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

“No,” I tell him. “I’m starting to wonder if any of us are safe.”

Teddy purrs at the sight of Noah. “Oh, he is a looker, Lottie. Why, you’ve got two. One for each arm, I suppose.”

She’s not that far off the mark.

“I see your arms are empty. I’d like to fill the void.” Noah flexes his dimples my way and I bite down on my lip to keep from giggling. Little does Noah realize he’s playing off of Teddy’s words. “How about I help you pick out a few spicy books to heat up your nights? In fact, I’ll be happy to read them to you if you like.”

Everett lifts his head a notch. “She doesn’t need you to read her a spicy bedtime story. She lives it with me.”

“That may be true, but I think we could all get a few good books to curl up next to the fire with. Plus, it’s a nice way to support a local business,” I say, leading us over to my mother’s table where my sisters flank her on either side and Josie sits on my mother’s lap like the miniature queen she is.

“About time, Lot.” Meg winks. She’s just a year younger than me, but she’s spicier by a mile. “What’s it going to be?”

“One of each of her novels,” I tell her.

“Same for me,” Everett says.

“Ditto.” Noah lifts a finger. “Hey, where’s my father?” He gives a curious glance around.

Lainey shakes her head. “Apparently, Cormack and Cressida won’t let him off the leash.”

Noah inches his head back as if he was incensed. “I guess that’s what he gets. On second thought, I’ll take two copies of each book, Miranda. It’s the least I can do considering my father is wreaking havoc in your life.”

Mom makes a face at the three of us. “Fine. But none of you are allowed to actually read these books. They were written for adults, you know.” She offers a sly wink our way just as Carlotta stretches her legs in this direction and the people who were in her line zip over to Bambi’s table, making it almost certain I won’t be getting a signed copy of her tell-all tonight.

“What do you mean they can’t read your book, Miranda?” Carlotta gives her a playful slap on the back. “These three have done things together that would make even a grown woman such as yourself blush.” She looks over at Teddy. “Now come here, cutie patootie, and give me some lovin’.”

I take a moment to glower at her. It’s as if she has no regard for our transmundane status anymore, or the status of her thinly veiled sanity.

“There’s nothing I’ve done that could make you blush,” I’m quick to inform my mother just as Teddy floats over to Carlotta. “Okay, so it’s a little bit true.” I cut a quick glance to both Noah and Everett. “But the three of us haven’t done it at the same time.” I shrug. “And I’ve already read your first three books, Mom.” Although, in hindsight, I shouldn’t have admitted it. Just the thought of her acting any of those scenes out with anyone makes my stomach turn. Speaking of which, I open my purse and pull out a savory snack just to take the edge off. “Fried pickle, anyone?” I ask after I’ve all but lopped its head off with my teeth, and surprisingly no one takes me up on the offer.

The evening wraps up quickly.

Evie takes off with Dash and their respective boyfriends.

Carlotta says something about getting Mayor Nash into one of those hot pink T-shirts, and my sisters take off with my mother.

But as for Noah, Everett, and me—we head to Mangias and plow through two large pepperoni pizzas. Okay, so I may have polished one off all on my own, but Everett was nice enough to take a bite out of it so that I could say we shared it. And afterwards, the three of us head to the movies to watch a shoot ’em up action flick.

What can I say? I let the men pick. Let’s call a spade a spade. I was just there for the popcorn, nachos, and soft pretzels—and maybe the gummy bears, Sour Patch Kids, and about three different bags of chocolate in different configurations that made their way to that never-ending pit I call a stomach.

The entire audience is sitting at the edge of their seats. You can practically feel the adrenaline coursing through the floor as we zip from one pulse-pounding scene to the next.

Try as I might to focus on the cult classic in the making, I can’t seem to put thoughts of the one person who just so happens to be without a pulse out of my mind.

Verity’s case—those bizarre messages Evie has received and the thought of questioning Juliet Jackowski runs through my mind on a loop.

It all has me feeling so unsettled, frazzled, and just about jumping out of my skin.

Here’s hoping Everett can think of a thing or two to calm me down once we get home.

I have a feeling he’ll know just what to do.

Lottie

Everett and I finally get home to find the house dark.

“Evie must still be out with her friends,” I say as we come upon the porch and Everett swings the door open.

His eyes glint my way with the perennial mischief buried in each one.

“And there is no hint of Carlotta either. What a shame.” He flexes a dry smile.

“The whole house to ourselves?” I give a contrived gasp. “Whatever shall we do?”

Everett’s lids hood and his lips flicker with the glint of a wicked smile. “I can think of a few spicy things to heat up the night.”

“Oh, really?” I laugh. “I can’t believe you’re throwing Noah’s words at me,” I tease.

“He’s been known to have a few good ideas,” he teases right back as we dance our way into the house and Everett flicks on the lights.

“With the lights on?” I graze my teeth over my