Deadly Dirty Martinis

by Nicole Leiren

  I could believe it. "Good." Even though it made my head hurt more, I managed a smile at the thought of those two dirty, double-dealing troublemakers spending quality time in a holding cell.

  "Sorry I ruined Thanksgiving." I realized it wasn't technically my fault, but I still felt responsible since I'd invited everyone to have the meal with me.

  "Nonsense. Once you and Freddie were taken, your team and their families busied themselves with getting everything into containers and cleaning up. We all agreed doing something was better than sitting around and worrying. They called a woman named Ruby. She made a call to Hope, who said to just keep the tavern closed for the rest of the day. Provided you and Freddie are feeling better tomorrow, those who want to are going to give the Thanksgiving meal a try again."

  "Does that include you and Brock?"

  She squeezed my hand tighter. Instead of her voice, Brock spoke up. "Since I'm now missing Liza, my bass player, a manager, and Tommy, my lead guitarist, Johnny and I decided it was time for a long-overdue vacation. Your friend, Bree, said we could extend our reservation for another week. I expect you to get better as soon as possible so you can show us around. Understand?"

  Though my headache had dulled, I was still processing things a bit slower. "What happened to Tommy?"

  "Bree also shared Tommy had been pacing the floor waiting for word on Liza. When he heard what happened, he headed out, and no one has seen him since."

  I decided to brave opening my eyes. The only people in the room with me were my mom and dad. "How's everyone else?"

  "Mandi and her family are in the waiting room. Everyone else is at home, I assume. I'm surprised Tanner didn't come." I couldn't mistake the sympathy in her voice. She knew there was trouble in paradise for me and my not-boyfriend.

  "Once I'm feeling better, I'll try to explain it to him."

  "I'll get Mandi. She'll be happy to see you, but not too long, okay? You need your rest."

  * * *

  At noon the next day, I was released. Other than muscle soreness and some cuts and bruises, I was no worse for the wear. I felt very lucky since I hadn't been wearing my seat belt. Instead of home, they drove me to Smugglers' Tavern. Freddie, Tucker, Mandi, and her family were all waiting for us. Mandi gave me a big hug. "Glad you're back, my bestie."

  Freddie was next. He wasn't quite as banged up as I was. Instead of words, he simply smiled and nodded. He was right. Now wasn't the time.

  "Come on, Lilly. Let's all sit down and eat before the food gets cold." Mrs. Adams, Mandi's mom, gestured to the much smaller table setting.

  I noticed Abe's seat was empty. The Marshals had been coming for him when they stopped to perform my rescue. Even then, Abe was watching out for me. I blinked back tears. Dirty Martinis sat in front of each plate. I picked one up and held it in Mandi's direction. "As much as I don't mind making them, I prefer a vodka lemonade."

  Mandi frowned. "I put one out for everyone in honor of Tommy. They found his body this morning washed up on the shore. They think he jumped off one of the cliffs."

  I raised the glass and waited for everyone else to do the same. Though I may be reluctant to embrace romantic love, as it still scared me, these past days had taught me the power of love within families. "To Tommy. May he find the peace he sought in this life in the next. To the mystery of love and its power to bring families together." I looked at my parents and smiled. "And most of all, the power it gives us to forgive, if only we will let it."

  Harmony and Brock put their glasses down and pulled me into a big hug. "You're stuck with us now."

  Though no one else could hear me since my voice was muffled in the embrace, I smiled and offered a sincere, "Hear, hear."

  EPILOGUE

  Thanksgiving was over, and I'd been given my wish to have the holiday with my family. All it had taken was being held hostage by a love-blinded lawyer and subsequently involved in a head-on collision with a sturdy maple tree. Who knew it would be so easy?

  I'd just finished opening up the tavern to get started on the new day when Tanner walked in. It was still early, and no one else had arrived. I decided to test the waters. "Cup of coffee?"

  "Sure. Any pie left from yesterday? Mom does great with the turkey and trimmings, but a baker she is not."

