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

“As I live and breathe!” She gasps as she jumps to her feet. “It’s Mrs. Judge Baxter herself. And here I thought you never left the bedroom unless commanded to by a court of law.”

“Hi, Annie.” I nod to my fellow ex-juror. “And hello to you, too, Mr. Wolfe.”

The handsome, albeit slightly scruffy, deputy DA offers an apprehensive smile my way.

“It’s nice to see you again, number twenty-three.” He sheds an easy smile. There’s quite a sandwich and dessert spread in front of them, and it’s safe to say we are clearly in lunch date territory.

“You can call me Lottie,” I say with a warm laugh.

“Nice to see you, Lottie,” he corrects. “Please give my regards to Judge Baxter. The verdict may not have gone in my direction, but I think I came away a winner.” He flashes a greedy grin to the blonde next to me, and Annie gives a husky chuckle.

“Oh, honey,” she gurgles. “I always get what I want.”

“I’ll let you get back to your dessert.” I wince over at her. “So how do you feel about the verdict? Still standing strong with what we decided?”

“You better believe it.” She flicks her wrist. “As soon as I saw those pictures, I wanted to go back in time and kill the guy myself.”

“Good to know we did the right thing.” I wish them both well before heading back to my table, only to find Keelie and Lainey already seated and shoving an array of Italian goodness into their pie holes.

Every inch of the table is covered with sweet treats, and both Lorena and Donata have chosen to join us.

Carlotta motions to the empty chair between her and Donata.

“I saved a seat for you, Lot.” She gives a hard wink. “And wait until you taste these desserts! I’m sorry to break it to you, Lot, but I’m telling everyone I know in Honey Hollow about this place.”

Lainey nods. “Your dessert days are numbered,” she mumbles through a mouthful.

Flo is stuffing her pie hole, too, with a little help from Carlotta. Each time Carlotta puts something to her lips, Flo swoops in and gulps it down. I’ll admit, it’s a bit of an unnerving sight.

“Wow,” I say, plopping in my seat. “Where do I begin this culinary adventure?”

“Don’t worry, hon.” Donata pulls an empty plate my way and quickly begins to fill it. “I’ll give you the tour.” She lands a slice of something divine in front of me. “Ricotta cheesecake,” she says. “Once you go ricotta, you’ll never go back.”

“I don’t doubt this,” I say, slicing my fork right through it and shoving an ample bite into my mouth as fast as I can.

A hard moan escapes me.

Lainey reaches across the table. “I’ll take another slice myself. All that baby weight I lost? I gained it all back today, and then some. And you know what? This is worth it.”

“Oh wow.” My eyelids flutter as I try to comprehend what just happened. “This is ridiculously light as a feather, and yet the creamy ricotta is taking over. I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

“Hold your ricotta horses.” Lorena brays out a laugh just the way Flo is prone to do as she lands a cannoli onto my plate. “You’re about to die and go to heaven.”

“Ooh.” Flo nudges Carlotta. “Get me one of those, too.”

The cannoli shell is perfectly crispy and flaky and explodes as soon as I put it into my mouth. The ricotta filling is decadently rich and just sweet enough. And the crunch of the miniature dark chocolate chips adds just the right texture along with a note of cocoa. Both ends have been dipped in dark chocolate, and it simply adds to the magic.

“Slow your roll.” Donata cackles. “You won’t have room for the rest of it.”

“Oh, I’ll have room.” I nod her way as I swallow down the last bite. “What’s next?”

“Zeppole. Italian fried donuts,” Lorena says as she slips a few round donuts covered with powdered sugar my way.

“Mmm, I love zeppole,” I say as I pop one into my mouth, and Carlotta, Keelie, and Lainey all follow suit. Both baby Josie and baby Bear tried to snatch it from their mothers, but Keelie and Lainey proved stealth. I can’t blame them. This might just be the best, freshest, softest zeppole I’ve ever had.

“Sfogliatelle,” Donata says, sliding the crunchy, creamy dessert onto my plate. It looks a lot like a croissant, but the shell is comprised of dozens of layers that look like the distended pages of a book someone is getting ready to thumb through. Traditionally, these happen to be filled with ricotta and cream as opposed to a custard cream like their dessert counterparts, the lobster tail, and boy, is it ever off the crunchy charts.

A hard groan comes from me, and Carlotta snickers.

“I haven’t heard Lot make that noise since I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. You’ll have to excuse the dark circles under her eyes. The other two mamas might have a little one keeping them up all night, but Lot’s got a sexy one in her bed making sure she doesn’t get a wink of shut-eye.”

Lorena belts out a laugh. “You and me both, sister.” She plops another cannoli onto my plate. “Carbs equal energy. Eat up, girl. I’ve seen that husband of yours. You’re going to need the tackling fuel.” She slips one onto her own plate as well. “And so will I.” She tweaks her brows.

“Look at that.” Flo gives a spontaneous applause. “It sounds like Lorena found someone to bring her a little comfort in her time of mourning.”

Keelie nods. “I’m right there with you both. At the end of the day, unless I’m sugared up and raring to go, my man finds me doing a face-plant in my pillow.”

Lainey shakes her head. “Forest hasn’t had any action in months.”

“Months?” I balk in shock at the revelation.

“Lottie.” Lainey averts her eyes. “Having a baby is exhausting. She’s cute, but