“Why didn’t you tell me you were his ex?” Her tiny elf-like features are knotted up with rage.
My head inches back, and a choking sound emits from my throat.
Curt nods over at me with that silly smirk I’ve come to loathe almost as much as I loathe the one who wears it.
“I told her how special you were to me, Lot. I told her I still have feelings. Rigby and I have an honesty policy. One hundred percent truth, one hundred percent of the time.”
“Well then, she should be well aware of the fact you are a one hundred percent idiot,” I’m quick to inform him of nothing but the truth.
Rigby sniffs hard. “You’re a pill, you know that?”
“A snarky remark is just begging to fly from my lips, but given the circumstances I won’t give it. I don’t know what Curt told you about us, but we were engaged right up until he slept with my college roommate.”
Curt lifts a finger. “Technically, I was sleeping with her prior to our engagement.”
Something akin to a scream emits from my throat. “You are such a pig!”
That oversized macaw squawks from where Carlotta is sitting. “Such a pig! Such a pig!” And for once I wish everyone in the room could hear the beautiful echo.
Now there’s something I don’t mind hearing twice.
“Look, Lottie”—Curt leans in—“we’re stuck here at some small town bed and breakfast for the unforeseeable future. The least we could do is get along.”
Good Lord. I’ll have to avoid the B&B entirely until they’re good and gone, and then I’ll have to run through the place while burning sage just to cleanse it.
Rigby’s shoulders hike to her ears. “And to make it worse, the place is haunted. I couldn’t sleep a wink last night. The books kept flying off the shelves for no reason, and my Mac lipstick was sitting opened next to the sink as if someone were trying it on.”
I cinch a private smile. Greer really was such a girl’s girl.
“Well, if you don’t like it, why don’t you stay at Felicity’s place? Or even Rhonda’s house?”
My mother shakes her head aggressively in the background. My mother happens to be staying at Rhonda’s place. They were best friends in high school, and she opened up her door to her as soon as she set foot back in Honey Hollow.
Hey? It looks as if I just got a free pass to rifle through Rhonda’s things. Score one for me.
I cringe at how wrong that sounded.
“No way.” Rigby gets right back to squinting out her anger. “I can’t stand Felicity and her endless parade of weirdos. That Bojangles dude was about as much as I could take.”
Carlotta snaps her fingers and points hard to Rigby as if to let me know she hit the weirdo’s name right on the jingly jangly head.
“But isn’t Bojangles her ex?” I might as well take a stab at garnering as many clues as I can.
Rigby makes a face. “Rags Bojangles doesn’t believe in exes. He’s into that whole Seekers of the Light baloney. He’s grimy and sloppy, and hairy and scary if you ask me.” That must be the man who could have passed as homeless that Felicity was speaking to. “The police need to focus in on that broke joke and stop prodding in all the wrong places, i.e., me.”
The door chimes, and Cormack pokes her head in. “He’s in!” She gives me a toothy thumbs-up. Dinner tomorrow night at Mangia. Be there at seven! Wish me luck!” She waltzes right back out into the warm afternoon, and suddenly I want to strangle her and the two idiots standing before me.
A thought comes to me.
“Well, since you’ll be in town—and Curtis, you wisely suggested we play nice, how about the two of you join me for couples’ night at Mangia tomorrow night at seven?”
Curt and Rigby inspect one another a moment before Rigby nods approvingly.
She moves over to Lily to place and order, and Curt leans in.
“Thank you, Lottie.” Those gray eyes of his bear hard into me as he reaches over and takes up my hand. “I’ve really missed you.” His thumb rubs a soft circle on my palm, and I draw my hand away quickly. Rigby comes back with her goodies in hand, and the two of them head to a table in the corner.
Carlotta looks my way and sticks her finger down her throat before pointing at him.
“You did good by dumping him,” she whispers, and I nod in agreement.
At least we see eye to eye on something.
Rags Bojangles. What kind of a name is that? It’s about as unkempt as he was. At least tomorrow night at seven, I’ll be able to pick Rigby Emerson’s brain a bit further.
