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

“Whoa.” He pulls me in close with a stern expression. “Look at me, Lemon,” he says it firm and my eyes flit straight to his upon his command. “I would never do that to you. Not in this lifetime, not in the next. I’m sorry if I did anything to take your mind there.”

“My mind? You gave me plenty of reason! You’ve been sneaking around with her all month. I could smell her sugary perfume on your suit. I saw half of her face imprinted on your collar! And let’s not forget her cryptic yet damning words. I heard her say she can’t wait to get into bed with you again.”

His chest expands with his next breath, the muscles in his jaw redefining themselves.

“She meant that in the business sense. And you’re right, I have been sneaking around all month. I’ve been working on something for you—a gift. One that’s been on my mind for months.” He reaches over to the table next to us and picks up two long scrolls. “I’ve been working on plans for our future home. Daisy is the architect I hired. She’s Meghan’s best friend.” His lips purse as I take it all in.

“You mean, you weren’t sneaking off to the Evergreen and getting a room with that woman?”

He shakes his head. “I had her draw up two different sets of plans—one of which required a rigorous number of meetings with the city planning commission to approve them.” He holds up his right hand as if taking an oath when he says it. “Lemon, I contacted your old landlord and convinced him to sell me the property. I bought it as a gift for you. The plans I have in this hand are for a house that encompasses the land under your old home and mine, which will make one large home on a large piece of land. I thought it would be fitting to blend the old and the new, what was yours and what was mine. And in my left hand, I thought maybe if you didn’t want that, maybe if you wanted a separate home for yourself, I had Daisy draw up a plan for two separate dwellings. The designs we used are fluid. You can add or subtract as many rooms as you like, you can redesign the kitchen, the bathrooms, anything at all. I just want you to be happy.”

My chest heaves and I try to catch my breath, just trying to grip this new reality.

“Everett,” I whisper. “You did this for me? You bought the property under my old rental? You got the city to approve the combining of our land?” A smile breaks through the grief I once felt as a thousand different emotions course through me at once. “That must have been a feat to get the city to approve that.”

“It was about as easy as moving heaven and earth.” His lips curve as his eyes warm over mine. “But it was worth every uphill battle. And it’s done. I got the final approval today. We can have our together dream home, or you can have your very own dream home. It’s up to you.”

My lips press tightly as I nod. “I’m sorry I put you through all this misery. I’m sure you were confused. And I’m sure you realize now that you’re married to an insane woman.”

A dry laugh lives and dies in his chest. “I thought you were done with me. That after living with me for a few days, you had buyer’s remorse. I saw your minivan in the lot at the Evergreen the other night. And I saw you taking a sleigh ride with Noah. I thought maybe you were ready to rekindle things with him.”

“Oh, Everett.” I shake my head. “I can never be done with you.” I take the thick scroll from his left hand, the plans that signify a life apart from him, and I tear that scroll in half—my eyes never leaving his. “I don’t want that. Everything in my future revolves around us.”

His cheeks flicker. He tosses the plans to the table, his eyes still locked over mine. Everett grabs my hand and pulls me into that make-believe forest festooned for this special season, with their colorful blinking lights, as he speeds us deep inside the heart of those bejeweled trees.

Everett pulls me in close, lands his lips to mine, and we collide with an explosion of insatiable kisses. Everett and I delve into one another with a marked aggression, never able to catch our breath, never able to get enough. His strong hands glide over my back at a quickened pace, and his arms cage me in with so much power they assure me there is no escape.

Everett and I are lost in our need to have one another, lost in the very best way. We burn through the atmosphere of our love, on fire, with lust, with love, on fire for all we are together.

The night ends in a blur, and before we know it, we’re back in that rental house, our new bedroom with the door locked as one of Carlotta’s candles flickers with its peachy glow.

Everett takes my dress off as a devilish grin curves on his lips, and those hooded lids of his make one heck of a carnal promise. He runs his fingers through my hair, and I shake it out for him.

I pull off the jacket to his suit, tug his tie, loosen it, and help him lose his shirt. Everett is resplendent in this ethereal light. Soon enough, we’re skin on skin, loving one another with an urgency like never before.

Everett is mine.

He never left.

We have our whole future in front of us.

Everett and I roll over that mattress like tigers long into the night, and once we’re through, he holds me in his arms, brushing soft kisses over my cheek.

“Happy Anniversary, Lemon.”

I suck in a quick breath. “Oh my goodness, you’re right.