by J. R. Rain
The timer went off on the oven and she walked back into the kitchen to take out one the easiest and delicious recipes she liked to put together for occasions. As soon as she opened the oven and took out her famous stuffed mushrooms, Ollie the ridgeback lifted his head off his mat by the kitchen door and wrinkled up his nose.
“Not for you,” Nikki said. “I do have a special treat for you, though. It’s in your stocking and you can have it when everyone else gets theirs.”
As if the large dog understood, he set his head back down and closed his eyes. Ollie’s idea of living the good life consisted of sleeping and eating. Nikki did make him get up daily to go for their run, but he wasn’t as eager as he used to be. Nikki didn’t want to admit it, but the ridgeback was beginning to show his age.
Mushrooms plated, cocktail plates and napkins set out, champagne on ice. The rest of the meal coming together—yep, they were about ready.
Good thing because only a moment later, the doorbell rang.
Nikki opened the door, to find her brother-in-law Simon, his partner Marco, and their three-year-old daughter Violet with them.
“Oh my gosh, can it get any colder?” Simon bustled inside with Violet in his arms. He bent down and unbuttoned her coat. The toddler wore a red velvet dress trimmed in white lace that looked like it cost a fortune. Her fine, dark hair was done up in pig tails, and Nikki’s heart sank at the cuteness factor.
“What do you think?” Simon took his coat off and twirled around.
“I think Violet looks fabulous!” Nikki said.
“Of course she does. What about me? I mean, us?” Simon put his arm around Marco.
Simon wore a green cashmere sweater and a gold scarf, and Marco wore an ice blue cashmere sweater and silver scarf.
“You look great.”
“Don’t we? We are the colors of Christmas.”
“Yes you are,” Nikki replied. “Champagne?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
Marco leaned into her as they walked to the kitchen. “You know this was his idea,” he said in his crisp Italian accent.
“Pretty sure I picked up on that,” she replied.
Ah...the boys of summer, as she had coined Simon and Marco her first summer at the vineyard—she’d never at that time imagined them as being a part of her family. In fact, she had imagined them as murderers at the time. How things change with time. Now, she loved them both dearly—Simon all blonde, blue eyed and filled with drama to the brim. Marco was the grounded one—all dark, all Italian and for the most part filled with logic and pragmatism to counter act his partner’s...um...creative side and flamboyance. They were a perfect match.
“Did I hear that my niece is here?” Derek walked into the room and Nikki’s heart skipped a little faster. After almost a year of marriage that had not changed. Her husband could still take her breath away, cause butterflies in her stomach and make her blush—and that was a very good thing.
Derek picked Violet up and twirled her around. She giggled incessantly. Ollie removed himself from the kitchen and came over to lick the child’s face once her uncle set her down. Nikki looked away for a brief second and swallowed back the twinge of emotion that had risen to her throat. There was one area in her life that wasn’t exactly perfect—she had not been able to conceive and both of them wanted children. It was not due to lack of trying on their part, but so far, she had not gotten pregnant.
As she poured champagne, the rest of their crew showed up—their dear friend Alyssa and her fiancé Detective Jonah Robinson. Nikki had introduced Jonah and Alyssa in a round-about-way. Alyssa was another one she’d once suspected of murder—crazy how that happened more often than not with Nikki. It’s how she’d met some of her closest friends in Napa. She wasn’t exactly proud of the fact that she’d been coined the Nancy Drew of Napa Valley. Well, maybe she was a tad proud of it.
Jonah had once been her nemesis, but they’d worked through some things and with many of the people she’d thought had been a killer at one time (her husband included), she’d become family and friends with. Some had been killers and she’d helped put them behind bars.
“It smells delicious,” Alyssa said. “What’s for dinner?”
“A tri-tip roast in a red wine and mushroom sauce; sweet potatoes with walnuts, cilantro, and stilton cheese; brown sugar and bacon tossed brussel sprouts; and caramelized onions and rosemary biscuits,” Nikki replied.
