Everett leads me across the street, over to his property as he navigates us into the backyard, and then I see it.
“Everett!” I do a little hop and inadvertently send my body bouncing in all the wrong, or right places. And judging by the look on Everett’s face, they were definitely right. “When did you get a hot tub? And what’s to stop Evie and her friends from bum-rushing it at any moment?”
“I told her it was ours for the night, and she didn’t protest.”
He fires it up and the water goes from warm to boiling as the pearly white bubbles percolate like mad. I climb on in, sucking in a breath as I sink my body down into it.
“Ooh, this feels like heaven.”
“Don’t get too far ahead of me.” He pulls his tie loose.
“Judge Baxter, you are wearing far too many clothes for my liking. Take them off, now. All of them. That is a direct order from your wife.”
His lips twitch with wicked intent and he does just that.
Everett and I enjoy that boiling cauldron to the fullest before traipsing back to my place and having a sleepover of our own.
Confession: not a lot of sleeping takes place.
What more could I expect?
After all, I am Mrs. Essex Everett Baxter.
Chapter 7
Ciao in Hollyhock is located at the southern end of town in a great big stone building that looks as if it were plucked right out of Rome.
Hollyhock is the town next door to Honey Hollow, and it just so happens to be where Noah and Alex grew up. Speaking of Noah’s look-alike brother, both he and Macy are here tonight—right along with Bizzy, Jasper, Georgie, Carlotta, Noah, Everett, and me.
Everett and I invited Evie to join us for our fancy feast, but she opted to stay at my place with the menagerie and watch movies with her friends. Here’s hoping she’s not secretly plotting a raging party like she did a few weeks back. I suppose time and perhaps the Ashford Sheriff’s Department will tell.
We enter Ciao’s heavily carved doors and the scent of marinara sauce and garlic enlivens our senses. Back in Honey Hollow, Noah, Everett, and I love to frequent an Italian restaurant called Mangias several times a week. Considering it’s conveniently located right across the street from my bakery, it’s hard not to be lulled in by the heady scent of fresh baked pizza. But Mangias is a casual place you can go to after a long day’s work in just a T-shirt and jeans if need be.
Not Ciao. This is a dress to the nines establishment that requires a suit and tie for the men and cocktail attire for women. Carlotta and Georgie spent the afternoon gluing rhinestones onto a couple of matching black kaftans and, I must admit, their rainbow-hued accouterments look rather inspiring—if you’re a unicorn looking to have a hot night on the town.
I jest.
They look adorably dolled up for a fun night out. Apparently, their night in Leeds landed them in hot water with the security guards at some male strip joint, and from what I hear, the entire town has banished them from ever returning. I thought I’d take that moment to inform them that getting booted out of tonight’s venue could very well get them both booted out of the great state of Vermont. For that reason alone, I expect them on their best behavior.
Bizzy’s sister Macy looks dressed to kill in a backless red frock and shockingly high heels. Her blonde hair is freshly blown out and her bowtie red lips add to her vampy appeal.
Alex, Jasper, Everett, and Noah are collectively turning heads of the female variety. I’ve seen more than one woman’s jaw drop to the floor at the sight of these dangerously sexy men.
Both Bizzy and I trotted down to the Scarlet Sage Boutique this afternoon and splurged on a couple of fancy gowns. Bizzy picked up an off-the-shoulder lavender number that clings to her body like nobody’s bizzyness. With her dark hair and pale blue eyes, she’s a stunner all around.
And me, well, I went for the gold, literally. As soon as I saw this gown, I knew it was the one, with its plunging neckline and curve-clinging definition. I’ve never seen a dress transform my body into a figure eight racetrack like this before, and judging by the reactions I got from both Noah and Everett, I made the right decision.
“Lemon.” Everett’s lids are heavily hooded, and from what I can see of his eyes, they look dangerously glossed over with lust. Everett looks like an addict desperate for just one more hit of his favorite drug, and lucky for me, I just so happen to be it.
Noah steps up in his dark suit with a forest green tie that matches his eyes. “I’ll say it again. You’re beautiful, Lottie Lemon.”
