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

Wiley nods with an affable smile, and his dimples dip in deep just like his son’s. He’s wearing an odd looking country western-inspired suit with black and white whip stitching and a shoestring for a tie, but he’s handsome to a fault regardless. It’s easy to see why my mother is under his spell—and why Elodie Frost keeps stealing glances in this direction.

“You’re looking great, Lottie,” he says. “How’s my grandchild doing?”

Mom shrugs. “The man is with me, Lottie. This baby is his grandchild either way.”

“Sugar Cookie is doing great. I’ve met all of its odd culinary requests today. And that includes a croissant filled with chocolate and anchovies, but just one anchovy.”

The entire lot of them gags and waves their hands over their faces as if I just let an offensive odor fly.

“What?” I balk. “It added just the right amount of salt.”

“Ooh.” Mom lifts a finger. “Speaking of salty, guess who signed on for a three book publishing deal with Wiley Rose Press?”

I try hard not to roll my eyes because I can see how happy my mother is.

“Was it me?” Carlotta asks a touch too loud as if this were a genuine possibility.

“It was me.” Mom waves her off. “I agreed to the publisher’s demands and I’ll be writing beachy romances with bits of friendship intertwined. Oh, it’s going to be wonderful. Lottie, we must go to that beach house Nell left you in Nantucket for inspiration.”

“That sounds great,” I say. “We should go in the spring.”

Mom and Carlotta start in on an aria of laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

Mom shakes her head in disbelief. “You’re going to have an infant, Lottie. You can’t just pick up and go on vacation. Oh, it’ll be years before you enjoy life again.” She cringes as if reflecting on her own memories.

“Tell it to her, sis.” Carlotta elbows her. “That kid is gonna cramp your style, Lot Lot. You’ll be in baby jail for at least a year.”

“Pfft.” My mother laughs. “Try eighteen. And good luck launching them into adulthood in this financial climate. I’d expect a lifelong basement dweller if I were you.”

Carlotta ticks her head to the side. “And it’s gonna have to be the basement. I’m in the spare bedroom.”

“I’m putting you in the basement,” I say to Carlotta and she gasps.

“We don’t have a basement, Lot.”

I nod. “I wondered how long it would be until you caught on.”

Mayor Nash trots up doing a little dance move, and that Santa hat with a bell on the tip jingles right along with him.

“Ho, ho, ho,” he bleats. “You look stunning, Lottie. Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m feeling great.”

“Good.” He leans into my ear. “Try to keep out of danger. You worry your old man.”

My lips press tightly at the warm sentiment. Mayor Nash and I are still pretty new at this father-daughter thing.

“Well?” Mayor Nash gives Carlotta a tap to the bottom. “It’s time to get merry. Who’s hitting the dance floor with me?”

Mom raises Wiley’s hand. “We’re in! Let’s show these kids how it’s done.”

Carlotta links an arm to both Mayor Nash and Wiley. “Say, Foxy Senior, what did you think of my book idea?’

The four of them waltz off into the crowd before I could hear the rest of that conversation.

“Carlotta is writing a book?” I muse just as Lainey and Meg come up.

“I heard.” Meg smirks.

Meg looks like a punk rock princess with her dark hair teased to the ceiling, a black leather dress on, and long earrings that look as if they’re comprised solely of silver tinsel. And Lainey—wow, her figure has snapped back, and she’s letting everyone know it in a hip-hugging green sweater dress.

“Well?” Lainey bumps her hip to Meg’s. “Don’t keep us in suspense. What’s this book about?”

I glance to the ceiling. “I bet it’s a steamy read that can rival any of Mom’s reckless romances.”

Meg shakes her head. “It’s a how-to book. How to hook a man.”

Lainey and I groan.

“She can write that one in her sleep,” I say as I spot Everett from across the room, and my heart leaps right out of my chest. He’s donned a black suit with a gold tie, and my dear God, if every woman in the room didn’t just stop breathing in his honor. But Everett isn’t looking in my direction. His gaze is dead set to the right of the room before he begins to speed that way with a purpose in his step.

“What if she’s here?” I whisper without meaning to.

“What if who’s here?” Lainey looks around as Lily hops over.

“Essex is stepping out on Lottie,” Lily is quick to spill the cheating beans.

“Would you shush?” I swat her on the arm before scanning the room and spotting Evie dancing with her friends. God forbid she hears it like this. “It’s unconfirmed—mostly.”

Lainey takes in a never-ending breath and Meg—well, I’m pretty sure I see fire in her eyes.

“Excuse me,” Meg says, pulling her keys out of her purse. “I’ve got a set of brass knuckles I need to get out of my trunk. Don’t worry, Lot. I’ll start off with a few of my old wrestling moves first when I confront him. I’ve been getting rusty.” She takes off before I can stop her.

Lainey yanks me in by the arm. “I don’t care if he is the father of your child. That man will be missing teeth by the end of the night. How is Noah letting him continue to breathe?” She stalks off in a rage.

“Now look what you did,” I say to Lily as a genuine panic fills me.

“I didn’t do it, Lot.” She sighs as she heads back to her station. “Essex did. Honestly, I don’t know what we were expecting from him. The man has the word sex in his name.”

She’s not wrong.

A million thoughts sail through my mind at once, and my feet just start moving without my permission. I see Keelie over by the buffet and suddenly have a mean craving