Wicked Whoopie Pies Addison Moore (the false prince series TXT) 📖

as the same model baby monitor that we have at the house but rarely use because Lyla Nell is typically with Lottie. “I can hear everything she’s up to right here.” She fidgets with the thing. “Wait, is this thing on?” she asks my father who looks equally befuddled. “Oh well, don’t any of you worry. She’s fast asleep in her crib. You know I’ve had an entire nursery outfitted in my spare bedroom ever since Josie arrived. She’s in very good hands with me.”

“Apparently, she’s in nobody’s hands.” Lottie links arms with her mother and whisks her to the exit.

“I have a feeling Lyla Nell will be making an appearance momentarily.” I frown over at Everett. “What’s with the pink cheeks?”

Dad squints his way. “Looks like a touch too much rouge, son.”

The two of us share a laugh at Everett’s expense while Everett does his best to rub it off with the back of his hand.

“I had an unexpected encounter with about fifty girls at Honey Hollow High this afternoon.”

Dad and I laugh all that much harder.

I slap Everett on the back. “They’re a little young for you, don’t you think? Reliving the old days, huh?”

He frowns my way. “I was accompanying Lemon on her investigation.”

Now it’s me frowning. “Thanks, but I still don’t like it, Everett. It’s like she’s unstoppable.”

The scent of strong, spiced cologne wafts this way as Jimmy Canelli steps up and glides an arm across my father’s shoulders as if they were best buddies.

“Boys”—he nods our way, looking spiffy in a sleek gray suit—“it’s good to see you all in such high spirits.”

He sheds an eerie smile at Everett and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Jimmy Canelli’s smiles, his every facial tic, is a language all of its own. The cheerier he gets, the deadlier he gets. It’s simple math. And I’m not liking the implications of this for Everett.

“And you.” He gives my dad’s cheek a pinch while an ear-to-ear grin breaks out over his face. “You’re looking good, my man. Life’s been treating you well. Big publishing house, living large at the bed and breakfast here, beautiful, beautiful lady by your side.” He gives a chef’s kiss to the tips of his fingers and my stomach churns watching him lust over Lottie’s mother that way. “You’ve carved out a nice life for yourself in Honey Hollow, Wiley.” His shoulders jump, never a good sign. “I’d hate to see it all go up in flames because of a little debt.”

Everett groans, “All right, Jimmy, how much does he owe?”

Jimmy shoots Everett a look that lets me know he’s not all that pleased with him.

“You don’t get to toss your spare change around with me, Judge Baxter,” he grits the words through his teeth, and I have a feeling Everett has just been put on notice.

“Wiley?” Mom comes up, waving him over. “Come quick. Miranda says you have the key to her room. The baby is screaming and so is her mother. Things are getting ugly. And they say it’s the ghosts around here that provide the entertainment.” She shakes her head as both she and my father bolt out of the conservatory.

I’d join them, but I’m pretty sure my father has it handled. I’m guessing Everett feels the same way.

“How much?” I ask Jimmy. I had already asked him that same question last month, but he basically told me he didn’t want me paying for my father’s sins. Believe me, I don’t want to pay for them either. But, as evidenced by his non-discreet threats, they affect Miranda as well. And as far as I’m concerned, Miranda Lemon is family.

Everett and I pin Jimmy with our stone-cold stares, but Jimmy proves to be unflinching.

“Like I’ve said before”—he exhales as he looks at me—“too much for a cop’s salary.” His lips purse and those dark eyes of his grow far too serious. “Do you know what I’d like more than money?”

I decide to take a stab at it. “Women?”

Jimmy’s chest bounces, no smile. “I’m afraid you’ve confused me with the good judge here.” He glares at Everett a moment before looking back my way. “I like having a cop in my back pocket.” He pats me on the shoulder, three times, hard. “Stay tuned, son. You might be able to pull your pops out of the grave just yet.” He gives his lapels a quick tug and grins at someone at the mouth of the room. “Cadillac, there’s my girl.” His chest expands as he looks to Everett. “I’ll talk to you boys later.” He takes a few steps out before Carlotta wraps herself around him like a Cadillac hugging a telephone pole and we spot Mayor Nash looking as if he’s just been electrocuted witnessing the event.

Everett leans in. “Don’t do it. Whatever the hell he wants to drag you into, the answer is no. I’m still cleaning up that nightmare you pulled me into with Florenza’s dead body. You don’t get to screw up anymore. You’ve met your quota.”

Lottie walks into the conservatory with Lyla Nell in her arms, red-faced and squirming.

“Go to her,” he says. “Hold your baby girl in your arms and that should bring my words to light with crystal clarity. If you see Jimmy Canelli coming, you go the other way. And those, my friend, are words to live by.”

“What about Miranda?”

Everett shakes his head. “He won’t hurt her. If anything, he’ll date her.” He pats me on the back as we head in Lottie’s direction.

“Come here, baby girl,” I say as I scoop Lyla Nell into my arms. Her bright green eyes latch onto mine as her dimples dig in deep, and just like that, I’ve got clarity.

I glance back and spot my father and Miranda talking to Jimmy, and my stomach clenches tightly.

Jimmy looks my way and winks.

Nobody ever said it was going to be easy.

Everett

“Lemon,” I say as she folds into my arms and we watch Noah