Too bad I’ll have to watch Cormack pawing all over Noah to do it.
Chapter 23
There is nothing like springtime in Honey Hollow. The riot of color from the wildflowers alone wakes up your senses in a whole new way. After a dreary winter draped in blues and grays, a world of shocking yellows and pinks is a welcome change of pace. And the nights, the stars shine so bright it’s as if the sky were pricked and we were privy to pinholes of light steaming from heaven itself.
It turns out, seven o’clock at Mangia is prime time. The place is packed with bodies as if all of Honey Hollow showed up to chow down on some delicious Italian food. And judging by the thick scent of tomato sauce bathed in garlic, I don’t blame a single soul.
“Everett”—I take a step back from this handsome stud and just take in his testosterone-laden glory—“you are far too handsome. In fact, I think it’s safe to say you’re downright lethal.”
It’s true. He’s in a black suit, black tie, and those stormy blue eyes look black with lust for me. My entire body is shaking just being near him. For sure I don’t dare go to his place afterwards for a nightcap. I can’t be trusted with what might happen next.
“Lemon.” His lip twitches just so. Everett is slow to smile, and a genuine laugh is as rare as a blue moon. He’s all man and muscle, and don’t get me started on that ball of knowledge sitting on his shoulders. Everett is quite literally one of the smartest men I know. In fact, I feel honored to know him, and my cheeks heat just thinking about it. “I stand by what I said earlier. You look stunning tonight. Dare I say, you are dressed to kill.” Everett takes a breath, and his chest expands twice its size, an impressive feat in and of itself. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to speak with you about.” He takes a step in, and before he can get another word out, that bright blue macaw swoops down from the ceiling and lands onto his shoulder. “Geez.” His shoulder sags a moment. “It’s on me, isn’t it?”
I give a slight nod just as Noah and Cormack stride through the door, looking every bit the dapper couple. Her hair is done in exquisite butter soft waves, and her face looks strangely pale, offset by that blood red lipstick she chose to paint herself with. Nonetheless, she looks amazing, and I feel like a troll doll next to her. I’m sure by the end of the night Everett too will be drooling all over his once upon an ex.
Face it, if there is even a mild competition between the two of us, I am not taking home any trophies or men.
Cormack perks up at the sight of Everett, and I can’t help but note that with that ruched white dress on she reminds me a bit of Greer Giles. In fact, Greer had a white dress just like this on the night she died.
I make a face, trying my best not to wish Cormack dead. God knows where my superpowers might lead me next.
“Essex,” she growls his name out low and sexy before pinching his cheek as if he were a child. “I’m going to get a smile out of you yet tonight.”
“Good luck with that,” I mutter.
Her back straightens like a pencil. “What did you say?”
“I said you look great like that,” I muse as I take her in. With those sky-high heels she’s at least a foot and a half taller than me, and that puts her at about eye level with both Noah and Everett.
“Don’t be silly”— she waves me off with a chortle—“of course, I do!” She wrinkles her nose while winking at Noah. “I’m headed off to the powder room. I’ll find you at the table.” She t
akes off, and Noah wastes no time stepping in close.
“You look beautiful, Lottie.”
I avert my gaze a moment. “Save the compliments for your date.”
“She’s not my date,” Noah corrects. “The only reason I agreed to be here is because I knew you would be.” He sighs, and his dimples go off like twin bombs embedding into his cheeks. “You’re all I think about, Lottie. From sun up until sun down. Everywhere I look I see you. Every moment of every day I wonder what you’re doing and if you’re thinking of me.”
Everett clears his throat. “Spoken like a proficient stalker. Lemon, I’ll help you initiate a restraining order anytime you wish.”
“That’s right. You said you had the know-how last month when you suggested one for my mother. Hey? Maybe we can get a two-fer?” I’m teasing, but Noah deserves it. Despite what he says, Cormack is very much his date.
A waitress pops up and leads us over to a table near the back, and just as I’m stepping away from breaking bread with Coitus Curt and Raging Rigby, I’m stopped cold as I spot a cozy little trio at a table near the window. I step on over and gasp at the sight.
