Wedding Cake Carnage, page 10
part #11 of Murder in the Mix Series
Eliza is a socialite who lives in a ridiculously large department store she’s trying to pass off as a mansion, nestled in the ritziest area of Fallbrook. Meghan lives in Fallbrook, too, and works insurance out there somewhere. They both share his dark hair and bright blue eyes.
“Essex, you’ve given us quite the scare.” Eliza wipes the tears from her eyes.
Even though Everett’s formal moniker is more or less reserved for those who have landed horizontally with him, his mother and sister are the exception to that rule.
“And I apologize.” Everett takes them both in as if he never thought he’d see them again, and I’m betting he didn’t. “I don’t plan on letting it happen again.”
“Good,” Meghan huffs it out aggressively as if she were fighting mad. “Now where is the lunatic so I can say hello with my fist?”
“On the loose,” Noah offers and they both moan in unison.
Eliza shudders. “Well, with you on the job, I just know she’ll be apprehended quickly. Thank you, Noah, for bringing my boy back to me safely.”
“It was Lottie.” Noah nods my way.
My mouth opens as I look to him. “And it was Noah, too. He’s just being humble. I couldn’t have carried Everett on my back, down a hill, and to his truck. That was all you, Noah.”
Everett inches back as he examines his former stepbrother. “You did that?”
“Darn right, I did that. I wasn’t about to leave you.”
A swell of bodies burst into the room as a nurse does her best to hold them back. Mom and Mayor Nash, Lainey and Forest, Meg and Hook.
Mom rushes to his side. “Oh, thank God, you’re safe! We were just at the Honey Pot having dinner when we got the news.”
Mayor Nash steps up and shakes Everett’s hand. “Glad to have you back, son. I’m going to do a press release in conjunction with the Ashford Sheriff’s Department. I want the entire world to know what a top-notch job they’ve done.” He looks to Noah. “Detective, expect a raise.”
I can’t help but bite down on a smile. Noah deserves the very best, and a raise is just the tip of the iceberg.
Lainey takes in a quivering breath. “Believe me, we’re all so glad you’re back and safe. And I, for one, cannot wait to have you as a guest at our wedding. You too, Noah.”
Meg belts out a laugh. “Hear that, Lot? It looks like you got your invite back.”
“It must be true.” I wink over at Lainey. “I heard it with my own two ears. Second best news I’ve got all night.”
Forest purses his lips. “Any news on Jana March’s killer?”
“What?” Everett growls it out low.
“That’s right,” Meg is quick to offer. “Someone shot her at the bridal convention. I bet it was a bridezilla gone ballistic.” She smirks at Lainey. “It’s been known to happen.”
Hook gives Meg’s shoulders a quick massage. “But don’t anyone worry. I have full faith that the killer will be apprehended long before the wedding. In fact, let’s not think about it. Meg says we’ve got a dance class tomorrow night.”
“That’s right.” Lainey hugs herself as if she’s trying not to think about the fact there’s a killer on the loose, but it’s not quite working. “The Underwood Ballroom at seven sharp. The class isn’t exclusively for us, but Tracy is the best.” My sister’s chest bucks. “Jana highly recommended her.”
Forest pulls her in. “Tracy is Pierce Underwood’s sister. Pierce is—was—Jana’s fiancé.”
Hook nods. “Underwood Investments. That’s right.” He ticks his head to the side as if he still can’t believe it.
“I’ll be there,” I say to Lainey. “Not only do I want to learn to two-step with the best of them for your big day, but I’ve been meaning to question Tracy.”
Mayor Nash lets out something between a growl and a laugh. “That’s our Lottie. She’s quite the investigator, isn’t she, detective?”
“Hear, hear.” Noah grins my way.
Eliza picks up my left hand and runs her thumb over her mother’s ring snug on my finger. “Well I, for one, encourage you to take all the ballroom dancing classes you want. With your own impending wedding at hand, you’ll want to be sparkling in every facet on that glorious day.”
“Yes,” Meghan is quick to concur. “And when are we going to get a date out of you two?”
