A Christmas to Dismember
Page 18
He nods. I’m not entirely sure if it’s going as planned for Hux, but Emmie looks surprised, and Leo looks as if he might pass out.
Emmie bolts up from her seat just as Hux shouts, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, sweetie.”
“Oh, I was never your sweetie,” Mackenzie fires back. “I was playing you from the beginning. You don’t get to tell me to leave. This is my town. Every last inch of it belongs to me. You get the hell out, Huxley Baker, and don’t you ever let me see your rotten soul again!”
Emmie’s hand clutches her throat as she looks to me with sheer panic in her eyes. She knocks over the chair behind her and starts to flail around the room while her eyes enlarge to dangerous heights.
Can’t breathe!
“She’s choking!” I shout.
And soon, both Leo and Jasper are fighting to wrap their arms around her from behind.
“You’re too close to her emotionally,” Japer bellows. “I might need to crack a rib,” he says as he attempts to give her the Heimlich.
“The hell you’re going to crack a rib,” Leo roars back as he shoves Jasper off.
All four dogs begin to bark at once as Fish zips over to me.
Don’t just stand there, she yowls as Emmie does an odd little dance, her face quickly turning purple. Save your best friend, Bizzy! You can’t let her die on Christmas Eve!
Leo and Jasper continue to battle for her, and I waste no time in wrapping my arms around my bestie from behind and giving her three solid squeezes that are, yes, effective enough to crack a soul, let alone a rib. And on the third try, she regurgitates every last bite of that cake in a projectile stream that pins Leo in its wake.
A horrible groan circles the room as Emmie gasps for every breath she can get.
Without hesitating, I yank a bunch of linen napkins off the table and quickly clean the two of them up as Leo quickly sits Emmie back down and gives her some water.
“What the heck happened?” Emmie looks blindsided as her hand continues to pat her throat. “I baked that cake myself. Something must have fallen into the batter.”
Leo takes a breath as he holds up a chocolate-covered mess in his hand before quickly rinsing it out in a glass of water on the table.
“This fell into the batter.” He sighs as he looks lovingly into Emmie’s eyes and drops to one knee.
The room stills around them—with the exception of Hux and Mackenzie who have stooped to slinging expletives at one another, but no one seems to be paying them or their salty language any mind at the moment.
Both Cinnamon and Gatsby come in close and sit by Emmie’s feet.
“Elizabeth Lynn Crosby”—tears gloss Leo’s eyes as he begins—“I fell in love with you hard and fast. And once that happened, I didn’t want to waste a moment. I wanted to make you mine in every single way. You have felt like family to me from the beginning. And today I want to ask you to be my family until the very end—and straight through eternity.” He holds up the diamond sparkler. “Will you marry me, Emmie? Will you be my wife?”
Her cheeks pique with color as her lips part. Then, in a moment, she falls on top of him with a hearty embrace.
“Yes!” she beams, and both Cinnamon and Gatsby bark with approval. “I can’t believe this.” She laughs as he slips the ring onto her finger. “This thing almost killed me.”
The room breaks out with cheers and laughter, but the sound of Hux and Mack going at it only seems to escalate.
“Oh hush, all of you,” Mackenzie snips, and the room falls quiet once again as she turns her fury back to Hux. “And to think I was actually going to propose to you tonight!”
“What?” he riots the word out. “You were going to propose to me?” A river of words dam up in his throat. “And to think I was going to propose to you!”
“What?” she howls right back twice as loud, and perhaps twice as angry. “Don’t you dare propose to me, Huxley Baker!”
I catch a glimpse of my sister as she rolls her eyes. Get on with it already.
Hux and Mackenzie stare one another down for a good long while, and the tension between them is palpable.
“Marry me!” they both shout at once, and the room holds its collective breath.
“Fine,” Mackenzie shouts it out.
“Fine!” Hux echoes.
The room breaks out into cheers again, and this time we all take a much-needed deep breath.
Bodies swirl around the room as people congratulate the happy, and the somewhat distressed, couples.
I pull Emmie in for a firm embrace. “It looks as if we’ve got a wedding to plan.”
She sniffs as she wipes the tears from her eyes. “Let’s hope the wedding is a lot less dangerous in nature.” She looks to Leo. “How about something simple at the inn?”
“It sounds perfect,” he tells her.
Jasper and I offer our congratulations to them and attempt to do the same for Hux and Mack, but they’re still more or less scowling at one another.
The night wraps up, and Fish, Sherlock Bones, Jasper, and I give Rudolph a heartfelt hug until we meet again, and more than enough kisses to go along with it.
At some point just before midnight, Jasper and I crash on the sofa of our cozy little cottage, each with a cup of eggnog in hand, with me nestled in his arms as we watch the fire die down.
