Gingerbread and Deadly Dread: MURDER ON THE MIX 4

by Moore, Addison

  “Pencil it in?” Kelly here looks equally as disturbed by this as Everett did when he first found out. And why is penciled in sex so bad to begin with?

  “All good ideas start with a plan,” I point out.

  “I agree,” Noah pipes up, that threatening stare slow to disengage from Everett. He looks to Dr. Ferdinand. “Lot—Lolita and I are quite eager to take our relationship to the next level.”

  She shakes her head as if maybe we’re not. “I’m sorry, but I’m not buying it. Not a lot of men would schedule a first-time encounter or agree to keep it dropping down the calendar. I’m thinking this has more to do with your insecurity with her relationship with Essex.” She looks to Everett. “I’m assuming the two of you have consummated your relationship?”

  “Yes.” Everett doesn’t miss a coital beat. “Many, many satisfying times.”

  Noah huffs a dull laugh. “If she’s so satisfied, then why is she looking forward to having me frost her cookies?”

  I give a frenetic nod to Everett. “Yes, Essex. I very much look forward to having Corbin frost my cookies.”

  Everett’s lids hood low, and the slight hint of a smile rides on his lips. “Nobody could ever frost your cookies the way I can, Cupcake.”

  Noah and Everett engage in an escalating war of salty words, and the room feels as if it’s spinning. Dr. Ferdinand’s lips are moving, and I can’t turn my head left and right fast enough to keep up with the madness, so I simply turn around as far as I can only to spot a sofa behind us and sitting upon it are the prying eyes of a—

  A scream rips from me, and the room goes quiet as all eyes fall to the wooden menace watching us attentively with his legs comfortably crossed.

  Dr. Ferdinand trills with laugher. “Please don’t mind Charlie. He was gifted to me by one of my dear clients.”

  “Client?” The creepy dummy that Ned Sweeny insists on dragging around with him at Christmas parties and funerals alike comes to mind. I turn back to Kelly Ferdinand. “Ned Sweeny?”

  Her eyes triple in size, and she doesn’t have to say a word.

  “I’m sorry, Lolita. I’m not allowed to disclose my clients’ names. But if you find the puppet disturbing, I can have it removed.”

  “Oh no, that’s fine.” I glance to Everett and Noah. “I was just taken by surprise. The arguing didn’t help the matter.” A thought comes to me. “It just reminded me of a relationship I had that ended badly. Have you ever had a relationship end badly?” Finally. A segue that leads right back to Tanner.

  “No.” She shakes her head as if it were an impossibility.

  Drats.

  “Oh, wait.” She grimaces. “Yes, actually and quite recently at that.”

  “How did it end, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Not at all.” Her brows furrow as if she minded very much. “Let’s just say for as much one-on-one time we enjoyed—it was necessary for us to take a permanent vacation.” A devious smile lifts her lips. “Although, before I could relay that news, he came to other, unforeseen circumstances and we indeed ended rather abruptly.”

  “Any hard feelings?”

  Her mouth opens a moment, then closes just like that creepy marionette is probably doing behind our backs.

  “No hard feelings whatsoever. In fact, you might say I’m a bit relieved.”

  Relieved? My entire body goes rigid.

  She squints over at the three of us. “Why don’t we wrap it up for today? I like to finish up on a positive note. Essex, why don’t you say something nice about your relationship with Lolita.”

  Everett’s chest expands as he turns to me, and Dr. Ferdinand shakes her head.

  “No, no, I’m a firm believer in physical contact. Please stand and hold her as you pour your affection for her. Take a moment and envision the things you’d like to do to her the next time the two of you are intimate. Look her in the eyes as you envision your bodies intertwined. Envision how much pleasure you plan on invoking in her. Envision—”

  “Don’t do it,” Noah lays the words out like a tangible threat.

  Everett gives me a hand and pulls me in close, his hands riding up and down my back in a figure eight, and I scowl up at him because I happen to know he’s putting on a show just to get a rise out of Noah. Thank goodness I don’t have to face Noah—just yet.

  “Go ahead, Essex”—Dr. Ferdinand is quick to cheer him on—“tell Lolita how she makes you feel. Look deep into her eyes as you visualize the two of you in the throes of passion.”

