 3)
Crown of Ashes (Celestra Forever After 4)
Throne of Fire (Celestra Forever After 5)
All Hail the King (Celestra Forever After 6)
Acknowledgments
Thank you so very much for reading this MURDER IN THE MIX Mystery! I hope Lottie and her Honey Hollow peeps made you laugh and showed you a real good time. If you’d like to be in the know on upcoming releases, please be sure to follow me at Bookbub and Amazon. Simply click the links on the next page. I can’t wait to share more adventures with you!
The awesome and fabulous Shay Rivera, I’m always thankful that you take the time to peek at my work. Big hugs for that.
Big running hugs to the great Kaila Eileen Turingan-Ramos for having X-ray vision and blessing me with it. I’m so glad you have the ability to see what needs to be done!
A hearty thank you to Lisa Markson for being the best of the best. Thank you for being so kind to me.
A big strong hug to Jodie Tarleton. You are the sweetest and you have beautiful eyes to match that beautiful soul.
A special thank you to Ashley Marie Daniels for taking the time to read through it! Love you girl!
To the queen of words, Paige Maroney Smith, for whom there are no words to describe my gratefulness. I love you!
And last, but never least, thank you to Him who sits on the throne. Worthy is the Lamb! Glory and honor and power are yours. I owe you everything.
About the Author
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes mystery, psychological thrillers and romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading. Addison’s Celestra Series has been optioned for film by 20th Century Fox.
Feel free to visit her on Instagram.
*Be sure to subscribe to Addison’s mailing list for sneak peeks and updates on all upcoming releases!
For up to the minute pre-order and new release alerts
✦Follow Addison here for the latest updates!
✦Follow Addison on Bookbub!
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Murder in the Mix (Books 4-6) Page 44