  He followed me into the kitchen. "Let's see what we can find."

  Once he had settled in with his coffee and the last piece of pecan pie—a great sacrifice for me, I might add—I decided to try an explanation. "I thought a lot about what you said that night you found me with Tommy. Though I know it seems like I intentionally put myself in harm's way, I want you to know that I don't think of it in those terms."

  He licked his fork. Seriously, he didn't even offer me one bite. "What terms do you think of it in?"

  "Remember how I've shared with you about how the women in my family love?"

  Tan nodded. "Romeo and Juliet. All or nothing."

  "Right. I thought by avoiding a serious relationship, I'd be able to stay away from that kind of drama and have a little more balance in my life. What I've been learning about myself is that the tendency is there to go all-in, whether it's with love or anything else I do."

  "I'm listening."

  He'd even put the fork down and was staring intently at me, hanging on each word.

  "Just like you have strong protective feelings over those you care about, I have the same all-in mentality when it comes to justice. The feeling is even more intense when it involves people I care about."

  He ran those long, slender fingers through his golden blond hair. "I guess I can see that."

  "What I'm trying to say is that this is who I am. I'm sorry you worry about me. I understand because that's who you are. I can't change that about you any more than you can change this about me."

  "Can you promise to at least try to use better discretion about putting yourself in dangerous situations?"

  "I promise to try."

  He finished off his coffee and leaned across the table to kiss me on the cheek. "Any chance you can try on the relationship front to consider something a little more serious than what we've been doing so far?"

  "How about we negotiate on Monday evening after our families spend some time together doing the tourist thing?"

  Tan smiled, the kind that caused my breath to hitch and all my nerve endings to go on high alert. "I think that sounds like a plan. I'll let Mom and Ashley know."

  He headed out to get things going in the dining area, and I headed into the office to check the invoices and inventory. In the middle of Hope's desk was an envelope with my name written across the front. I opened it to see a coded message. This time I allowed the tears to slide down my cheeks and create a watery smile. Abe was gone but had left me a puzzle to solve. I knew it in my heart of hearts this was a message from him.

  I tucked it into my purse. Something to work on after my shift ended. The phone rang. "Smugglers' Tavern. This is Lilly."

  "Hi, Lilly. It's Hope. Let me start by saying I'm glad you're okay, and this call is not to fire you." She laughed as she delivered the last line. "I know you always think that's what I'm going to do."

  I chuckled. She was right. I always did think that. "Thanks, on both accounts. Are you enjoying your holiday? Coming home soon?"

  There was a pause. "Actually, I'm calling with some great news."

  The best news would be if she were cutting her holiday short and was at the airport now getting ready to fly home. "What's that?"

  "Harvey and I are going to extend our tour abroad. I've missed traveling, and I'm confident the tavern is in good hands. We want to visit Venice and other romantic cities. You okay with all of that?" The excitement and happiness brightening her voice was easy to hear, even over an ocean.

  No way would I do anything to take away her chance at happiness, not after she'd given me so much. "Of course I'm okay with that. Have a wonderful trip and send postcards!"

  "Thank you. I know it's a lot to ask, but you and the team have prov
en you can handle whatever challenges are tossed your way."

  She was right. Together our team had handled all the problems—and there had been plenty—since she'd been gone. "Still okay to call you for advice?"

  "Of course."

  "Then, no worries. We've got this. I think to celebrate, I'm going to create a new cocktail. We'll host a big party to celebrate your return."

  "Sounds great, Lilly. Thanks for a job well done. Talk to you soon."

  I hung up the phone and heard some rustling. Looking up, I saw the team was crowded around the door, mischievous smiles on all their faces. "That was Hope. She and Harvey are extending their stay abroad for a little longer. A romantic tour of Europe, from what she shared."

  The girls emitted a happy sigh while Tan muscled his way to the front of the group, one arm held behind his back. "I heard you mention a new cocktail to celebrate. You used rum for your hurricanes and gin for the martinis."