“What’s this?” I give an open-mouthed smile to Meg, Keelie, and their quasi-shared boyfriend Hook Redwood. Hook came back into town last December after his brother passed away and took over the family real estate empire. He was engaged to Keelie for about five seconds before they broke it off, and once he was a free agent, he started to entertain my sister. Both Meg and Keelie are well aware of the fact he’s openly dating them both. I’ve never seen anything quite like this.
Meg winks. “Just a friendly dinner with Keels. And once we drop her off at home, Hook and I are getting the real party started.” She slings an arm around his shoulders. Hook is stunningly handsome by anyone’s standards—a shock of dark hair, chiseled features, and always impeccably dressed. He worked on Wall Street before he moved back to Honey Hollow, but that Wolf of Wall Street appeal has never left him.
“That’s right.” Keelie needles my sister with an angry stare. “This little skank thinks she’s going to take Hook down to Red Satin and demonstrate a little private pole routine.”
“I am,” Meg says it bored before plucking the cherry from her fruity cocktail and popping it into her mouth.
Keelie waves her off. “Lottie, I want to help with the case. Where’s our next adventure? I’m getting restless here.”
“I don’t have an adventure just yet.” A thought comes to me. “But there is something you can do to help me, and it involves shopping.”
“Ooh ooh!” She raises her hand as if she were in school. “That’s the perfect job for me.”
“I thought so. Just head into any and every shop in Honey Hollow and see if they distribute a white plastic bag with a bright yellow happy face on the front. That’s what was found over Rhonda’s head.”
Meg’s chest bounces. “That’s the killer’s calling card. I bet not many, if any, shops have that bag. You’ll have to get the security footage just before the murder, but the reality is they could have had that bag for months.”
Hook nods. “Or found it on the premises.”
“True,” I say. “But it could lead to something. Even the smallest clue can help bring down a killer.”
Hook winces at the table behind me where Everett and Noah are already engaging in what looks to be an amicable conversation with my ex and his hex. I couldn’t help it. Rigby really tried my nerves yesterday.
“Is that Vanderlin I’m seeing?”
“You know him?” It never occurred to me the two New Yorkers in the room might actually have crossed paths in the Big Apple.
Hook makes a face. “Don’t tell him I’m here. I want to surprise him with a sucker punch for dessert.”
Both Meg and Keelie swoon as if he just whispered a poem straight into their ear. Heck, it was to mine.
Hook glances my way. “He owes me money. A lot of it. And I plan on getting every red cent back, including interest. The guy is a real weasel.”
Meg shrugs my way. “Sounds like you escaped a fire. Lot used to be engaged to the weasel.”
Keelie practically inhales a napkin. “That’s He Who Shall Not Be Named from New York? Aka the New York Disaster? Lottie Lemon!” She bites my name out like a reprimand. “We have some serious talking to do.”
“And we will. Right after Hook delivers dessert.” I give a quick wave and head to ground zero. Cormack and I arrive at the same time and both dive for the open seat between Noah and Everett, but she’s quicker so I’m stuck between Everett and Curtis. Just my lousy luck.
The bird hops from Everett to the center of the table, and Cormack pulls a breadstick from right between its legs.
Curt and Rigby are quick to introduce themselves to Cormack, and she doesn’t seem the least bit interested to know them. I’m starting to like her better already.
I turn to Rigby. Her auburn hair is swooped up into a bun, and she’s donned a black velvet dress with an adorable pink bow just below her chin. Funny, she’s not at all what I would have envisioned for Curt. I would say she looks far too nice for him, but then I do feel as if I’ve gotten to know her, and as they say, every pot has a lid—and, well, Curt may have just found his.
I’m about to ask Rigby a question when I catch Curt giving me those moony eyes he used to give just before we—well, never mind. My God, I thought those were something special reserved just for me, and now I see him for the phony he’s been all along. I was never anything special to Curt. He was just being his lousy self around me. And every other girl come to find out.