“Well, I’ll say it again. Thank you,” I tease. “I mean it. You’ve both been far too kind to me tonight.”
A waitress with long dark hair and high-cut cheekbones strides by as her eyes hook onto Everett.
“Oh my God,” she gasps. “Can I have dinner with you?” She blinks back, surprised. “I mean, can I help you?”
A tiny laugh bubbles in my chest.
I can’t blame the poor girl. Everett looks dangerously comely tonight. I have no idea what he did to turn the volume up to inhumane levels. I mean, he’s wearing a dark inky suit, one of which he wears every single day down at the courthouse, his black tie is discreet, his jet-black hair is slicked back, his cobalt eyes siren out like warning beacons just the way they do on an average day, but make no mistake about it, there is nothing average about Essex Everett Baxter.
Fun fact: he goes by his middle name, Everett. Only women he’s done the dirty deed with have the right to call him by his proper moniker—with the exception of his mother and sister. Nobody tells a Baxter woman what to do, not even Everett himself. Anyhow, even though I’ve garnered the right to call him by his sexy name, I still choose to call him Everett. It’s what I called him before we hit the mattress so to speak and old habits die hard.
Another tall, dark-haired woman struts by in a black and white waitress uniform and stalls before him.
“Essex?” Her hot pink lips fall open.
“Jackie Leoni?” Everett’s brows hike a notch.
Before he can utter another word, the girl hops onto him as if he were a life raft leaving the Titanic.
“Essex!”
Carlotta nudges me in the ribs. “She just said the code word! That girl did the mattress mambo with your man.”
I frown over at the squealing banshee that Everett is having a hard time plucking off his person.
I look to Carlotta and shrug it off.
“So has half of Vermont. The female half.” I glance to Bizzy. “Everett really got around before he met me. The women he’s been with sort of use his first name, Essex, like a calling card.”
Georgie shakes her head as she sizes him up. “How I wish I met him before he met you. I’d love to call his card all night long.”
Macy grunts, “You and me both, sister.”
Carlotta titters, “Hear that, Lot Lot? You’ve practically won the lott-ery.”
Noah clears his throat, and Alex belts out a laugh before socking his brother playfully on the arm.
“It was worth the price of admission just to see your ego kicked down a notch, buddy.” Alex winks over at him.
“Noah doesn’t have an ego.” I wink over at the dimpled detective myself.
He offers a depleted smile. “Thanks, Lot.”
Bizzy gasps. “Lottie”—she whispers as she leans in—“Jackie Leoni looks an awful lot like Jackie Hart.”
“What?” I hiss without meaning to.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Everett says as he lands his friend Jackie back to an upright position and I get a clear shot of her face and those hot pink streaks in her hair.
Son of a gun. It is her. And good thing, considering she’s just the woman we were hoping to see.
Bingo!
No sooner do I think it than that beautiful beast pops into our midst.
“Italian food,” she snorts out that last word. “I’ve been dying to try it. Get it?” She chortles my way. “Dying?” She lumbers off into the dining ro
om with a spring to her step.
Jackie giggles at Everett like a lust-riddled schoolgirl. “My uncle owns this place. I’ve been working here since I was a kid. But this isn’t my only gig. I’m a waitress by night and a hot-to-trot author even later in the night.” She’s right back to giggling. “I write under the penname Jackie Hart—stories with Hart. In fact, I’ve got a little secret to tell you. My novel, In the Judge’s Chamber, is strictly about the encounters I had with you know who. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve given a detailed account of your best-kept secrets.”
Georgie smacks Carlotta. “Day trip to the library tomorrow. And if they don’t have a copy there, we’ll hit every bookstore on the Eastern Seaboard. Nobody writes a tell-all about that man’s most rough and dirty moments without me laying eyes on it.”
Alex takes a breath. “Best-kept secrets? I might check out a copy myself. I’m always up for improving my game. Noah, I’ll gift you one for Christmas so you can keep your tabs on the competition.”
Noah growls, “Do it and die.”