  A slow blooming grin threatens to break out on Everett’s face, but he tempers it. His virility radiates off him in waves.

  “Lolita”—his lips rubber band in the world’s quickest, world’s dirtiest smile—“you have been nothing but a bright light in my life.” His gaze drills into mine, and his words feel heartfelt and genuine. “And when we’re alone, naked in my bed—”

  My face heats fifty degrees, and I’m pretty certain I’m about to combust. I’m pretty certain Noah is about to combust, too.

  Noah coughs so loud it sounds as if a grenade just detonated behind me.

  Everett’s brows hike a notch. “The things you do to me—with that mouth”—he touches his finger to my lips a moment—“I’m pretty sure they’re illegal in all fifty states.” Another dark laugh strums from his chest. “But none of them compare to the things I’m going to do to you tonight.” He shoots a wicked look to Everett.

  “Bravo!” Dr. Ferdinand breaks out into spontaneous applause. “That was very impassioned. Why don’t you tie a nice neat bow on it? You should kiss her.”

  “You should not kiss,” Noah booms dangerously insistent.

  But Everett only tightens his grip on me, his head cocked with devilish delight. “Sorry, buddy, doctor’s orders.” He leans in and brushes a chaste kiss just shy of my lips. But, unfortunately, Noah can’t see that. Everett moans his way through it like the insolent brute he is. “Delicious.” He pulls back and nods to Noah. “Give it your best shot.”

  I take a deep breath before turning to Noah. His feet are set in a defiant stance, his head tipped down, still shooting Everett with those death rays before he softens and reverts his attention to me. Noah’s lips twitch with a barely-there smile, his lids hood destructively low, and there’s not a question about the fact he’s bedroom eyeing me.

  “Lot”—Noah wraps his arms lovingly around me, and I melt into his embrace—“since the day I met you, I’ve known there was something special about you. And after that first kiss we shared, I knew you were the one for me, not just for the present, but for the future, too.” He bears into the words, enunciating hard, and every cell in my body dissolves with pleasure. “When we finally get a chance to take our relationship to that special place”—he dots my lips with a kiss, and my heart explodes on cue—“and we will very, very soon—I will blow doors off anything Essex has ever dreamed of doing to you. And I’m beginning to think you’re a nightly visitor in his nocturnal wanderings.” He shoots the death rays over my shoulder once again. “I love you, Lot. You’re my everything.”

  “Beautiful! Beautiful!” Dr. Ferdinand is on her feet, her applause far more boisterous than it was before.

  Noah leans in and kisses me with all his heart, all his soul, and every unchaste intention he might be harboring.

  And I wholeheartedly approve of all three.

  We take off and wait until we’re sealed on the other side of the office door before we pause a moment.

  Everett lifts his chin my way. “What’s next, Lemon?”

  Noah growls audibly. “You take a cold shower—and for the love of all things holy, do not envision what you would like to do to her body.”

  “Actually”—I look to the two of them and sigh—“there is another man I’m interested in seeing, and his name is Ned Sweeny.”

  Chapter 11

  When assembling gingerbread houses, one must have equal parts patience and equal parts faith it will all work out in the end. It takes a steady hand, a lit
tle trial and error, and a mountain of royal icing to accomplish the feat. Not to mention copious amounts of time considering the fact the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery is putting together close to twenty of these candied wonders a day.

  By the time the bakery closes, my feet move slow as molasses, ironically, and my body feels as if I used it as a rolling pin for the last ten hours. But there’s no hope of cuddling up with Dutch and Pancake in the next hour. In fact, the next few hours aren’t looking so good either. It’s the night of Honey Hollow’s official tree lighting ceremony, and the entire town has congregated en mass just down the street. I had the crew deliver dozens of cookie platters for the event about an hour ago. It felt good crossing another huge holiday order off my list.

  The Cutie Pie Bakery has really taken off like a sugar-fueled rocket, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I couldn’t be more exhausted either. I’ve yet to take a day off, unless you count Thanksgiving. And considering I cooked and cleaned all day, I’m not too sure it counted.

