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

Foxy.” Carlotta catches him before he has a chance to sail out the door. “Something tells me this is information you might need to be privy to. You never know, she might switch teams halfway through.”

Noah considers this, as I avert my eyes to Everett.

“On second thought,” Noah resumes his position next to Everett. “I think I’ll stay put.”

“See there?” Carlotta hitches her thumb his way. “That’s the look of hope in his sparkling green eyes. Don’t let him down, Lot. Fire one off his way once in a while, would ya?”

I take a moment to glare at her.

“What?” She tosses her head back as if she dares me to go there. “Right now, this baby is fifty percent Foxy’s. If you were a fair woman, you’d give Foxy fifty percent of the lovin’.”

Everett’s chest expands. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of that.”

Noah’s brows hitch in amusement. “I’m going to put Carlotta in my will.”

“Now we’re talking.” She clucks her tongue. “Wait a minute. Mr. Sexy holds the money bags around here.” Her mouth contorts as she looks to Everett. “I demand the jury scratch everything I just said.”

“Duly noted.” Everett gives a single nod. “And I suggest you don’t discuss the case any further.”

My lips press tightly even though that last little tidbit wasn’t meant for me.

I’ll admit, it gets my hormones shooting through the roof whenever he decides to get judicial.

“I have an idea.” Dr. Barnette reaches behind her and picks up a few pamphlets. “Here’s a little reading material for the three of you.” She quickly passes them out, and Carlotta flicks her fingers until Dr. Barnette produces one for her as well. “Just a little something to give you all a point of reference as far as suggested positions. I’m sure you can well enough figure it out on your own. Lottie, make sure whatever you engage in that you’re well aware of what your body can handle.”

“Don’t worry, Doc.” Carlotta tears through the pamphlet at record speed. “Lot comes from a hearty breed—read, slutty stock. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if she came out with a pamphlet of her own. The girl has moves.”

Dr. Barnett sheds a little laugh. “We wouldn’t be in this room if she didn’t.”

Noah and Everett join in on the chuckle fest, and I shoot them both a look.

“Lottie”—Dr. Barnette nods my way—“I’d like to check your iron levels before you leave. It’s routine at this point. My nurse can do the blood work as soon as you get dressed. And if you haven’t signed up for birthing classes, now is the time. They fill up quickly and you don’t want to wait until your ninth month, or you just may find yourself in a pickle.”

Carlotta nods. “Lottie loves pickles. I guess you can say each of these men has a—”

“Stop.” I hold a hand up and threaten her with all that I have in me, by way of a dark look. “Thank you, Dr. Barnette. I’ll be sure to get to that right away.”

“On that note,” she nods. “Merry Christmas to you all, and I’ll see you in the new year.”

We offer her the same warm holiday greeting, and once she leaves the room, I sigh as I look up at Noah and Everett.

“All right, you two, let me have it,” I say.

Carlotta gasps. “I didn’t think I’d get a front row seat to the main event. If you want, I can play the part of the cameraman for you and record this little flesh fest. Don’t say I’ve never done anything for ya. Now come on, you two, off with the clothes. They’re not gonna let us stay all night, ya know. If we play our cards right, we could be looking at mass distribution. This could be a turning point in all of our careers.”

“Or the end,” Everett mutters mostly to himself.

I shake my head. “Carlotta, that’s not what I meant. If anyone in this room has anything else to say about last night and what poor judgment I have, then I want to hear it.”

Noah dips his chin. “Lottie, I think I can speak for Everett when I say that what happened to you last night could have happened to anyone.”

Carlotta grunts, “Now that’s a bald-faced lie, but nice try, Foxy. Let’s see what Sexy’s got.”

Everett’s lips curve a notch. “He’s right—in theory.” His brows swoop together in the middle. “Lemon, let this guy chase the suspects. That could have been him strung up by the rafters. Now that I would pay to see.”

“I doubt it.” A dull laugh brews in me. “It was Cormack and Cressida who sent me up there.”

A fire burns in Everett’s eyes. “That’s it. I’m having a talk with both of them.”

Noah nods with just as much venom in his eyes. “Me too.”

“Well then,” I say. “You won’t have to wait for long. I’m sure they’ll be at the tree lighting ceremony tonight.”

Everett checks his phone. “In that case, I’d better get going. I’ve got an appointment myself in about fifteen minutes.”

“For what?” I can’t help but smile up at my handsome hubby.

His blue eyes brighten as he twitches his brows. “It’s a surprise.” He lands a wet one on my lips. “I’ll meet you there.”

“Can’t wait.”

I put myself back together and we take off.

It’s almost time for the annual Honey Hollow tree lighting ceremony, and all the who’s who of this cozy town will be there with bells on.

And so will my next suspect, Ebenezer Clement, aka Santa Claus himself.

Chapter 9

The snow falls gently to the ground as the crowd begins to grow right here in town square, the plot of land that sits at the west end of Main Street where the town tree glitters with lights just waiting to be illuminated for all to see.

It’s dark as pitch out save for the street lamps lit up all along the street as well as garland threaded with twinkle lights that give off