  A small chuckle started to expand in my throat. "And you guys have decided which spirit should be used next?"

  Mandi started laughing as Tan continued. "Believe it or not, we all agreed." He brought the hidden hand to the front. In it he held a bottle of premium tequila.

  "Tequila?"

  "Tequila!" they replied in unison.

  Oh, we were going to get into so much trouble. Moving to the group, I grabbed the bottle and smiled. "Tequila it is."

  * * * * *

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  DANGER COVE BOOKS

  Secret of the Painted Lady

  Murder and Mai Tais

  Death by Scones

  Four-Patch of Trouble

  Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai

  Killer Closet Case

  Tree of Life and Death

  A Killing in the Market (short story in the Killer Beach Reads collection)

  Killer Colada

  Passion, Poison, & Puppy Dogs

  A Novel Death

  Robbing Peter to Kill Paul

  Sinister Snickerdoodles

  Heroes and Hurricanes

  A Death in the Flower Garden

  Divas, Diamonds & Death

  A Slaying in the Orchard

  A Secret in the Pumpkin Patch

  Deadly Dirty Martinis

  A Poison Manicure and Peach Liqueur

  * * * * *

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  Nicole is the USA Today bestselling author of the contemporary romance series, Heroes of the Night. She has been an avid reader and lover of books from a very young age. Starting with Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and Black Beauty, her love for mysteries grew and expanded to include romance and suspense. A Midwest girl, born and raised, her stories capture the love and laughter in her real world heroes and heroines.

  Visit Nicole online at: http://www.nicoleleiren.com/

  USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Ashby was born and raised in Danger Cove and now uses her literary talent to tell stories about the town she knows and loves. Ms. Ashby has penned several Danger Cove Mysteries, which are published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. While she does admit to taking some poetic license in her storytelling, she loves to incorporate the real people and places of her hometown into her stories. She says anyone who visits Danger Cove is fair game for her poisoned pen, so tourists beware! When she's not writing, Ms. Ashby enjoys gardening, taking long walks along the Pacific coastline, and curling up with a hot cup of tea, her cat, Sherlock, and a thrilling novel.

  * * * * *

  BOOKS BY NICOLE LEIREN

  Danger Cove Cocktail Mysteries

  Heroes and Hurricanes

  Deadly Dirty Martinis

  Heroes of the Night:

  More Than One Night

  Heating Up the Night (short story in the Killer Beach Reads collection)

  Remember the Night

  * * * * *

  SNEAK PEEK

  of the next Danger Cove Mystery

  A POISON MANICURE AND PEACH LIQUEUR

  A Danger Cove Hair Salon Mystery

  by

  TRACI ANDRIGHETTI & ELIZABETH ASHBY

  CHAPTER ONE

  "Cassidi, are those sex dolls in Santa's sleigh?" Amy Spannagel gawked at the second-floor rooftop of the three-story Victorian mansion where I lived and ran my beauty salon, The Clip and Sip.

  My eyes darted to the display. The fake sacks of toys had been replaced with three very real, very adult blow-up dolls. I put my hand over my mouth, which was frozen in an O. "Surely they're life-sized Barbies?"

  My stepcousin Gia Di Mitri walked up and crossed her arms against her sexy Mrs. Claus sweater. "Well, ho, ho, ho." Her tone was as dry as the winter air. "Looks like a wild ride."

  That wasn't the answer I'd been looking for.

  Amy gave me a playful jab. "I guess that clatter on the roof was high heels, not reindeer hooves."

  I shot her a Scrooge-style stare.

  She coughed and looked back at the holiday harlots.

  I spun on my cousin. "Who would pull a stunt like this on our open house night?"

  Gia's gaze held a get-a-clue glare. "Who do you think?"

  The Christmas culprit could've been anyone, but I knew who she thought had done it. "Just because Ivy owns a rival salon doesn't mean she's behind this."

  "Doesn't it?" She flipped her Cher hair. "That snake's been hell-bent on putting us out of business ever since she slithered in from LA."