  I walk over with the ever-faithful Dutch by my side. His glowing red eyes add yet another spark of holiday cheer to Main Street, which is lit up with a million twinkle lights. Dozens of carolers are dressed up like Dickens’ characters, and the local elementary school has a booth set up selling both hot cocoa and steaming cups of cider.

  As soon as I hit the festivities, Dutch begins to run circles around the masses as if people were his new favorite toy, and I’m betting they are, were.

  I spot my mother and Mr. Rutherford cozied up near the enormous evergreen, which stands like a dark shadow just waiting for its grand entry into our holiday season. Just past the enormous three-tiered fountain that sits in the middle of Town Square are dozens of miniature trees that will be lit up as well, transforming our rather plain town into a bona fide winter wonderland.

  “Lottie!” a cheerful male voice resounds from behind, and I turn to find Noah closing in on me, his arms around my waist, his lips pressed to mine before I can greet him. “Hey, beautiful.” He pulls back with a dreamy look on his face that disappears as quick as it came. “Where’s Everett?”

  “Not with me. I don’t make it a practice to keep tabs on him either.” I peck a kiss to his lips before my own mood sours. “Where’s Ivy? Does she know you escaped Ashford?”

  “Very funny.” He takes up my hand as we move over to the hundred-year-old oak the town has nicknamed Nelson. “I’m actually doing a little investigating tonight. Just looking to see if I note anything.”

  “Hit a dead end, huh?”

  “I’m not proud to say it.”

  “If it makes you feel better, I’m in the same place.”

  “No”—a short-lived laugh bounces from his chest—“it most certainly does not make me feel better. In fact, it makes me feel worse to know you’re inserting yourself into a potentially dangerous situation. Let me handle this.”

  “But the sooner we track down Tanner’s killer, the sooner we can get to the business of being alone for a prolonged period of time. Besides, two heads are better than one.”

  “I agree.” He pulls my hand up and kisses the tip of my finger. “And that’s exactly why Detective Fairbanks and I are working overtime to make sure that happens.”

  “I wasn’t talking about that head, and I seriously doubt she’s interested in our love life.”

  “No, but she’s interested in who the killer is.” He touches his forehead to mine. “I am very much interested in our love life. And I’m going to make certain it’s a good one, healthy, frequently tended to, and exceptionally creative.”

  “Creative? I like that.” A bubbling laugh escapes me. I’m just about to say something equally salacious when a couple of figures near the fountain garner my attention. “Hey, isn’t that Dr. Ferdinand and Ned Sweeny?” I suck in a quick breath once I spot that wooden malfeasance. “It is! He’s got that repulsive piece of pine dangling from his limb like an extra appendage. I still can’t get over the fact that Dr. Ferdinand said she was relieved over Tanner’s death. I mean, who says that?”

  “Someone who’s glad he isn’t around anymore—if indeed she was talking about him.”

  Noah and I watch as the two of them engage in a pretty heated conversation. Ned picks up Dr. Ferdinand’s hand and gives it a tug, but she pulls away and takes off.

  A spotlight is thrust near the tree and lands on a rather cheerful Mayor Nash.

  “Good evening, residents and visitors alike. Welcome to our annual tree lighting ceremony. We are thrilled to have you as a part of the celebration.” He drones on, but I can’t seem to stop following Ned Sweeny with my eyes as he struggles to navigate his way through the crowd.

  I give Noah’s facial scruff a soft scratch. “That ended badly, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Agree. But it doesn’t necessarily mean anything.” He scans the area as if looking for Dr. Ferdinand.

  The crowd chants backward from ten and we join.

  “Three, two, one—” I leap in Noah’s arms as our world explodes with a million colorful lights. “It’s magic!” I cry as I steal a kiss and Noah steals one right back, his lips conforming over mine with a fire all their own. They say things between us are about to get exceptionally creative. They say I own you—and he does in the very worst way.

  A piercing whistle goes off across the way, and we look up to find Ivy waving Noah over.

  “Good Lord”—I mutter—“it’s as if she senses we’re together and she’s determined to put an end to our good time. She’s rather creative herself.”

  Noah groans, “I’d better go see what this is about.”

  “I’ll give you the long and short of it. It’s about her keeping you from me. She might throw in a conversation about those package thefts because I seriously doubt she has a lead on Tanner’s killer.”

