“You’ll also be happy to know that neither Newt nor Desmond is your biological father.”
Leo and I both did a double take, though it was Leo who swayed a bit in relief upon hearing Liam’s declaration. I wasn’t even sure how he could know such a thing, unless he’d gone and asked my mother.
“The answer is no, I did not go and speak to your mother directly about who she may or may not have been intimate with,” Liam responded wryly as he took his seat.
Whoa…did the good ol’ sheriff turn into a wizard when we weren’t looking? He read your mind, Raven! This could be a game changer!
“Liam didn’t read my mind, Leo.” I shifted a little so that I could study Liam’s expression a bit more. “He just used a bit of common sense. How else would he know who my mother—”
My ears! Don’t you dare say something that would make them implode!
For the first time today, I actually smiled.
“If you must know some of my secrets, I had help from Heidi and Rye.”
Liam gestured toward Heidi, who was no longer next to Desmond and Cora. She was currently in Jack’s arms and laughing at something that he said. Then again, her giddiness could have had something to do with the glass of red wine that she currently held in her hand.
My soulmate knows better than to be mesmerized by that two-bit, snake-oil salesman. You’ll see. It won’t be long before she kicks him to the curb. Besides, she promised that she’d carry me around the dance floor a few times tonight.
“What do you mean that you had help?” I asked Liam, taking caution that I might need a sip of the champagne that he’d brought me. I picked it up from the table by the stem, doubly careful not to spill anything on my dress. The last thing I needed tonight was for my accident-prone tendencies to rear their ugly heads. “Did Heidi and Rye ask my mother? If so, that’s almost as bad as you—”
“No, no, no,” Liam replied with a shake of his head. “Look, I know how much this means to you, and I also know that the inevitable conversation about who your biological father is rests squarely on your mother’s shoulders. In the meantime, I took the approach of eliminating the two current residents who you have to interact with on practically a weekly basis, if not more. Don’t ask me what I would have done if one of them had turned out to be your biological father. I’m just glad to say that Heidi got strands of their hairs while Rye cast a small spell so that we could all enjoy this evening.”
Leave it to my soulmate to be able to yank out strands of hair without any of those men being the wiser. She truly is a gift sent from the Egyptian catnip gods.
Liam’s gaze left mine and landed on Newt, who was currently looking rather spiff in a suit instead of his usual overalls. He was standing next to Desmond, which wasn’t all that surprising now that I knew the two of them had played high school football together. I highly doubt that Newt had shared with Desmond what he’d done over the last week, but at least Newt hadn’t gone into hiding after I’d reassured him that he had nothing to worry about.
I’d sworn Mom to secrecy, and for once I was pretty sure that she would listen to my advice.
Wait a catnip minute! Is the good ol’ sheriff saying that I had this hideous bowtie put on me for absolutely no reason? I could have been in the Ted-Shed this entire time!
“Leo, this evening wouldn’t have been the same without you,” I murmured, reaching over to give him a head scratch. Beetle had made sure that Leo had what could only be described as a pillow throne on the seat next to me. He didn’t even have to strain his neck to take in all the guests who had gathered to celebrate with the happy couple. “And as for you, Sheriff Drake…thank you for giving me back this night. I’ve gone thirty-two years without knowing the identity of my biological father, and that means I can go longer until the time is right to bring the topic up with my mother. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy this glass of champagne while we wait for Mom and Beetle to make their grand entrance.”
As if right on cue, Billy and the band began to play an intro that had someone turning a spotlight directly on the trestle of pretty garland. Sure enough, Beetle was smiling brightly as he escorted my mother through the area that had been cordoned off for the reception.
Mom looked as stunningly beautiful now as she had during the ceremony. The red silk gown flowed behind her with a slit up the side to allow for easier walking, while she had on a white faux fur shawl that helped accentuate the strand of pearls around her neck. The pearl comb that I had picked up from the local boutique secured her upswept hair in a glorious fashion that Heidi had helped create this afternoon.
All of the guests had stood and given the newlyweds a round of applause.
“I don’t think Beetle even knows that he’s the envy of the group over there,” Liam said underneath his breath, followed by a rich chuckle. “I sure hope that there won’t be a large group of forlorn admirers like them at our wedding.”
Another round of applause made their way around the gathered guests as Beetle swung my mother into his arms and executed the perfect dancing dip. Part of my brain registered that Beetle understood exactly who was looking on as he delighted his new wife with such a fancy dance move, and the other part of my brain had frozen upon Liam’s surprising declaration.
I didn’t hear a thing. Did you clean your ears today? I didn’t see any Q-tips in the wastebasket. That could be your problem. I’ll put them on your Christmas wish list.