“You look fantastic, Lot.” He shakes his head as he takes me in and sucks in a quick breath as if I had the power to singe him. “In fact, you look downright sexy tonight.”
“Curt!” I bounce my entire seat closer to Everett in the event he thinks he’s going to run his finger over my palm in that creepy way he did at the bakery. “Your girlfriend is sitting right there.”
“Fine,” he smarts. “I’ll wait until I get you alone to tell you how fabulous you look.”
Cormack bubbles with laughter, but Rigby waves it off.
“Curt talks to all the girls like that.” She shrugs. “I’ve come to accept it.”
“My mother would say he’s a cad.” I nod over at her. “It’s a nice way of saying—”
“Player.” Cormack takes the liberty of finishing my sentence for me. “He’s a flirt. I get it. I’ve met thousands.” She looks over at Noah and runs her hand over his until her fingers cage him in. “But not my Noah. He is ever faithful. How I wish we had never broken it off all those years ago. I bet we’d be a couple of old married people by now. At least four kids and two dogs. Oh, and a horse. My God, I love horses.”
I can’t help but shoot Everett a look. Cormack is being completely dismissive of his feelings. Between Curt’s inappropriateness and Cormack’s rudeness, this night is already a runaway train headed for disaster.
Rigby smirks. “So, why’d you two break it off? I mean, it’s nice to see that kismet has brought you back together, but what pulled you apart to begin with?”
Cormack chokes and sputters, her pale as paper face suddenly red as a Christmas ornament.
Noah nods to Everett. “She dated him first. I stepped in and outright stole her. Once I saw what it did to my then stepbrother, it sort of took the magic away from whatever we had.” He purses his lips a moment as he looks to Everett. “I guess you can say I chose you over her.”
My mouth falls open, and the table grows strangely quiet until Cormack sputters a laugh.
“And here we are all these years later.” She picks up Noah’s hand and kisses it. “I’m so glad clearer heads have prevailed and we’ve all grown up. Essex certainly won’t mind if we’re together now. He’s got his yummy little Lollipop to keep him warm at night.”
The giant bird squawks so loud my entire body trembles. “Lolly! Lolly!”
Everett takes up my hand, and I’m glad about it, too. It’s s
hocking to me no one else can hear this bird without touching me.
“That I do.” Everett’s lips expand into a slow budding grin as he looks to his former stepbrother. “Lemon and I are practically inseparable these days. We share our deepest thoughts, our deepest, darkest desires, and she’s the only woman I see when she’s in the room.” His eyes flit over to mine, and he singes me with his stare.
“Everett”—my cheeks flush with the heat of a nuclear detonation—“you really know how to turn on the charm.”
Noah clears his throat. “And the bull.”
Cormack clears her throat. “So does my Noah—the charm, I mean. I stopped by his place a little early just so I could get to know his sweet pup, Toby. Dogs are akin to children in my book, and it’s very important for Toby to like me now that we’re going to be a family.”
A pang hits my chest when she says those words. Proof that I’m still outright grieving my relationship with Noah. He might have declared his undying love for me in the foyer, but with Cormack coming out with guns blazing, I don’t think he’ll be able to hold up his resistance very much longer.
She nods to Rigby as if they just had a verbal exchange. “In fact, I’m headed back to his place right after this for a nightcap.”
My lips part because I want to tell her to knock it off. No one goes to my boyfriend’s house for a nightcap but me. Although he’s not my boyfriend and he’s not exactly protesting the idea of knocking back shots with the queen of self-absorption either.
“Everett and I are doing the same.” I nod over at them and watch as Noah’s eyes widen a notch. “In fact, I have two cats, and they absolutely adore him. I agree, it’s important that our fur children approve before we take things further.” I glower over at Noah a moment for no good reason. “And it’s inevitable that Everett and I will be taking things further.” I glance back at the stealth ball of testosterone seated next to me. “I mean, look at him.”
“Whew!” Curt pretends to wipe down his forehead. “Look at you go, Lottie Cat.” He gives a little wink. “Rawr!” He claws the air a moment.
Murder in the Mix Box Set Page 20