“Glad we came. I’m starving.” Jonah rubbed his stomach.
“Good. Let’s eat,” Nikki replied.
As the evening continued, they shared food, drink, listened to Sinatra sing holiday tunes, then put on some contemporary Christmas music while they decorated the tree. Each one taking turns to put on ornaments.
Violet sang and jumped around, excited in so many ways, because this was really the first Christmas that she understood a bit about it. For a three-year-old it was not only exciting but overwhelming as her parents tried to keep her mellow.
The angel was placed on top of the tree and then everyone stood back to admire their work.
“Beautiful,” Simon said. “Lovely.”
They all murmured in agreement.
“Oh wait,” Derek said. “I have one more ornament that I forgot. I just bought it today.”
Nikki looked at him. He went into the other room and handed a box to her. “Open it and put it on the tree.”
“What?”
“Just do it, Beliisima,” Marco said. “I want to know what it is.”
Nikki opened it and didn’t understand. It was an ornament of a sombrero. “What is this?”
“Guess where we’re going for New Years?” He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. She turned around to face him. All eyes were on them. “Where? Where are we going?”
“We, my beautiful wife, are leaving tomorrow afternoon for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!”
“Puerto Vallarta? Oh my gosh! Really?”
He nodded. “Yes. Remember the other night when we had dinner at Costa Azul and we were talking about how delicious the food is and the margaritas and how nice it would be to just get away and sit in the sun somewhere?”
“Yes.” She smiled.
“I took it to heart and got on the phone the next day and started making arrangements.”
“You are the best husband ever.” She wrapped her arms tightly around him and looked up at him. He planted his lips down on hers.
“Yoo hoo. Okay, make-out session time is up. It’s time to get all rated G again, people. Little person on the premises. Puerto Vallarta, now that sounds absolutely delightful.” Simon said, looking over at Marco. “Doesn’t it? Sun, fun, drink on.” He nodded. “So when we going? What time does our flight leave? Oh boy, what will we do with tiny tot?”
“We are not going,” Derek said. “We...” he pointed at Nikki and then himself, “are going on a vacation. We are going to celebrate New Year’s—alone.”
Simon’s lower lip sunk into an immediate pout. “Wait a minute. You’re going away for the New Year?” He shook his head. “What will we do?”
Nikki looked at Derek imploringly.
“Oh no. No. No,” he said. “I know that look. This is about you and me. Going away. Some sunshine. Fun. Fiesta time. Siesta time.”
“I know,” she said.
“You can still have all that,” Simon interrupted.
Marco laid a hand on Simon’s shoulder. “Let them go. We have the baby anyway.”
“We can take of her,” Alyssa who had had a few glasses of eggnog chimed in.
“See that. See,” Simon said. “We have back up and we need a vacation, honey. We haven’t had any down time since Violet came along and I think we could use some alone time, too.”
“Great.” Derek rubbed his hands together. “Then, you two can go to the South of France, or Cancun, or Russia for some alone time.”
“Russia?” Simon said, nearly spitting out the pinot noir he was sipping on.
“Just
saying. That your alone time can be separate from ours.”
“It is Christmas, honey, and I don’t know,” Nikki interrupted. “And, we can still have alone time. I like being with S&M—they’re my boys of summer. We’ll have fun.”
Marco put an arm around Derek. “It is true. We are fun. And, Bellisima there, gets herself in trouble sometimes...”
“What are you saying?” Derek asked. “Not as if, your guy there, doesn’t join the trouble.” He pointed at Simon.
“I know, but we can keep them grounded. It will be nice and I can speak some Spanish. It is very similar to Italian being a romance language.”
“Oooh, I like that. Romance language,” Simon said.
“I know I’m a detective, Derek, but looks like you are outnumbered,” Jonah chimed in.
“I think I’m being ganged up on,” Derek replied. “Fine. We’ll all go.”