My lips part as I look to Everett for help. He’s quite comfortable with his poor mother and sister believing the fact we’re engaged. Everyone in here is in on it, with the exception of Mayor Nash. And come to think of it, my mother likes the idea of it so much—deep down, I think she believes it, too.
“We’ll get back to you on that.” Everett’s eyes lock with mine as they offer up an apology all their own.
Noah chuckles. “Yes, well, I will be glad to help Lottie out tomorrow night. You just rest up, Everett, and get your strength back.”
Eliza coos as she pinches Noah’s cheek. “Aren’t you just the best stepbrother anyone has ever had?”
“Yes, he is.” Everett doesn’t look amused. “Just the best.”
The room breaks out into a dozen conversations at once, and just as quick as everyone showed up, one by one they say goodnight to Everett. It’s just Noah and me left in the room with him, and neither of us looks as if we’re in a hurry to leave.
“So now what?” I brush Everett’s hair back with my fingers.
“Doctor says I’m cleared to go. Take me home, Lemon,” he says as he winces his way to the edge of the bed.
Noah holds up a hand. “Not so fast. It’s too dangerous for you to go back to your place. It’s too easy. You’d be a sitting duck.”
“Then he’ll come to my place,” I’m quick to volunteer. I like that idea much better anyhow.
Noah flinches as if I struck him, and I hate that he truly does feel that way.
“No way.” Noah shoots the idea down without giving it a second thought. “There’s no doubt in my mind she’s already looking for you. Ivy texted a few minutes ago. The deputies are combing through the cabin as we speak. No sign of the woman who abducted you. She’s already in hiding—or already back to stalking her prey. Everett, you’ll stay at my place until we get a better read on the situation.”
“Noah”—I shake my head in disbelief—“that’s incredibly kind of you. Of course, there will be no getting rid of me.”
“Good.” Noah’s dimples dip in, but his expression is stern. “Because you’re a target, too. Everett, you can take the guest room. Lottie and I will sleep in the master.” A dirty grin spreads across his face.
“And here we go again,” I say as I look to Noah and Everett. Just having Everett back makes everything else seem as small as a thimble. My heart feels full looking at the two handsome men in the room.
Noah, Everett, and I under one roof.
This should be interesting.
Chapter 12
Summer in Vermont traditionally translates to wedding season. Sure, there are weddings in fall and winter, too, but they seem to be few and far between. And the rush on wedding cakes has never been busier than it has this July.
Lily shakes her head as we look at the six—count them six triple-tiered wedding cakes awaiting delivery this afternoon.
“I’m telling you, Lottie. That bridal expo has taken your business to the very next level. And don’t think that it’s stopping at weddings. I’ve already taken twelve orders for custom birthday cakes for this month alone.”
“Oh my goodness,” I pant as I try to catch a breath. “Thank God Keelie has lent me the staff from the Honey Pot to get these all out to the right venue. There’s no way I can be everywhere at once. Who knew that pink champagne cake would be such a hit?”
“Well, there’s no disputing it. I’m having a pink champagne cake at my wedding, too.”
Wedding bells swirl through my mind and I think of Everett.
As much as I want nothing more than to cozy up with Everett and google the heck out of Hailey James, he sent me to work rather sternly this morning. I ended up baking a never-ending supply of pink champagne cupcakes today instead. I figure it will be easier for people to purchase them that way rather than by the slice. The little kids especially get a kick out of ordering them, even though all of the alcohol bakes out in the cooking process.
But the last hour was spent making sure these wedding cakes were sheer perfection. And I’m proud to say they are.
“Pink champagne.” I shake my head. “You would think that’s all we’re capable of making. I can’t believe there’s not a request for a single other flavor.”
“So, how’s Everett? Rumor has it, the three of you are finally shacking up. Don’t say I didn’t warn you this would happen. It was just a matter of time.”
Keelie squeals as she runs this way. “Don’t you dare start.” Her ear is already piqued in my direction. “Okay—shoot, Lottie.”
I make a face at my best friend. “It’s awkward. Noah insisted both Everett and I spend the night. We helped Everett get some things from his place, and I, of course, got into my nightgown and robe and picked up Pancake and Waffles. We put the litter box in his laundry room.”
