Raspberry Tart Terror (Murder in the Mix Book 30) Unknown (christmas read aloud .TXT) 📖

Thirteen, their friendly, albeit long since deceased black cat, hops to the top of Lea’s head.

“I’ve been sharpening my claws.” He twitches his whiskers as he says it. “A scratch across the cheek is just the trauma they deserve.”

“You might be right,” I say. “In fact, any blemish to their complexion might be cause for them not to get out of bed. But something tells me not even that would shoo them from the B&B. I’m afraid we’ll just have to live with them until we can figure out what to do.”

Greer lets out a ghostly growl that sends the chandelier up above rattling away.

She shrugs over to Winslow. “If we can’t get them to give up the B&B, the least we can do is ruin their party.” The four of them take flight, and within seconds the tarts are flying, the music is skipping, and the lights cut out intermittently, and sadly no one seems all that concerned.

Perfect.

Every aspect of my life is falling apart, and there’s nothing I can do about any of it. I wrap my arms around my enormous belly as if that could somehow protect my sweet little sugar cookie from the ills of this world.

Across the way I spot Evie and her friends as they dance to the music, laughing, and snapping pictures of the crowd around them.

Everett and I were ambivalent about letting her come, but since we knew we would both be here, we figured it might just be the safest place for Evie.

Carlotta bops up wearing a tight red dress with giant heart-shaped earrings. Her hair is teased to the ceiling. In one hand she has a glowing pink drink, and in the other she’s cradling Teddy as the sweet little specter swings from her neck.

“We spotted the killer,” Carlotta says as she takes a sip of that concoction she’s holding.

Teddy nods my way. “I knew Carlotta would get to the bottom of this sooner than later. It’s just a shame that my sweet Sugar was involved. She must have had a hard time of it once I was taken from her. I dare say she’s lost her mind.”

“Someone has lost their mind, all right,” I say to Carlotta. “Please don’t even whisper anything about the killer. If she gets wind that we’re onto her, she could take off and live to torment Evie another day. We need to play it cool.”

The music hikes up and the crowd shakes its limbs with a little more vigor, and I narrowly escape getting my belly bumped as Carlotta does her best to shuffle us off to the side.

“We need to get you an iron dress, Lot,” she says, dusting off my bulging tummy.

“Carlotta always has the best ideas.” Teddy chortles.

“I couldn’t move in an iron dress,” I grunt. “In fact—” I hold out my arms to display the long crimson velvet number I’ve donned and accidentally smack my arm over someone’s chest. “Oh! I’m sorry,” I say as I turn to find Juliet blinking back as her hands rise a moment to protect herself.

“Lottie, hold your fire.” Juliet laughs as she adjusts her purse over her shoulder. She’s donned a white cardigan with pink and red hearts, and it looks perfectly scrumptious for this heart-shaped night.

“Juliet, did you make this cute sweater?” I ask, giving her arm a quick pat.

“I did.” She wrinkles her nose as she looks down at it. “It was my very first attempt at a cardigan all those years ago. Good thing the lighting in here is so poor, or you’d see all of the mistakes.”

“Well, it’s gorgeous and it looks sweet enough to eat,” I say.

Carlotta chuckles. “I’d watch that sweater if I were you,” she tells her. “Once my Lot gets a craving, there are no lengths she’ll go to procure that cotton candy cutie for her belly.”

Juliet chuckles right alongside her. “Funny you should mention that, but it’s actually why I went into knitting.”

I lean in. “You had a craving for a cardigan?”

“My doctor told me to add more fiber to my diet, so I took up knitting.”

The four of us share a warm laugh.

“I’m teasing.” She flicks her wrist. “But I could go for one of your raspberry tarts. It looks as if everyone here has one in their hand.”

“They’re right over on the refreshment table.” I point over to the tempting display. “Help yourself to as many as you like.”

“I will,” she says. “I’m a sucker for a good preserve.”

“It’s baker’s jam, actually,” I’m quick to confess. “Raspberries won’t be in season until summer, but well, Verity had requested them.”

“I can’t blame her. They are delicious.” She takes off just as Teddy floats my way.

“Oh dear, there’s Sugar.” The tiny specter points her razor-sharp nails toward the foyer, and sure enough, Sugar is standing there in a little pink dress, having it out with Chad Harris, of all people. Chad has his hair slicked back and a black leather jacket on, looking like the bad boy he is.

“Say, Lot”—Carlotta pulls my elbow toward her—“isn’t that Verity’s old stinker of a boyfriend?”

“It sure is,” I say just as Sugar stalks off in the direction of the library, and Chad walks straight for us, looking a little miffed by the exchange.

“Lottie.” He nods my way, and just as he’s about to push past me, I jump in front of him. “Whoa.” He comes shy of patting my belly. “It’s as if you’ve got a missile shooting out of your dress. I’d hate to bump into you.”

“I’m fine,” I assure him. “You look tense. Is everything all right?”

He smacks his lips. “Let’s just say I gave love a shot, but Cupid wasn’t in agreement with me. And in her defense, it was more lust on my part than it was love. But a guy’s gotta try, right?”

“You keep on truckin’, honey,” Carlotta is quick to encourage him with a pat to the back. “If one fish spits in your face,