Simon hugged him. “You are so wonderful. Oh piñatas and tacos...and New Year’s!” Simon said in a bad Mexican accent. “Darling, we should go. Santa needs to visit and Violet needs to go to bed for that to happen. And, I need to locate my pancho.”
“Pancho?” Derek asked.
“It’s gorgeous. It’s green and red with a little splash of yellow. Very festive.”
“Hmm. I can’t wait to see it.”
“You’ll love it. Tah tah, everyone. Muchas Gracías for a joyous evening. See you in the mañana! Say bye-bye to Aunt Nikki and Uncle Derek. Time to go to bed so Santa can come by, and then tomorrow Daddy and Poppy are off to the land down under.”
“That’s Australia,” Jonah said.
“Oh whatever. Call me, Alyssa, after you’ve had your caffeine in the morning and we will figure out tiny tot details.”
“You got it. Happy to help,” she replied.
Derek looked as if he’d been sucker punched and Nikki did feel a little bit guilty, but she loved having family around her—even if it was whacky Simon and Marco.
Violet waved and her little voice said, “Bye-bye.”
It wasn’t much longer before the house cleared of the other guests and Nikki and Derek were alone.
Derek turned to Nikki and mouthed the word, Pancho.
She shrugged.
“What did you just commit me to?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, honey. I really love being around family. We will have our alone time. We will.”
“This is my brother we’re talking about.”
“I know, but it’ll be great. You’ll see. Promise. Now let’s find a way to celebrate our own personal Christmas.”
“Any ideas?” he asked.
“A few. Let’s just say that they include a pancho and a little salsa dance.”
“Oh Señora, I like the way you think. Merry Christmas, Señora Malveaux.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“Merry Christmas back at you, Señor. Just wait. It’s about to get merrier.”
Chapter Two
“Pass me the guacamole, sister, and someone get some more margis over here. I’m feeling a bit parched,” Simon said.
“Parched? I’m thinking you should be feeling a bit tanked right about now,” Nikki replied. They were lying by the pool at the Four Seasons in Punta de Mita, Puerto Vallarta. Derek and Marco had gone into town to go snorkeling. Nikki and Simon decided that margaritas by the pool sounded more appealing.
Simon lazily waved a hand at her. “Pleeeses, Snow White. I am Irish you know.” Snow White was the “affectionate” name Simon and Marco had coined for her some time back.
“Okay, so what does that mean?”
“We can soooooo hold our liquor,” he slurred slightly. “Oh my God!” He sat up and moved his sunglasses down onto his nose peering over them.
“What?” Nikki said, sitting up as well.
“Check it out. Isn’t that like Eminem?”
Nikki took a close look at the young, skinny guy loaded with tattoos, his blond hair tucked under a black baseball cap. He was closely followed by a pretty woman—also with a slew of tattoos down her arms and backside. The one that really stood out on the woman was of a jade and purple colored hummingbird. Nikki loved hummingbirds. “I don’t know, I don’t think so.”
“I do. I totally think so.” Simon raised his hand and started waving, then he started singing, “You gonna stand there and watch me burn, that’s alright because I like... See, I can do Rhianna in that song.”
Nikki slapped his hand down, “What the hell are you doing? And, you are no Rhianna.”
“I’m hip. I’m a fan. I’m gonna buy him a drink. And, up yours. I am too, a good singer.”
“Oh no you’re not. We can debate your vocal talent later, but you are not going to go all paparazzi on me.”
“Oh yes I am.” Simon stood up and swayed.
Nikki sunk back down and took a long sip from her margarita, trying not to watch the spectacle that she was certain was about to happen—and sure enough one did.
As Simon approached “Eminem,” another dude who was on his way to feeling no pain, bumped into Simon knocking him into the pool. Water splashed everywhere and Simon popped up all wild eyed and looking more than dazed. He shook his head and yelled out, “Excuse me? What are you doing?”
