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

enter the room and, I’ll admit, my adrenaline just spiked a little at the prospect of Suze stalking in behind them. But thankfully, that disaster doesn’t manifest itself.

I give Josie a quick kiss over her feather soft hair. She’s a golden-haired, amber-eyed cutie who I can’t get enough of. I tuck my nose to the top of her head and inhale that baby fresh scent. I can’t get enough of that either.

“She finally feels like she weighs something,” I say as I smile down at her.

Lainey huffs, “Are you kidding? Hauling her around all day is like hauling around a sack of potatoes. And she’s just four months old! If she keeps chunking up, she’ll have to learn to walk before her first birthday just to save my back.”

Josie squeals with laughter as she reaches up and grabs my nose.

“Oh!” I squeal right back. “I’m in love with you.”

Mom comes over with her grabby hands. “Come to Glam Glam. Lottie, you shouldn’t be holding her.” She promptly plucks her out of my arms just as Keelie and Bear walk in with a bouquet of red and white flowers and a tiny baby Bear tucked in Keelie’s arms.

Little Bear has an adorable pout on his lips that just sets my heart on fire. He’s got steely blue eyes and paper white hair and looks every bit as stalky and brooding as his father. And I quickly kiss up his face until he bursts into tears.

The room explodes with laughter as Bear takes him from Keelie and rocks him back to contentment by showing him the cats.

“Come on, everyone!” Carlotta waves the crowd toward the kitchen. “The food is getting cold. Time to stuff your pie hole.”

“What is going on here?” I shake my head at Noah and Everett.

Everett shrugs. “We thought it’d be nice to have a little housewarming party.”

Noah nods. “Get some good vibrations in here.”

“Don’t worry, Noah.” Everett slings his arm around me. “Lemon and I will add a few good vibrations of our own.”

A dark laugh gets buried in my chest, but I don’t dare give it.

Noah’s chest expands. “So did you glean anything from my mother?”

Carlotta strides into our midst with a slice of pizza on a fancy paper plate with pictures of red and green ornaments on it.

“You didn’t tell him?” she quips. “Guess what, Foxy? We ran into your mother’s coven and they strung Lot Lot up with a noose.”

“They didn’t string me up with a noose,” I’m quick to correct. “They had me lie down on a table while they burned sage and chanted around me in a circle.”

Evie and my sisters migrate this way, each with a plate full of food in hand.

“Ugh.” Evie moans. “I miss all the good stuff.”

Lainey shudders. “Burning sage? Clearly they haven’t met you. You’re a walking, talking fire hazard. And all that smoke was probably dangerous for the baby.”

Meg snorts. “I’m shocked either one of these men hasn’t stuck a fire extinguisher into your purse. And that fireplace?” She shakes her head at Noah and Everett. “The two of you really do like to live dangerously.”

“That’s my son.” Wiley pats his look-alike eldest child on the back. “Living large and in charge. Noah isn’t afraid of a few flames. In fact, that’s why he ran into that burning house. We Fox men don’t run away from danger.” He nods to Everett. “Neither do the Baxter men. But you have to admit, Everett, Noah came out unscathed. That’s how the Fox men do it.”

Everett’s lips flicker. “As long as I come out on top with the woman in my life, I’m fine with a few bumps and bruises.”

“How about a bruised ego?” Carlotta is quick to offer up the dig with a wink. “One of those witches at Suze’s evil meet and greet says that little sugar booger Lot is totin’ is a baby girl that belongs to Foxy.”

The room quiets down before roaring to life with congratulations.

Noah plucks me out of Everett’s embrace. “We’re having a girl?” The spark in his evergreen eyes is something I don’t have the guts to stick a pin in.

“Maybe?” I shrug.

Mayor Nash belts out a Santa-worthy ho ho ho. “I’m having a granddaughter! I’ll crack the champagne.”

Carlotta holds up a finger. “Now, now, that’s my private reserve. We don’t want to lose our heads just yet. The head witch went up against a lesser witch who thought Lot Lot was having a baby boy that belonged to the man of the gavel.”

Everett’s chest puffs with pride. “A son.” His blue eyes penetrate mine, and my heart suddenly swells with emotion at the prospect.

Keelie looks my way. “If you have a boy, you should plan ahead to name him after his father.”

“I agree.” Lainey gives a frenetic nod. “That will cut your naming the baby chore list in half.”

“Oh!” Mom waves my way. “If it is a girl, feel free to call it Miranda. I don’t mind one bit sharing my name with my darling new granddaughter.”

“Who are we kidding here?” Carlotta’s expression grows stern. “We’ve got two generations of Carlottas going strong. Now that’s a streak we don’t want to break anytime soon. You’ll name her Carlotta. Don’t worry. We’ll give her a cutesy nickname like your mama did for you, just to mix things up.”

Evie does a little hop. “We can call her Carlie or Charlie, or Charlotte. Heck, we can call her Tilly or Milly, Buffy or Tuffy. None of the girls at my old boarding school used their real name.”

Lainey nods. “Josie will probably never go by Josephina.”

My shoulders hike a notch. “All things to consider, I guess.”

A knock erupts at the door and Evie skips that way.

Noah leans in. “Please tell me there wasn’t a noose involved.”

“Or flaming weeds,” Everett demands.

My goodness, have I mentioned how hot this man is in that flannel and jeans?

“There was a little of both,” I’m sad to assure them.

A round of cheery hellos explodes, and we turn to see Lily coming