Keelie’s mouth falls open. “What about his dog?”
“It took a few minutes of hissing and barking, but they all got along beautifully.”
Lily lifts a brow. “And the boys?”
“There was some hissing and barking there, too, initially. Everett refused to sleep in Noah’s guest bedroom. The bed was as stiff as a board and it was a twin. So Noah offered him the master bedroom and said he’d sleep on the couch. But Everett said, ‘Sorry, sweetheart. I’m not touching your mattress. It might ruin my mojo.’”
Lily and Keelie belt out a quick laugh.
“So then, Everett slept on one sofa and I took up the other—with one eye open to just be sure it was real. I still can’t believe he’s back. And the courthouse was nice enough to give him the next two weeks off to recover.”
Keelie bites down on a smile. “So, did you and Everett sneak off into the restroom in the middle of the night and have some I’m-so-glad-to-see-you-again sex?”
“In Noah’s house? Are you insane? I could never do that to him. It would break his heart.” And mine.
Keelie gives a husky chuckle. “And that is exactly why Noah has you both under his supervision. He knew you weren’t capable of indulging in hanky-panky with another man while under his roof.”
“You’re probably onto something.”
Keelie swipes some icing out of the bowl with her finger. “What’s up with Jana’s killer? Do you really think we have two psychopaths running around Honey Hollow? Or do you think this woman who kidnapped Everett thought she was targeting you the day Jana died?”
Lily shivers. “As much as I like getting a paycheck, I have to admit, the bakery is starting to weird me out. I think we should hire a security taskforce to ensure our safety.”
A man in a tan uniform catches my eye as he greets the customers entering the bakery.
“We won’t have to,” I say, nodding toward the deputy. “It looks as if Noah took care of that for me, too.”
The phone in the office rings, and I step over and pick up the receiver.
“Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery, Lottie speaking. Can I help you?”
“Yes, you can help me,” a female voice whispers. “Die.”
Right after I closed up the shop, Noah swung by and we ran into Mangias for a quick bite before heading to Leeds for our ballroom dance lessons.
“I just feel terrible Everett is home, and I can’t even enjoy him.” My mouth falls open at the thought of those words actually escaping my lips. I’m sure Noah does not care to hear about how I’d like to enjoy his former stepbrother. “I mean, you know. His ankle is still pretty sore so he couldn’t come out to the bakery today, and I was so swamped I didn’t have a chance to check up on him in person. We’ve texted all day. He says you need a bigger TV, and he’s pretty sure Toby will be going home with him when this is said and done—along with Pancake and Waffles.”
Noah stifles a laugh as we pull into the parking lot of the Underwood Ballroom. I look out the windshield and gasp. There’s a tall neon sign ready to greet us of a woman in a rather tightfitting ball gown. Her upper half consists of two round circles, twice as big as her head, and each one spins in a kaleidoscope of colors.
“What in the world? Why did I think this would be the classiest joint in Leeds?”
“Lottie, there is no classy joint in Leeds. You need to be trashy if you’re going to survive in this town. This isn’t your average dance studio. Yes, Tracy Underwood teaches classes, but she also has a ticketed viewing section. It turns out, there’s a ballroom fetish and she’s more than happy to fill their needs.”
“Wow. You learn something new every day.”
We head on into the oversized, over bright facility where a soft symphony of music is already playing. The peanut gallery consists of a couple of rows of folding chairs sparsely populated with men in trench coats.
A trench coat in July? I’m doing the fetish math, and I’m not loving it.
Lainey waves us over to where she’s standing with Forest, Meg, and Hook.
“You came!” Lainey pulls me into a quick embrace. A tall woman with adorable comma-like dimples and dark hair that spikes out of her bun giving her a pineapple appeal walks by and Lainey yanks her over. “Tracy, this is my sister, Lottie. She just saved her boyfriend from a psychotic killer. You can bet your tap shoes she’ll be bringing Jana’s killer to justice soon, too. My sister is a crime-fighting superhero worthy of a cape. Isn’t that right, Lottie?”