Jackie’s fingers walk up Everett’s tie. “Remember that little trick you did when we got up on the—”
“Jackie”—Everett steps forward and pulls me in—“I’d love for you to meet my wife.”
Jackie lets out the world’s loudest honk, squawk of some sort, or the wild cry of a Yeti.
“Wife?” Her big green eyes bug out in horror before she offers a warm laugh my way. “Well, let’s have a celebration. Hell has frozen over! Come one and all, I’ll seat your whole party.”
Before we know it, the entire lot of us is walking through what looks like a glammed up ballroom in an old Italian mansion. There’s a live band in the corner, crooning away as couples migrate to the middle of the expansive room and sway to the music. The stone floors gleam, there are rows of gilded chandeliers dripping with shimmering crystals—albeit the chandeliers themselves are dimly lit—and each table is dressed in a bright red tablecloth with a tray of candles in the center, giving the entire place a peachy glow.
We take our seats and begin to peruse the menu.
“So Alex”—Jasper flashes a short-lived smile his way—“Macy mentioned you run an investment firm.”
Alex bobs his head. “That I do. You looking to invest?”
“Nope.” Jasper dips his chin as he gives the guy a sober look. “Just doing a little research on you—making sure you’re not a serial killer.”
Bizzy bites down over her lip. “I may have asked Jasper to look into you.” She mouths the word sorry to him. “But I can’t help it. I’m a bit protective over my big sis.”
Alex flexes his dimples and manages to look just like his big brother.
“Not a problem. I appreciate you looking out for her.” Alex wraps an arm around Macy while she swoons openly at him.
It’s clear Macy is in seventh heaven. I wouldn’t be surprised if Honey Hollow gained a brand new resident by the end of their visit, or if Cider Cove added a Fox to their community. They really seem into one another. But then, I’ve seen Alex into his fair share of women. And from what Bizzy says, Macy is Alex in female skin. They might just burn quick and bright and neither one will have a problem with it.
Not me. I seem to grow attached—to two men. Now there’s a problem.
Alex glances to Noah. “You’ve met my brother, the big hotshot detective. And my dad, the wanted felon.” His brows hike a notch as he dispenses that truth. “In fact, our father was married to Everett’s mother for a short time. That was a heck of a ride.” He gives a wistful shake of the head. “We moved to Fallbrook into Everett’s mother’s mansion. Talk about taking a walk on the wild side. I had no idea people with that much money existed.”
Jasper nods. “I bet it was intimidating.”
“Not for me.” Alex shrugs. “I kept my head down and played baseball. Unlike this guy.” He hitches his thumb toward Noah. “The first thing he does is steal the big man’s girlfriend,” he says as he points his finger at the big man in question, Everett.
Georgie slaps her hand down on the table. “No!”
“Yes,” Alex counters. “And believe me when I say that set the tone between these two.” He points to Everett once again. “That guy vowed vengeance against Noah. And judging by the fact he’s got the gold”—Alex winks my way—“I’d say he’s on top.”
Carlotta waves him off. “Rumor has it, the big guy likes to switch things up. I’ve had a chat or two with Lily Swanson. He likes it on top or bottom, leaning against the living room wall—” She takes a quick survey of all the stunned faces. “That’s not what we’re talking about, is it?”
I shake my head.
Noah takes a breath. “That’s right. You did threaten me.” His dimples flex as he glowers over at Everett. “How did that go again? No matter what you do, no matter where you go, I’ll find you and I’ll make sure you’re just as miserable as you made me? I believe that would be verbatim. Of course, there was more, but I think that’s enough for now.”
Georgie leans in. “Who was the girl? She must have really been something.”
Carlotta shakes her head. “A featherhead named Cormack Featherby. She’s still after Foxy here. The good judge is glad he’s rid of her. Lot Lot is a bit of an improvement.”
“A bit?” I ask, amused by her word choice.
Carlotta shrugs. “I tell ya, if that featherhead wasn’t stark raving mad, she’d be a good candidate for a revenge relationship, Foxy.” She nods Noah’s way. “I say if you want to make the old girl jealous in an effort to win her back, you go the sexy smart lawyer way. Why don’t you head down to the courthouse and pick up a pretty young thing?”
