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

“You could say that. Our biological mother raised her. And I think there are some issues with men rolling around in there, too.” Like two or twelve.

Her mouth opens and closes. “Send her over whenever you like.” She offers an affable smile. Her eyes flit to the door a moment. “Issues with men seem to be the hot button this week.”

Binky shoots up and gives me a beady-eyed stare. “She’s talking about Clem, isn’t she?”

“You’re talking about Clem, aren’t you?” I repeat the question.

She shrugs. “Despite the fact Terri is gone, her anger is still so vehemently strong toward the woman.”

“I guess we can’t blame her. I mean, she mentioned that her husband was getting friendly with Terri.”

Her lips curl. “So I guess you know about the affair.”

“Affair?” Binky slaps herself over the eye and Lyla Nell vibrates with a shrill laugh.

“Oh no!” I say, looking to Olive. “I didn’t think it got that far.”

Her fingers fly to her lips. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I just assumed you knew. Please just forget you heard a thing. It’s all that coffee and those delicious whoopie pies of yours. It’s as if they’ve gone straight to my head.” She gives a weak laugh. “That was highly unprofessional of me. I wouldn’t be offended one bit if you insisted on your sister seeing someone else.”

“Don’t be silly. You’ll do just fine. And I already knew Clem and her husband were having trouble. But my lips are sealed.”

She bears into me a moment while nodding. “I trust you, Lottie. I’ll see you at the business meeting.”

She takes off just as Noah Fox enters the bakery.

“Well, well”—I say to Lyla Nell—“if it isn’t your handsome daddy.”

Binky purrs, “How I miss the handsome daddies that would slink my way under the moonlight. Speaking of which, I found an entire band of my kind in the bushes behind your house. We’re having a get-together in just a few hours and I have a hot date to get ready for.”

“Wait,” I say as she begins to dissipate. “You mean the other skunks can see you?”

“Sure they can. Most nocturnal creatures can see those that have come back from the other side.” Binky’s pink mouth falls open. “Say? Perhaps you’re part skunk, Lottie? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? We could be long-lost relatives!” That last word is cut short as she evaporates with the wink of a spark.

“Binky thinks I might be part skunk,” I say to Noah as Lyla Nell goes ballistic with giggles at the sight of him.

“Come here, princess.” He pulls her out of the carrier and holds her close. “If you’re part skunk, Lot, who do you think you got those genes from—Carlotta or Mayor Nash?”

“With their stinky behavior? Both. What are you doing off work so early?”

“Technically, I’m still on the clock.” He flashes those dimples my way. “I got the warrant to search Terri Norris’ house. You care to accompany me and give me the grand tour?”

My mouth opens wide. “You know?” And here I thought I had expertly evaded law enforcement when it came to my latest, not-so-greatest foray into breaking and entering.

“I’m a detective.” He nods. “I know everything.”

“I thought you weren’t going to let me tag along.” I bat my lashes up at him.

“I’m sorry, Lottie. I know I’ve been coming across harsh. But it’s only because I want to keep you safe. You’re the only mother Lyla Nell will ever have. But—I’m okay with you coming along with me. I’m packing heat, remember? Are you ready to blow this joint?”

“We’re out of here.”

Noah takes Lyla Nell and me over to Maple Leaf Drive. We decided to leave my minivan at the bakery so we could spend more time together. And I will never feel bad for spending all the time I can with Noah Fox—and neither will Lyla Nell.

Terri Norris’ house looks darker, meaner in the light of day. Harder and colder, too, if any of that were possible. I pack Lyla Nell right back into my carrier and Noah walks us up the porch and fiddles with the keys to let us in.

I give a quick glance around. In the short time Terri has been gone, her poor plants have already begun to wilt, and there’s a small stack of newspapers and mailers piling up at the door. Noah lets us in and I take in the full effect of Terri’s living room under the guise of natural light.

“Wow, things look so different,” I say as I walk deeper into the room. The air is stale and holds the slight scent of lavender. The walls are pink and the carpet is a giant white fluffball that looks like an enormous shaggy dog who’s silently sleeping. But it’s the hundreds of porcelain dolls tucked in every nook and cranny that gives me the shivers. “All of these dolls are really creepy,” I say and Lyla Nell belts out a rather ornery cry as if she didn’t agree with me. “It’s sort of giving off a haunted house vibe. Don’t you think?”

Noah ticks his head. “Every time I enter a house where the occupant is no longer with us, I get that haunted house vibe. Let’s check out those notes in her office.”

On the drive over, I told Noah all about my adventures with Carlotta and Charlie the other night. And, of course, I told him all about those scary notes.

“It’s right here,” I say, leading the way as we enter into the cloistered space. “I left them scattered right over her de—” I don’t bother finishing the word. Terri’s desk is void of a single piece of paper. “What the heck?”

Noah charges over and quickly tosses a pair of gloves on. “Don’t touch anything. Nobody else should have been in here. I spoke with her mother and she assured me Terri had no family in town, none in Vermont.” He slides the middle drawer open to the desk, but