“Hardly.” Note to self: Threaten everyone I know within an inch of their life to keep my sleuthing skills on the down-low.
“A pleasure to meet you.” She extends a hand my way and I shake it. “Jana was a very special girl.” Her left eye comes shy of winking and the facial quirk strikes me as odd. “She was everything to everyone. I can’t imagine who would ever want to hurt her.”
“Regardless,” I say. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her.” She extends a hand to Noah. “And you must be the boyfriend. You are very lucky. Don’t let this one go. A girl who would step in the face of danger for her man is the one.”
“I agree.” Noah gives a circular nod. “Lottie is definitely the one for me.”
“And me,” a deep voice says from behind and I glance back to find a devastatingly handsome man, clean-shaven, dressed in a freshly pressed suit with Cormack Featherby staunchly by his side. “That’s exactly why I’m here.” Everett holds out an arm and I thread mine through it. “Don’t worry, Noah. I wouldn’t dare let your dance moves go to waste. I’ve got a partner for you, too.”
Cormack scuttles his way. “I don’t know about you, but a good waltz always puts me in the mood to become the next Mrs. Noah Fox.”
I choose to ignore her and steal a kiss from Everett instead. “You are a naughty, naughty boy. You’re supposed to be resting.”
His dark brows pinch. “And let Noah’s hands have their way with your hips. Not on your life.” A dark laugh rumbles in his chest. “I’ve missed you, Lemon. A herd of wild lunatics couldn’t keep me away.”
The music starts up and Tracy shouts at the crowd to follow her lead, and thankfully I don’t have to listen to Cormack’s delusions for another second longer.
“Well, in that case, Judge Baxter, let’s do this,” I say as he takes up my hand and wraps his other arm around my waist. “You are a sight for my sore and tired eyes. And speaking of which, just about every woman in this place has her attention trained on you. So much for dance lessons.”
His brows bounce, and there’s a gleam in his eyes that inspires my stomach to bisect with heat.
“I’ve got my eye on the prize, Lemon, and that prize happens to be floating in my arms. What does a guy have to do around here to get you alone? There are parts of you I haven’t had the pleasure to properly convey how much I’ve missed them.” A scowl takes over his features. “Noah hasn’t been trying to frost your cookies while I’ve been away, has he?”
A dangerous laugh brews in me. “Why, Judge Baxter, do I sense a smidge of jealousy in your voice?”
His chest bucks with a silent laugh. “Never. I don’t let Noah Fox make me jealous, and I sure as heck don’t let him tell me what to do. My place tonight, Lemon. My mouth has plans for your body, and I’ve got a few booboos you can kiss, too.”
“Ooh,” I squeal. “I don’t know which amuses me more, the titillation factor or the part where you said booboos. But I don’t think Noah will approve of us going to your place. It’s still pretty dangerous.”
His eyelids hood low, and his lips give a sexy curve as he comes in close and takes in the scent of my neck.
A dark moan emits from his throat, and just like that, his body is pulled back aggressively and Noah has an arm slung around half my body.
Noah pumps a dry smile. “If you don’t mind, Everett, I’m cutting in.”
Everett butts his shoulder into Noah’s. “As a matter of fact, I do mind.”
Noah growls as he tightens his grip on me. “Ah, yes, well. I carried your dead weight over a hundred yards to safety. I think you owe me one. And I’m ready to cash in.” Noah adheres his torso to mine just as Tracy stomps her way over.
“No, no.” She giggles. “Oh goodness, no. The waltz is a sophisticated number. We don’t do threesomes.”
Meg honks out a laugh as she and Hook swoop in close. “Lottie’s a pro at threesomes!”
Hook nods. “We used to be, too. Those were the days.” He winks as he gives my sister a dip. He had better be kidding. But I’m not too worried about it. Meg can more than take care of herself. And if I ever see Hook hobbling around in double leg casts, I won’t ask any questions.
Tracy pulls a handkerchief from her bosom like a naughty magician. “One of you has to go.”
“He’s leaving,” they manage to say in unison.