“Merry Christmas,” I say as I look up at my gorgeous husband. “Our very first official Christmas together.”
“Merry Christmas, beautiful.” He lands a kiss to my forehead. “We survived and we thrived.” He nods to Fish and Sherlock, asleep under their respective stockings. “We’d better put the treats in those red fuzzy socks before they wake up.”
“Hey, that’s Santa’s job.” I give his chest a little scratch. “Speaking of which”—my hand crawls under his shirt—“there’s still time to get on that naughty list.”
A dark laugh brews in his chest. “I’m all for aiding and abetting.” He reaches over and sinks a Santa hat over my head. “I might have a few creative gifts for the naughty girls on my list.”
“Oh, really?” My brows hike. “I’m anxious to see what you’ve got in your bag.”
Jasper scoops me up and whisks me over to the tree and nods to the uppermost bough. “Mistletoe.”
No sooner do our lips meet up than the sound of bells chiming rings from somewhere up above, and I pull back with wonder.
“I think he’s really here,” I whisper.
Jasper’s lids hood low. “We’d better head to the bedroom and try to work you onto that naughty list before he touches down.”
“Let’s not rush things. I’ve already got my big gift anyway.” I give the scruff on his cheeks a gentle scratch. “Now let’s go put the merry in Christmas.”
His lips curve at the thought.
“Merry Christmas, Bizzy.” He lands another searing kiss to my lips.
And it is merry, indeed.
We’re naughty and nice, and without question, this is the most wonderful time of the year.
Thank you for reading!
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Sealed with a Hiss (Country Cottage Mysteries 13)
It’s Valentine’s Day in Cider Cove.
My name is Bizzy Baker, and I can read minds—not every mind, not every time but most of the time and believe me when I say it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
It’s Valentine’s Day in Cider Cove. Love is in the air and so is murder.
The Country Cottage Inn is known for its hospitality. Leaving can be murder.
Don’t miss out on what’s next after that! Pick up —>
A Winter Tail of Woe (Country Cottage Mysteries 14)
A haunted book store and a killer—winter in Cider Cove will leave you chilled to the bone with fear.
*Ready for a brand new series? Welcome to Glimmerspell! Grab a copy NOW—> Midlife in Glimmerspell (Hot Flash Homicides 1)
An impending divorce. A hot homicide detective. And s
pontaneous time travel.
Midlife in Glimmerspell is proving to be magical.
If I thought the first half of my life was a bumpy ride, I’d better buckle up because I’m about to go over the hill and off the rails.
After catching my husband in bed with another woman, I gave him the heave-ho, put our house on the market, and moved away to an enchanting little town for a brand new start. What I didn’t count on was the fact that enchanting little town might just be—enchanted.
Glimmerspell is rumored to be home to vampires, werewolves, and fae, but those are just simply gimmicks to lure tourists to their snowy little town—aren’t they?
Nevertheless, I’ve got a job at the Haunted Book Barn where my niece films her infamous video blog—Murder, Mayhem, and Baking. She’s somehow wrangled me into helping out with whipping up the sweet treats, and in the middle of filming an episode a hot flash strikes and I’m transported to another time, place, and another day entirely.
If I thought the first half of my life was a bumpy ride, I’d better buckle up because I’m about to go over the hill and off the rails.
Midlife in Glimmerspell can be a real killer.
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My name is Lottie Lemon, and I see dead people. Okay, so I rarely see dead people, mostly I see furry creatures of the dearly departed variety who have come back from the other side to warn me of their previous owner’s impending doom.
It’s Christmastime in Honey Hollow. The snow is falling and it’s beginning to look a lot like murder.
PICK IT UP TODAY! You will not want to miss it! Click HERE—> Eggnog Trifle Trouble (Murder in the Mix 28) to pick it up today!
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Recipe
Country Cottage Café
Peppermint Bark
Happy Holidays to all! Bizzy Baker Wilder here! It’s December in my world and the Country Cottage Café is serving up every delicious treat you can think of. But one in particular is disappearing quickly—peppermint bark. It is smooth, creamy, chocolatey, and with just the right amount of peppermint. Have I mentioned the crunch factor? This holiday treat really checks off all the boxes. And speaking of boxes, it’s the perfect gift to box up and give your friends and neighbors. And best of all, they are easy to make—or at least Emmie tells me. She’s the baker, I’m the—well, destroyer of all things edible. But I sure can eat, and this delicious bark is perfect for a holiday party or snacking by the fire. Don’t forget to make a little extra. You’ll want to have a stash of these around just for yourself. Happy peppermint bark making!
And merry Christmas!