  “Funny. But an impossible feat for anyone to keep me from you.” He takes off just as Ned Sweeny and that creepy wooden toddler he keeps with him pass me by.

  “Ned!” I say brightly as if we were old friends and he pauses a moment, his own features smoothing out into an affable expression. “Just thought I’d say hello to Darjeeling.” Liar, liar, I’d rather set my hair on fire. True story.

  “Sure thing,” he says just as Dutch bounds our way and, oh my word, it looks as if he’s about to leap—“Oof.” Ned takes a stagger step forward. Right through him. Wow. Good Show, Dutch. Good show. “My goodness, it’s as if a breeze just came out of nowhere.” He gives a nervous laugh as he straightens the dummy, and the wooden monster’s eyes and mouth move at once.

  “Hello there, young lady,” Darjeeling’s wooden teeth clatter.

  A dull laugh pumps through me. “He’s so charming. Do you ever leave the house without him?”

  “Just for work, but I like to make sure he’s out and about at festive occasions such as this. It gives the children such joy to see him.”

  What Ned calls joy others call nightmares. I note the fact their suits are matching again, different from the checkered ones they wore the night of that disastrous holiday party.

  “Your suits, they match.” I try to sound cheery and not creeped out at all by the fact.

  “Oh yes. I am meticulous about it. In fact, we have a dozen or so that go together. My father and my grandfather were also ventriloquists. I have quite the collection in my downstairs study. If you ever find yourself up for an afternoon of inquisitive fun, you should stop by sometime. We’re the last house up on Farmington Way.”

  “That’s not too far from me at all. I might just take you up on that someday. Um, you said we?”

  “My wife and I. Hannah Carter and I married a few years back. Perhaps you know her?”

  I shake my head, drawing a blank.

  “You probably know Bella and Mason. My stepchildren.”

  “Bella!” I catch myself off guard as her name flies from my lips. “Yes, I believe we’ve met.” Mason must be the brother she mentioned that had a knack for going berserk on her behalf. It’s a miracle sh
e still works at Bazingas if that’s really the case.

  “In fact, I’m in a bit of a hurry. My wife is a little under the weather, and I was just about to pick up some soup for her.”

  “Your wife.” I nod, stunned by this matrimonial tidbit. “Well, I hope she feels better soon,” I say, walking to the curb with him. That’s right, he did mention he was married with two children the night of Tanner’s murder. That entire night was a bit overwhelming it’s no wonder I can’t keep the details straight.

  We part ways, and I watch as he jumps into a dark navy minivan and straps Darjeeling in as if he were a child.

  “So weird,” I say it lower than a whisper.

  Ned waves my way as he waits for a crowd to pass before him. I take a step forward, my hand lifted in the air, and I freeze as I see it. A rather impressive dent just above the broken taillight in the back. Two white lines streak over the paint next to the busted taillight like lightning.

  I take in a lungful of iced December air as he takes off.

  So it was his car that Bella Carter hit. It had to be. It makes sense. They were both at the community center that night. I bet he’s well aware of who hit him since they’re both in the same family. Weird coincidence though.

  I watch as he struggles to navigate his way down a street full of people and wonder what it all means.

  Chapter 12

  Winter has spread her wings over Honey Hollow, turning the entire tiny town into a virtual icebox. By the time I closed up the bakery, it felt as if I had stepped out into a snow globe with the lights, the carolers, and the virtual powdered sugar falling softly from the sky. Thick crowds stormed Main Street, clutching packages in one hand, steaming cocoa in the other, and laughter in their mouths. There is no better time to be in Honey Hollow, to be alive than December.

  After an entire day of nonstop baking, Dutch and I head for home. There were six different holiday parties the Cutie Pie Bakery catered today. Lily helped me zip across town making all of the deliveries, which consisted of mostly iced sugar cookies, but there was a fair amount of double chocolate cookies, cranberry white chocolate cookies, braided peppermint candy cane cookies, molasses drops, German spice cookies, dark chocolate truffles, and rum balls—we can never forget the rum balls. The bakery smelled divine, and even now as Dutch and I make our way up the steps, I take in the thick scent of sugar and vanilla. It’s better than any perfume on the planet.