Murder in the Mix Boxed Set 28-30: Cozy Mystery Addison Moore (the reading strategies book .txt) 📖

observe her for a moment. She’s a redhead with deep-set dimples. And in each of those dimples she has a small silver piercing tucked inside, making them that much more pronounced.

“Oh, I see how it is,” I snip. “You can’t tear yourselves away from your conversation about retractable sprinkler heads when I’m giving my soliloquy on the finer points of Italian deli meats, but once Ms. Glitz and Glamour shows up, it’s all eyes on her.” Mostly that’s my hormones talking. I’m not insecure in my relationship with either of these men, but I guess I’m not only hungry for Italian lunchmeats tonight, I’m starved for their attention.

Everett frowns my way before his lips twitch with a benevolent smile.

“I like this side of you, Lemon.”

“Hear that, Lot?” Noah hikes his brows. “He likes you jealous. What does that say about his character?”

“Hold your horses, boys.” Carlotta rubs her fingers together toward the two of them as if asking for some cold, hard cash, and Everett quickly drops a twenty-dollar bill into her hand. “Take this, honey.” Carlotta hands the cash to the dimpled dancer. “Stay away from our table and keep the rest of the glossy girls away, too.”

“With these lookers”—the woman blows both Noah and Everett a kiss while shoving the bill between her breasts—“I can’t make any promises. My name is Jewel, if you’re interested.” She bops off to the next table, shaking her belly as if it was on a swivel.

Carlotta leans my way. “Someone had to give her the boot. She was cramping my style. I’ve already made eye contact with three different men. Two want to take me back to their place, and one wants to have a meet and greet in the men’s room.”

“What?” I squawk. “Carlotta, you are insane. You’ve been with me the entire time. Nobody has propositioned you.”

“You’d be surprised how much you can learn from just a look, Lot. You, of all people, should know that. But you’re stuck in a box with Sexy all day and not in a good way. What’s the case about, anyway?”

“A woman stabbed her boyfriend to death.”

“Lemon.” Everett straightens in his seat a moment. “You’re under oath not to talk about the proceedings.”

Noah shrugs. “Then kick her off the case.” He winks my way, and I bite down a smile.

“Sometimes, Noah Corbin Fox, you are a genius.” I blow a kiss his way to reward him.

“No,” Everett says it curtly. “I’m not kicking you off the jury. I’m aware people do bring up the case at home without meaning to. But it was a momentary lapse. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”

“And if you keep talking, Lot”—Carlotta snaps up a fried pickle spear—“he’s going to find a creative way to silence you.” She shoves the pickle into her mouth and gives it a crunch that makes both Noah and Everett wince.

“Don’t worry, Everett,” I tell him. “It’s not like Carlotta or Noah is going to ruin the case.”

Carlotta pats my arm. “Not when we got Lot here doing it for us. So is the woman guilty, or what?”

“I think so,” I say, snapping up a fried pickle spear myself.

“Lemon?” Everett looks incensed and yet slightly amused—just slightly. “You were instructed not to form an opinion until you have all of the evidence. I’d hold onto your judgment until the end, and I wouldn’t share it with anyone. We should most definitely change the subject.”

“Sorry.” My shoulders bounce. “But it’s not like I’m a professional juror.”

“That’s the whole point, Lot.” Carlotta swishes her pickle spear in the ranch dressing. “They’re not looking for pros. They’re looking for everyday people to make the call.”

“She’s right,” Everett is quick to point out. “And you make a great juror. I’ll choose to strike this conversation from my memory, as should you.”

“Everett.” A tiny laugh strums from me. “I’m not a robot. And neither are any of the jurors. When you strike a motion in the courtroom, we still remember it. I mean, we’re not trying to be disobedient, but you don’t really think we’re going to ignore it, do you?”

“Yes.” His eyes widen a notch as he inches back. “When I give a direct order, I expect people to listen.”

“Oh wow.” Noah chuckles as he snaps up a cube of cheese. “This is getting good.”

Carlotta elbows him. “And we’ve got box seats, Foxy.”

Noah’s dimples dip in. “Nothing but the best.”

“Stop,” I say, glowering at the two of them. “Everett knows I don’t take direct orders from him.”

“Lemon.” His lips flicker at the tips because it just so happens I’ve been known to take more than a few. “In my courtroom, I’m afraid you, just like everyone else, will have to adhere to my rules.”

Noah shakes his head, a laugh caught in his throat. “This is it, Lot. He’s showing his true colors. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I’d get a chance to witness it. Don’t worry, Lottie. I can have your marriage dissolved in a vat of legal acid in less than a month. You and the cats can move in with me. The baby is mine anyway.”

I shoot Noah a look that is far more affect than a cease and desist.

“Everett”—I clear my throat—“I respect you both in and out of the courtroom. It’s just that we’re having dinner and the case came up. The other jurors are probably talking about it, too. I mean, did you hear that first witness?” I glance to Carlotta and Noah. “He was the victim’s best friend, and he painted him out to be a real hero. But when Fiona got up there and grilled him about the Elite Entourage, boy, did he change his tune.”

“Fiona Dagmeyer?” Noah muses as he looks to his old stepbrother. “It’s like old home week for you. But then, you’ve probably slept with every female defense attorney, not to mention the hot deputy DAs.”

“Not true.” Everett lowers his chin. “Not all.”

“But I’m betting most.” I wink over at him.

Carlotta snaps her fingers. “Elite Entourage.