Ingredients
About 30 mini candy canes or 5 standard size
5 cups chocolate chips (Emmie uses semi-sweet)
1 ½ teaspoons peppermint extract (to be divided into ¾ teaspoons twice)
4 cups white chocolate chips
Directions
1. Place candy canes in a plastic bag or between two pieces of parchment paper and crush to pieces with a rolling pin (or whatever destructive method you’d like!)
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. (if a cookie sheet does not fit in your freezer, you can use two smaller pans.) *Side note, I told Emmie I thought this was strange since a lot of people have a side-by-side refrigerator but she told me not to worry about it—that you would find something that works.
3. Heat about two inches of water in a saucepan over a low heat until the water is steaming, then place a Pyrex bowl (or any heat-resistant bowl) over the saucepan to create a double boiler. Add half of the semi-sweet chocolate chips to the bowl and stir until melted. Then add the other half slowly, making sure to stir throughout the process until smooth.
4. Stir ¾ teaspoon peppermint extract into the melted semi-sweet chocolate mixture.
5. Once again heat one to two inches of water until steaming and place another heat-resistant bowl over it. Place half of the white chocolate chips in it and stir until melted, then slowly add the rest. Stir until smooth.
6. Pour melted chocolate mixture over the parchment lined cookie sheet. Shake the cookie sheet and tap it over the counter to remove any air bubbles. Use a spatula to spread it evenly across the four corners of the sheet pan. Wait 10 minutes until cool. Freeze for 5 minutes. (All of that freezer trouble for 5 minutes of freezing? Emmie says I’m freaking out over nothing.)
7. Stir in the last ¾ teaspoon of peppermint extract into the melted white chocolate mixture. Spread the melted white chocolate over the semi-sweet layer, spreading evenly with a spatula.
8. It’s time for those crushed candy canes! Yay! (Even I can do this part without ruining things. I think.) Sprinkle quickly and evenly over the white chocolate layer, pressing them down gently as you go. You can use parchment to help flatten the candy canes into the white chocolate, or your spatula. You can add as many or as little as you like.
9. Let your bark set up until firm, for one hour at least.
10. Break up your bark into pieces and enjoy!
Happy eating and happy holidays from all of us here at the Country Cottage Inn!
Books by Addison Moore
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Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Hot Flash Homicides
Midlife in Glimmerspell
Cozy Mysteries
Meow for Murder
An Awful Cat-titude
A Dreadful Meow-ment
A Claw-some Affair
A Haunted Hallow-whiskers
A Candy Cane Cat-astrophe
A Purr-fect Storm
Country Cottage Mysteries
Kittyzen’s Arrest
Dog Days of Murder
Santa Claws Calamity
Bow Wow Big House
Murder Bites
Felines and Fatalities
A Killer Tail
Cat Scratch Cleaver
Just Buried
Butchered After Bark
A Frightening Fangs-giving
A Christmas to Dismember
Sealed with a Hiss
A Winter Tail of Woe
Country Cottage Boxed Set 1
Country Cottage Boxed Set 2
Murder in the Mix Mysteries
Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies
Bobbing for Bodies
Pumpkin Spice Sacrifice
Gingerbread & Deadly Dread
Seven-Layer Slayer
Red Velvet Vengeance
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake
New York Cheesecake Chaos
Lethal Lemon Bars
Macaron Massacre
Wedding Cake Carnage
Donut Disaster
Toxic Apple Turnovers
Killer Cupcakes
Pumpkin Pie Parting
Yule Log Eulogy
Pan
cake Panic
Sugar Cookie Slaughter
Devil’s Food Cake Doom
Snickerdoodle Secrets
Strawberry Shortcake Sins
Cake Pop Casualties
Flag Cake Felonies
Peach Cobbler Confessions
Poison Apple Crisp
Spooky Spice Cake Curse
Pecan Pie Predicament
Eggnog Trifle Trouble
Waffles at the Wake
Raspberry Tart Terror
Baby Bundt Cake Confusion
Chocolate Chip Cookie Conundrum
Christmas Fudge Fatality
Murder in the Mix Boxed Sets
Murder in the Mix (Books 1-3)
Murder in the Mix (Books 4-6)
Murder in the Mix (Books 7-9)
Murder in the Mix (Books 10-12)
Murder in the Mix (Books 13-15)
Murder in the Mix (Books 16-18)
Murder in the Mix (Books 19-21)
Mystery
Little Girl Lost
Never Say Sorry
The First Wife’s Secret
Romance
Just Add Mistletoe
3:AM Kisses
3:AM Kisses
Winter Kisses
Sugar Kisses
Whiskey Kisses
Rock Candy Kisses
Velvet Kisses
Wild Kisses
Country Kisses
Forbidden Kisses
Dirty Kisses
Stolen Kisses