Noah lifts a brow. “Did you pick up a new strain of STD?”
Everett takes a moment to stare him down. “Nope. I spoke with Daphne today.”
“Ah.” Noah wraps an arm around me and pulls me in close. “You set a date for later this evening. Again, be leery of those STDs.”
Everett growls as if he were annoyed with his former stepbrother. “I’m no longer speaking to you.” He turns my way. “Lemon, Daphne let me know they had the reading of the will this afternoon.”
“Oh my goodness! Did Eve leave an even split among her three kids?” I’m assuming that’s what any loving parent would do, but I think it’s been proven Eve was a strong proponent of tough love.
Everett shakes his head. “Not quite. She left the house to the girls and gave Helman a nice sum, that if he spends wisely he can live off of.”
“What did she do with the rest?” I’m almost afraid to ask.
“She donated it all to a worldwide animal welfare and conservation group that specializes in taking care of abused or abandoned circus animals. Apparently, her grandfather owned a circus, and she grew quite fond of a bear cub.”
“I see.” And it confirms what Daphne told Keelie and me that day at the courthouse. “Well, I hope the remaining Hollisters are at least content with what was given.”
Everett shakes his head. “Daphne is repealing the will.”
“Can she do that?” I balk. “Those were Eve’s wishes.”
Everett offers a sorrowful nod. “Just about every will can be contested and dismantled. And Daphne is just that good.”
We call it a night and head back to Country Cottage Road. Noah and I say goodnight to Everett, and I wrap my arms around my gorgeous boyfriend.
“You up for a quick cup of cocoa by the fire?” I bite down playfully on my bottom lip.
“If that’s code for frosting your cookies, I’m in, Cupcake.” He picks me up and races me up the porch, and a laugh bounces from me.
Noah and I don’t bother to light the fire. Instead, I hang onto that hunk of muscle as we heat the sheets and burn down the house ourselves.
Noah and I are definitely on fire.
* * *
On a Thursday, the last one in January, Keelie, Naomi, Becca, William, his three daughters, and I hightail it into Nell’s attorney’s office and prepare for what comes next, the reading of Nell Sawyer’s last will and testament.
When Keelie relayed to me that Nell’s attorney requested I be present for the reading of the will, you could have blown me over with an angel cookie. When Nell mentioned that she had an envelope for me in the event something happened to her, I assumed that it would trickle down to me through the proper chain of command—the lawyer, Becca, Keelie, and finally me. But here we are, awkward city.
The lawyer comes in, Thomas Beauregard, Attorney at Law, looking every bit as intimidating as one might imagine. Tall, large frame, thick head of gray hair, deeply wrinkled skin, and a permanent scowl on his face. Is that some sort of requirement in all legal professions?
After a quick dissertation on things, that I let slip right by me, Mr. Beauregard straightens the paperwork in his hands. “To my dear family whom I love with all of my heart, please know that I have set aside an equal and healthy sum of money for each and every person in this room.”
William shoots a sly eye my way, and I shrink a little in my seat because I’m certain Nell didn’t mean me.
“The Honey Pot Diner, the land under the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery, and all of the remaining real estate holdings, which include my primary residence in Honey Hollow and my summer home in Nantucket, and my beloved cat Waffles, I bequeath to Carlotta Kenzie Lemon—”
If he said anything else, it was drowned out with the sound of gasps and perhaps even a trio of screams from Keelie’s cousins.
William glares my way. “I’ll contest this. Whatever you did to con my mother into gifting you half of Honey Hollow, you won’t get away with it.”
“Uncle Will!” Keelie roars at him like a tiger in my defense.
The door creaks open and in steps that woman in the red coat—yes, it’s red once again, hood drawn halfway down her forehead, scarf to her nose, Jackie O sunglasses despite the fact she’s standing deep inside a high-rise in Ashford.
Everybody in the room freezes, including me.
Nell’s attorney scowls over at her. “Carly?”
The woman nods, and both Becca and Will stand. “Carly?” they cry in unison.
Mr. Beauregard clears his throat. “Your timing is impeccable. The stipulation was—”
“I know,” she says, pulling back her hood and plucking off her sunglasses to reveal caramel-colored hair and a pair of light hazel eyes. “If I’m not present, I don’t get a dime. Well, I’m here.” She does a quick sweeping glance of the peanut gallery before returning her gaze to the man with the plan in his hands.
Mr. Beauregard looks at her from over his glasses. “And do you realize what’s expected of you?”
The woman in red pulls the scarf from her face and takes a deep breath.
“Yes, I sure do.” She staggers deeper into the room and looks right at me. “My name is Carlotta Sawyer. I am Nell’s youngest daughter, and I ran away when I was just sixteen.” Tears glisten in her eyes as she looks to Becca and William. “I ran away right after I had a baby and left her in the Honey Hollow Fire Department.” Her gaze reverts to mine, and I freeze. “It’s true. I’m the one that did that to you all those years ago. Carlotta Kenzie Lemon, I am your mother.”
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A Note from the Author
Thank you for reading Seven-Layer Slayer (Murder in the Mix 5). If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review at your point of purchase. Even a sentence or two makes a difference to an author. Thank you so very much in advance! Your effort is very much appreciated.