The potbellied, kind of greasy haired guy turned to the pool, mouth open. “Oh dude, I am so sorry man. I didn’t see you. I am really sorry. Hey man, you know what I got one of the villas here. You need to come down to the villa and have drinks with us tonight. I’ll make it up to you, dude.”
Nikki wasn’t sure how Simon was going to react. He could go all drama king and start yelling at the Villa Man, or he might actually take him up on the offer. She was crossing her fingers for drama king.
“It’s okay,” the drenched Simon replied. “I needed to cool off anyway.”
Damn. Nikki took another sip from the margarita glass and then grabbed a handful of chips. So much for the entertainment factor. Simon climbed out and shook Villa Man’s hand. She couldn’t hear the introductions, but it appeared as if Simon was making a new friend. She did catch the end of the conversation because Villa Man wanted to be sure that everyone knew about his villa. “I’m serious, dude, bring the family down. I’m having lobster brought down to the villa and my friend Timmy over there...” he pointed to the tattoo guy, “he and his woman will be there, and I got a new woman who will be there. She is hot. It’s gonna be a blast. You seriously need to come and check out the villa.”
Nikki rolled her eyes. What a blowhard.
Simon nodded his head. “Yeah, maybe, Dude.” He then walked back over and slunk onto the chaise. She giggled. Oh boy those margaritas were a tad strong. “So hey, dude, why don’t you come on down to the villa and hang out with me Villa Man and we’ll like get super wasted, and you can grab my hot chick’s ass, and we’ll have lobster in the villa.” She tried stifling her laughter.
Simon turned to her and first he just stared for a few seconds. She could feel the stare even though he had his designer shades on, and then he burst out laughing. “Oh my God, I know and you can do shooters with my buddy Tattoo Timmy who looks like Eminem in The Villa. Ooh and we might all get in the private infinity pool in The Villa because he told me that The Villa had its own private infinity pool.”
“Oooh, Villa Man is so special.”
That was enough to send them into a fit of laughter.
“We are really bad you know,” Nikki said.
“So bad that we’re good,” Simon replied. “Oh lookie now, I think this has to be Villa Man’s gf.”
“Wow.” Nikki felt naked for her. The petite, bodacious, platinum-haired-blonde slunk up next to Villa Man who was probably old enough to be her father and stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. Villa Man smacked her bare ass, which simply had a g string in between her cheeks. Nikki shivered. “Oooh.”
“Right? Like really ooh, gross, so not right, um, wow, wow, wow. I need a shot.”
“No you don’t. You’ll be hung-over by the time we go to din
ner tonight.”
“I will not. I’m Irish.”
“Irish. Smirish. Whatever. I’m cutting you off. Besides this show is way too good. We don’t need alcohol.”
“True.” He patted her hand. “I love you, Snow White.”
“I love you, too, Simon.”
“I just know this is going to be the best New Year’s ever,” Simon said. “I miss the tiny tot. But we needed this. Best ever.”
“I think so too. I mean look at us, we’re in paradise with the people we love. I mean what could go wrong? Everything is perfect.”
A Killer Margarita
is available at:
Amazon Kindle * Amazon UK
About the Authors:
A.K. Alexander dreamed of being a writer since the age of nine, earning a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California before tackling fiction. Today she is the author of almost two dozen books—women’s fiction, paranormal novels, mysteries, and thrillers—including her recently re-issued debut novel, Covert Reich. A lifelong equestrian, she helps to run her family business manufacturing sports-medicine products for horses. She is a native of San Diego, California, and still lives there today with her family, which includes three kids, nine horses, four dogs, and a cat. A.K. Alexander is the pen name to mystery and young adult author, Michele Scott. She can be found at: www.michelescott.com.
J.R. Rain is an ex-private investigator who now writes full-time in the Pacific Northwest. He lives in a small house on a small island with his small dog, Sadie, who has more energy than Robin Williams. Please visit him at www.jrrain.com. Add him on Facebook. Add him on Twitter.