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

“Bail buys time.” His lips pull back a notch, and the look of fury in his eyes is unmistakable. “If this keeps going in the trajectory it is, then I won’t have much of that left on the outside.”

“It’s going to get better, Everett. This entire mess is going to somehow miraculously go away. I’m going to make sure that happens.”

“Noah,” he says it quietly as if he pitied me on some level. “I’m getting a trial by jury. They’re going to see my face on the security footage, and it’s going to erase any shadow of a doubt that I did this.”

I turn my head for a moment because I can’t stand to look him in the eye.

He’s right. I don’t see why I’m here trying to rain sunshine down over him while he drowns in a river I unleashed.

“I’m fixing this,” the words grit through my teeth as I struggle to stifle my emotions. “I made a promise to you, and I’m going to keep it. You don’t take the fall for me. And don’t give me that I was there crap. We both know I got the ball rolling. I was there, too. It was me who did this. It should be me sitting in this cell, on that bed.”

His chest pumps with a quiet laugh. “You were in Lemon’s bed last night, weren’t you?”

My lips part to contest the idea, but I know better. Everett is a human lie detector. It’s useless to even try.

“I was reading to the baby and Lottie fell asleep,” I tell him. “I may have fallen asleep, too.”

“Thought so.” He’s right back to slaughtering me with that look in his eyes, and then with his next breath he softens. “Don’t worry. I’m not holding it against you. What’s on the agenda tonight? Candles? Lobster dinner? Maybe you’ll throw in a foot rub and roses?”

“I’m taking her to the hospital at five-thirty. It’s night one of her birthing class, and she’ll need at least one of her coaches there with her.”

A deep groan comes from him before he lets out a hard breath.

“Okay,” he says it low as if it wasn’t for my ears at all. “Get out of here, Noah.”

I rise to my feet and signal for the guard.

“I’ll be back,” I tell him.

“Thanks for the warning,” he growls. “Noah?” he calls out and I turn around. “Thank you for taking care of Lemon and Evie. I owe you one.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I, on the other hand, owe you everything.”

I take off and bump into Ivy on my way out. She has her hair in the perennial topknot, with that decidedly annoyed look on her face that seems ever present as she leans against the counter that leads to our offices.

“You paid him a visit, I suppose?” She fans herself with the papers in her hand and stretches a sinister smile.

“I sure did. And I wish I could take his place.” He’s taking mine.

“Don’t be so torn up about it. I’m sure a little fancy footwork with the legal team he’s procured will land him on this side of bars once again. I’d think you’d be thrilled to take advantage of your time with Lottie.” She frowns when she says her name. “That is what you want, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I want. But not like this. Not with him locked up in a cage.” I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment. “Lottie is still in a relationship with him.”

She nods. “And you’re on the sidelines.” Ivy takes a step in and purses her lips up at me.

I’ve only ever seen Ivy as my co-worker, and I have no plans on changing that in any way. Lottie let me know plenty of times that she thinks Ivy has a thing for me, and I’m hoping to God that’s not the case. The last thing I want is for things to be weird between Ivy and me. I spend more time with Ivy during the day than I do with anyone.

“Noah,” she whispers my name low in a throaty register I’m not all that familiar with. “I think it’s time you move on.” Her eyes run up and down my chest and her tongue runs a quick line over her lips. “Maybe you’re not ready, but when you are—just know I’ll be here.” She nods up at me. “I can give you the push you need to see that there are other women out there. You’re an attractive man—strong, capable. It would be a shame to let you go to waste.” She lifts her chin. “Think about it.” She takes off, and I groan as I leave the station.

Things just officially got weird.

Lottie

“So I was right,” I fume as I set down a platter of my raspberry tarts on the counter for Noah, Evie, and Carlotta to enjoy.

It’s snowing gently outside the window of the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery and the afternoon rush just died down. I just pulled out a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies from the oven and the entire bakery—and most likely all of Main Street—holds the warm sugary scent.

The bakery is light and bright with butter yellow walls and pastel mix and match furniture. There’s a walkway through a shared wall to the Honey Pot Diner next door. My Grandma Nell once owned both the bakery and the Honey Pot, and now they’re both owned by me.

But the crowning jewel of both establishments is the life-sized resin oak tree that sits in the middle of the Honey Pot. Its branches stretch over the ceiling and right over the ceiling of the café portion of my bakery. Each branch is wrapped in twinkle lights and it makes the place look magical.

Noah just finished telling Evie, Carlotta, and me about his visit to Ashford. I had asked how it went with Everett, and he more or less told me,