  She had a point, but no proof. "That doesn't mean she vandalized our Santa."

  "She's already one-upped our free drink offer and our business name. Do you really think she'd stop at slutting up our sleigh?"

  I chewed a Frosty-adorned fingernail and thought about Styles and Spirits' free glasses of champagne. "Probably not."

  Amy pushed her black-rimmed glasses high on her Roman nose. "Why is that one doll upside down?"

  Gia arched a red-glittered brow. "The one between Santa's legs?"

  It dawned on me what was going down in that sleigh, and my jaw wanted to drop. But I wouldn't let it because I didn't want to look like one of the dolls.

  "Wait a sec." Gia flailed her arm toward the roof. "One's a blonde, like you, and one has my fab hair."

  A flash of anger warmed my chest, but not like the hot toddy I'd had earlier. And I didn't know if I was madder at the display denigrator or my conceited cousin. "Then Ivy didn't do this, because she wouldn't know about the sex scandals."

  "C'mon, Cass." Gia threw up her hands like she'd tossed a pizza. "Everyone in Danger Cove knows this place used to be a brothel. It's about to be a freakin' stop on the Gold Rush History Tour."

  Amy looked at me over the rim of her glasses. "Not to mention that half the women in town and their husbands know your uncle was a lecher."

  I rose up on her like the abominable Bumble on Rudolph. "Is that really what you want to say about my late uncle?"

  "That, and may God rest Vinnie's soul." She crossed herself even though I was sure she wasn't Catholic.

  The ice left my eyes. "He was kind enough to leave his salon to me, and I've worked hard to rehab its image. For his sake and mine, I'm not about to let anyone ruin it."

  I looked at my phone. It was 6:45 p.m., so I had fifteen minutes to do something before my open house got underway. "Our guests will be here soon, and the Christmas lights tour is about to start. You two stay out front and create a distraction." I set off toward the toolshed. "I'll take care of Santa's strumpets."

  Amy flat-footed it ahead of me, flat out ignoring my request, and went around the side of the house.

  And Gia hauled booty beside me on the balls of her boots. "You got dizzy just looking at the rock-climbing wall in Girl Scouts. How a
re you going to make it onto the roof?"

  My fingers curled into fists. Fourteen years had passed, and I was still mad I hadn't earned that badge. "I'll use the ladder."

  "No you won't." Amy pointed to the shed. "Because it's gone."

  I stopped and stared at the empty wall where I kept the ladder.

  "It was fate," Amy said.

  "Or maybe the saboteur?" Gia's question was no suggestion.

  My confidence was giving way to panic. "Now what're we going to do?"

  Amy snapped her fingers. "I know. We could blast 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' on the stereo, and then people would think you put the doll that way on purpose."

  "Really? That's your solution?" My tone verged on hysterical. "Because I doubt Mommy was kissing Santa Claus down there."

  A car door slammed, and I turned to see Donatello Stallone stepping from his squad car with a sack of ice over his shoulder.

  "Whoa." He ogled the dolls. "I wish I'd known Santa delivered those kinds of toys."

  My eyes narrowed along with my lips. A whole freezer of ice couldn't cool his Latin blood.

  "Donny"—Gia batted her false eyelashes—"Santa didn't deliver them. A spoilsport did."

  "Yeah, and Cassidi's trying to attract patrons, not perverts." Amy pushed him toward the porch. "So, you've got to get them off the roof before the open house starts."

  His dark eyes lit up like LED lights. "With pleasure."

  "But we don't have a ladder," I said.

  Gia turned to him and stuck out her bosom in an un–Mrs. Claus–like manner. "You can go out my bedroom window on the second floor."

  Donatello's chest expanded like that of his namesake Ninja Turtle. "Looks like Christmas came early."

  Gia giggled, and he dashed up the steps to the salon.

  Amy, an assistant librarian who had more book smarts than boy smarts, scratched her head. "What did he mean by that?"