Look for Red Velvet Vengeance (Murder in the Mix 6) coming up next!
Books by Addison Moore
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Mystery
Little Girl Lost
Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies (Murder in the Mix 1)
Bobbing for Bodies (Murder in the Mix 2)
Pumpkin Spice Sacrifice (Murder in the Mix 3)
Gingerbread & Deadly Dread (Murder in the Mix 4)
Seven-Layer Slayer (Murder in the Mix 5)
Red Velvet Vengeance (Murder in the Mix 6)
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake (Murder in the Mix 7)
Romance
Just Add Mistletoe
3:AM Kisses (3:AM Kisses 1)
Winter Kisses (3:AM Kisses 2)
Sugar Kisses (3:AM Kisses 3)
Whiskey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 4)
Rock Candy Kisses (3:AM Kisses 5)
Velvet Kisses (3:AM Kisses 6)
Wild Kisses (3:AM Kisses 7)
Country Kisses (3:AM Kisses 8)
Forbidden Kisses (3:AM Kisses 9)
Dirty Kisses (3:AM Kisses 10)
Stolen Kisses (3:AM Kisses 11)
Lucky Kisses (3:AM Kisses 12)
Tender Kisses (3:AM Kisses 13)
Revenge Kisses (3:AM Kisses 14)
Red Hot Kisses (3:AM Kisses 15)
Reckless Kisses (3:AM Kisses 16)
Hot Honey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 17)
Shameless Kisses (3:AM Kisses 18)
Value 3:AM Kisses Boxed Sets
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 1-3
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 4-6
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 7-9
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 10-12
The Social Experiment (The Social Experiment 1)
Bitter Exes (The
Social Experiment 2)
Chemical Attraction (The Social Experiment 3)
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Low Down & Dirty (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook1)
Dirty Disaster (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 2)
Dirty Deeds (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 3)
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Naughty By Nature
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Burning Through Gravity (Burning Through Gravity 1)
A Thousand Starry Nights (Burning Through Gravity 2)
Fire in an Amber Sky (Burning Through Gravity 3)
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Beautiful Oblivion (Lake Loveless 1)
Beautiful Illusions (Lake Loveless 2)
Beautiful Elixir (Lake Loveless 3)
Beautiful Deception (Lake Loveless 4)
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The Solitude of Passion
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Someone to Love (Someone to Love 1)
Someone Like You (Someone to Love 2)
Someone For Me (Someone to Love 3)
BOXED SETS
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Spitfire Kisses Boxed Set
Breakers Canyon Boxed Set (Books 1-3)
Lake Loveless Boxed Set (Books 1-3)
A Totally ‘80s Romance (Books 1-3)
3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook (Books 1-3)
3:AM KISSES (Books 1-3)
Just Add Mistletoe (Christmas in Gingerbread, Colorado)
Young Adult Romance
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Melt With You (A Totally ’80s Romance 1)
Tainted Love (A Totally ’80s Romance 2)
Hold Me Now (A Totally ’80s Romance 3)
Paranormal Romance
(Celestra Book World in Order)
Ethereal (Celestra Series Book 1)
Tremble (Celestra Series Book 2)
Burn (Celestra Series Book 3)
Wicked (Celestra Series Book 4)
Vex (Celestra Series Book 5)
Expel (Celestra Series Book 6)
Toxic Part One (Celestra Series Book 7)
Toxic Part Two (Celestra Series Book 8)
Elysian (Celestra Series Book 9)
Perfect Love (A Celestra Novella)
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Ephemeral (The Countenance Trilogy 1)
Evanescent (The Countenance Trilogy 2)
Entropy (The Countenance Trilogy 3)
Ethereal Knights (Celestra Knights)
Season of the Witch (A Celestra Companion)
Celestra Forever After (Celestra Forever After 1)
The Dragon and the Rose (Celestra Forever After 2)
The Serpentine Butterfly (Celestra Forever After 3)
Crown of Ashes (Celestra Forever After 4)
Throne of Fire (Celestra Forever After 5)
Acknowledgments
A big SHOUTY thank you for reading this MURDER IN THE MIX Mystery! I hope you had a blast with Lottie and the rest of the Honey Hollow peeps. I hope they make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat. Until our next adventure!
To my sweet girl, Shay Rivera! Thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to lay your beautiful eyes on this book. I am forever grateful.
A very hearty and huge thank you to Kaila Eileen Turingan-Ramos for being the best person ever. I can’t thank you enough for always making time for me. You know I love you!
Lisa Markson, you are fabulous. Need I say more? Just knowing you has my heart bursting with gladness.
A special thank you to Jodie Tarleton for being so fabulous to me and to the world. You are such a bright light! Thank you for your kindness.
To the woman who wields a mighty and powerful red pen, Paige Maroney Smith. Wow, am I ever grateful to you. Not a single word in any lexicon can ever express how thankful I am for you. I just love you so very much!
And last, but never least, thank you to Him who sits on the throne. Worthy is the Lamb! Glory and honor and power are yours. I owe you everything.
About the Author
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading. Addison’s Celestra Series has been optioned for film by 20th Century Fox.
Feel free to visit her on Instagram.
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