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

Noah looks up. “Noah is a good name.”

Carlotta rumbles with a laugh. “And if the baby is Sexy’s—”

“Noah is still a good name,” he points out while flashing those dimples my way.

“Very funny,” I say as Evie jumps out of her seat and lets out an ear-piercing howl that chases out the handful of customers I had left.

“No freaking way!” Evie shouts at the top of her lungs while staring down at her phone. “It just gets better!”

“What in the world is going on?” My voice hikes as I try my hardest not to panic. Over time, I’ve learned that Evie can get more than a little excited about a simple “like” on her Insta Pictures account—especially if that like came from a cute boy.

“I can’t believe this,” Evie pants while staring wide-eyed at her phone. “I only had a little over four thousand followers on my Insta Pictures account this morning, and every time I refresh it, I have a gazillion more.”

Carlotta hops up and peers over her shoulder. “What number are you on, little Toots?”

“I don’t know,” Evie shouts. “I can’t count this high.”

Carlotta moans as she tries to decipher it herself. “I can’t count that high either. What’s it say, Foxy?”

Evie thrusts her phone his way and Noah gives a couple of blinks.

“Evie, you’ve got over a million followers.” He eyes her suspiciously. “What’s going on? What kind of pictures are you posting?”

I suck in a quick breath. “Carlotta! Did you shove that phone up your sweater, thinking it was yours?” I know firsthand that she’s sent more than a few naughty pictures to Mayor Nash.

Her mouth falls open. “It was my pants.” She looks to Evie. “Prepare to be far more popular than you ever believed possible.”

The bell on the door chimes and in walk three women and a baby, two of which I desperately need a hug from.

“Keelie,” I moan her name as I head over and pull both her and baby Bear in for a hug.

Keelie Nell Fisher just so happens to be my very best friend in the entire world. We paired up in preschool and have been besties ever since.

Her blonde curls blind me a moment as I pull back to get a better look at that adorable babe in her arms.

Little Bear is six months old, just like my sweet niece, Josie. He’s got dark blond hair and the chubbiest cheeks you ever did see. He’s as solid as they come and he’s every bit a boy, with his husky laugh and determined stare. Bear and Josie were born on the same night. Actually, it was Noah who delivered Bear into this world because Keelie couldn’t quite make it to the hospital.

Mom swoops over and steals Bear from Keelie’s arms.

“Come to Glam Glam, you adorable little peanut.” She bops and rocks him over her hip as Carlotta heads their way and begins to prod at the poor kid, too.

“Lottie”—Keelie holds a hand out to the women by her side and a breath hitches in my throat because I happen to recognize both of them from last night—“have you met your new neighbors?”

“I met Sugar last night,” I say as I take her in with her adorable red and white dotted raincoat and her bright pink lips that sit over her face like a bowtie.

Sugar nods. “That’s right. And I was just at the Honey Pot for lunch when I met Keelie. She helped me organize my shelves over at the bookstore.”

The brunette from last night that I most definitely saw having a disagreement with Verity smiles my way. The gold-rimmed glasses slide down her nose a notch as she inspects me. She’s donned a cranberry corduroy dress and slouchy boots, and looks as sweet as can be.

“And I’m Juliet Jackowski.” She offers me her hand, and I give a little shake. “I just took over the knitting shop across the street from Mrs. Collins.”

“Oh, I didn’t know she was selling,” I say with a touch of sadness over the fact. “It’s super nice to meet you, Juliet. I think I saw you last night at my mother’s B&B.” I cringe a little. “Well, it used to be her place. It has recently been taken over, too.”

Mom and Carlotta scuttle this way as Mom slinks in close to Sugar.

“You’re that new bookstore owner,” she says with a touch too much excitement in her voice. “We meet again.” She gives a cheesy wink. “I just can’t wait to do my signing.”

“I’m excited, too,” Sugar is quick to tell her. “I’m game for whenever you are. Just spread the word, and I’ll do the same. I’m hoping to have a big turnout for you.” She looks to Carlotta. “For the both of you. I’m sure all of your fans will be there. You must be over the moon about the big news.”

“That’s right,” Carlotta says, rocking back on her heels. “I only had five copies left of my book last night when all was said and done. And if that girl hadn’t kicked the bucket, it would have been a sellout.”

“Carlotta,” I whisper her name through the side of my mouth like a ventriloquist.

A choking sound emits from Sugar as she looks to Carlotta.

“You don’t know the good news, do you?” she asks.

“Lay it on me, blondie.” Carlotta turns her ear toward the girl. “Let me guess. You’ve got a hot dude who needs a hot date, and he likes to ride ’em hard and put ’em away wet?”

Sugar laughs. “My dad does ride motorcycles, but I’m talking about the book list that came out this morning. A Whole Lotta Lovin’ ranked number ninety-eight on the Vermont best-seller list for nonfiction.”

Carlotta belts out a sharp howl, and I think my mother just belted out a sharp moan.

Our small circle breaks out into a series of congratulations for her.

“Yes, Carlotta.” My mother sniffs while forcing a smile. “Congratulations on achieving such