I’m pretty sure that Liam had just mentioned our wedding, not that he’d ever asked for my hand in marriage. I mean, we had expressed our love for one another, but still…
Nope. We should make you an appointment with the ear, nose, and throat doc. Or is it a mortician? Don’t you worry none, Raven. Lobotomies don’t hurt a bit! Ho-ho-ho!
~ The End ~
Complex hexes and intricate spells are boiling up trouble in the next puzzling whodunit of the Paramour Bay Mysteries by USA Today Bestselling Author Kennedy Layne…
Click HERE
The residents of Paramour Bay have no idea that something sinister might be lurking in the snowy shadows along the main thoroughfare of their quaint coastal town. They are all a bit curious about what could possibly be leaving odd footprints in the snow, though. It’s all anyone can talk about until a spree of vandalism begins happening to the local storefronts.
Raven Marigold’s familiar is the only one who believes that the town is under attack by the new upright adornment that has been strategically positioned right outside of the local bakery by none other than the baker herself. The intimidating gargoyle statue carved into granite has been set upon a matching pillar, and Leo insists that the thing actually moves. Can he finally convince Raven that he’s right before those odd footprints lead right to their own front door?
You might want to bring a chisel and a hammer along if you want to follow the dark, snowy trail all the way to the end of this quirky mystery!
Books by Kennedy Layne
The Widow Taker Trilogy
The Forgotten Widow
The Isolated Widow
The Reclusive Widow
Hex on Me Mysteries
If the Curse Fits
Cursing up the Wrong Tree
The Squeaky Ghost Gets the Curse
The Curse that Bites
Curse Me Under the Mistletoe
Gone Cursing
Paramour Bay Mysteries
Magical Blend
Bewitching Blend
Enchanting Blend
Haunting Blend
Charming Blend
Spellbinding Blend
Cryptic Blend
Broomstick Blend
Spirited Blend
Yuletide Blend
Baffling Blend
Phantom Blend
Batty Blend
Pumpkin Blend
Frosty Blend
Stony Blend
Office Roulette Series
Means (Office Roulette, Book One)
Motive (Office Roulette, Boo
k Two)
Opportunity (Office Roulette, Book Three)
Keys to Love Series
Unlocking Fear (Keys to Love, Book One)
Unlocking Secrets (Keys to Love, Book Two)
Unlocking Lies (Keys to Love, Book Three)
Unlocking Shadows (Keys to Love, Book Four)
Unlocking Darkness (Keys to Love, Book Five)
Surviving Ashes Series
Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, Book One)
Hidden Ashes (Surviving Ashes, Book Two)
Buried Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Three)
Endless Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Four)
Rising Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Five)
CSA Case Files Series
Captured Innocence (CSA Case Files 1)
Sinful Resurrection (CSA Case Files 2)
Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files 3)
Campaign of Desire (CSA Case Files 4)
Internal Temptation (CSA Case Files 5)
Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files 6)
Redeem My Heart (CSA Case Files 7)
A Mission of Love (CSA Case Files 8)
Red Starr Series
Starr’s Awakening(Red Starr, Book One)
Hearths of Fire (Red Starr, Book Two)
Targets Entangled (Red Starr, Book Three)
Igniting Passion (Red Starr, Book Four)
Untold Devotion (Red Starr, Book Five)
Fulfilling Promises (Red Starr, Book Six)
Fated Identity (Red Starr, Book Seven)
Red’s Salvation (Red Starr, Book Eight)
The Safeguard Series
Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One)
Faithful Addiction (The Safeguard Series, Book Two)
Distant Illusions (The Safeguard Series, Book Three)
Casual Impressions (The Safeguard Series, Book Four)
Honest Intentions (The Safeguard Series, Book Five)
Deadly Premonitions (The Safeguard Series, Book Six)
About the Author
First and foremost, I love life. I love that I’m a wife, mother, daughter, sister… and a writer.
I am one of the lucky women in this world who gets to do what makes them happy. As long as I have a cup of coffee (maybe two or three) and my laptop, the stories evolve themselves and I try to do them justice. I draw my inspiration from a retired Marine Master Sergeant that swept me off of my feet and has drawn me into a world that fulfills all of my deepest and darkest desires. Erotic romance, military men, intrigue, with a little bit of kinky chili pepper (his recipe), fill my head and there is nothing more satisfying than making the hero and heroine fulfill their destinies.
Thank you for having joined me on their journeys…
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
facebook.com/kennedy.layne.94
Twitter:
twitter.com/KennedyL_Author
Website:
www.kennedylayne.com
Newsletter:
www.kennedylayne.com/meet-kennedy.html
Frosty Blend (A Paramour Bay Cozy Paranormal Mystery Book 15) Page 15