“Carlotta.” I lean back in my seat to appropriately glare at her. “I’m not old.” What I really wanted to reprimand her on was the fact she’s practically pushing Noah into the arms of some pretty young thing. I’ll have to read her the riot act for even mentioning the words revenge relationship.
Carlotta grunts, “I was there when you were born. I should know how old you are.”
Alex shakes his head. “I’d stay away from the courthouse, Noah. Those are all Everett’s leftovers.”
Georgie sputters a dark laugh. “From what I hear, the entire state of Vermont is filled with his leftovers. Boy, am I sad I ever settled in Maine. I could have been Mrs. Essex Baxter by now.”
Everett’s lips curl in her direction, and she sighs out a groan.
Everett looks to Noah. “Go ahead and have anyone you want.” He picks up my hand for all to see. “I’m happy right where I am.”
Noah glances down a moment. “I guess you made good on your threat. The part where you said you’d hunt down whatever made me happy and snatch it away like stealing candy from a baby. You said you’d play dirty—that you learned from the best. Me.”
Bizzy looks over at Everett and her eyes grow wide. Everett glances her way, and for a second, it looks as if they’re having a standoff.
Alex winces. “I remember that argument. But I also distinctly remember him saying to keep an eye on your CD collection. I think the threat was actually music-based. Don’t worry, Lottie. Everett’s intentions with you are pure.” He chuckles at his own words.
Macy waggles her brows. “Oh, honey, I don’t think that man has a pure bone in his body.”
“He doesn’t,” I say it so fast I’m shocked the words ever left my lips. I gasp as I look to Noah. “I apologize,” I say directly to him.
Noah’s chest bumps with a non-existent laugh as he glowers over at Everett.
“That’s all right, Lottie,” he says. “I know you’re sleeping with him.”
Everett slaps his hand over the table. “Not once did I throw that in her face while the two of you did whatever it was you were boring her with.”
“Please,” I say. “No fighting.”
Macy scoffs. “Why can’t things like this ever happen to me? I want men to fight over me.”
Alex tips his head. “This isn’t a fight. It’s
a war.”
As much as I hate to admit it, Alex is right. Noah and Everett are acting as if they’re in the war of their life. A part of me wonders if any of it is really about me. I mean, I know they both truly love me, but they’re both competitive by nature, too.
The waitress comes by to take our orders, and I’m mildly disappointed it’s not Jackie. But, in fact, it’s probably better this way. I’d much rather corner her than have to extrapolate about her escapades with Everett as she tries to relive old times with him.
Macy and Alex order up what sounds like every bottle of red wine this place has to offer, and if the rest of this meal goes in the direction we’ve already sailed in, we’re going to need every last one.
After some thankfully lackluster pre-dinner conversation, our meals are served and the food looks just as scrumptious as the delicious scent in this place promised.
We’re about halfway done with our meals when Bizzy catches my eye and hitches her head toward the front of the room. I glance over to see Jackie zipping back and forth before nodding to Bizzy.
We excuse ourselves and do a disappearing act before either Carlotta or Georgie offers to join us.
Bizzy leans in. “Jasper just said I know where you’re really off to.”
A quick laugh belts from me. “I don’t know what I would do if I could read Noah’s and Everett’s mind. I probably wouldn’t want to know what they’re thinking.”
“Oh, you don’t,” she says it quickly.
I pull back. “What does that mean?”
She waves it off. “Just regular man stuff.”
“In that case, you’re right.”
Jackie ducks into the hall just past the dining room and we follow her over to the service corridor and it looks as if the restroom is just a few feet away.
She bumps into us on the way back with a stack of napkins in her hand.
“Oh, hey, ladies.” Her eyes grow large as she looks my way. “Geez, do you even know that you’re the luckiest girl in the world? The things that man can do to a woman’s body should be illegal. I can only imagine he was saving the big guns for his wife. And to think you’re guaranteed to have that good time every single night and day for the rest of your life. If you ever need backup, I’m your girl.”
Murder in the Mix Boxed Set 8 Page 25
