Page 13 of Donut Disaster
Noah huffs a dull laugh and steps forward, technically right through Cookie. “Anything you want to give me.”
A pair of headlights ignites through the living room, and I glance out and gasp as soon as I recognize the car.
“That’s Forest’s truck!” I shout in horror. “And that’s Lainey in the passenger’s seat. Oh my God, they’re here!” I look to Noah and Everett in a panic. “We need to hide or something.”
“Good idea,” Everett says, leading me to the left. “We’ll hide in the closet. Noah, don’t come looking for us. There are some things that grown-ups do that you shouldn’t be privy to. Why don’t you go to the bathroom and play stick-your-foot-in-the-toilet the way you used to when you moved in with my family?”
“That was once, and I washing off my shoe,” he calls after us as Everett pulls us into the coat closet and entombs us inside.
Everett’s warm chest presses up against me as he holds me tight. “Ever played seven minutes in heaven?”
“No, but I’m ready to make up for some serious lost time in paradise.”
The familiar trill of Everett’s phone goes off.
He pats his pockets. “I need to get that. I’m expecting an important call. I promise I’ll be covert.” Everett ditches out of the closet and I’m alone in the insanely dark space without even one spirited specter to keep me company. A few dismal seconds go by and the door opens and closes as quickly as a wink.
His warm body is pressed against mine once again and his arms find themselves around my waist.
“Where were we?” I can’t help but giggle as I pull his head to mine and crash my lips to his.
“Lottie, wait,” he murmurs, but I go for it and relax my mouth over his in something just this side of a chaste kiss, but oh so breathtaking. I dive in again and offer up something much more heated—and a spiral of ecstasy rides from my lips straight down to my toes. There’s something magical about this kiss, something downright divine. And if I were a betting woman, I would plunk down some serious green to go as far as saying that I’m positive I’m kissing my future husband.
I pull back a moment as if coming to. “Wait a minute… Did you just call me Lottie?” My hands clamp to his face, and I do a quick tactile inspection, only to gasp as I open the door to confirm my chief homicide investigator theory.
“Noah!”
“Lottie?” Lainey calls out from behind, and I turn to find her in Forest’s arms as they crest the threshold.
My sister looks stunning in a pair of cut-off shorts and a plain white T-shirt. She’s glowing an unearthly hue that confirms to me my suspicions were right all along. Lainey is an angel in disguise.
“Lainey! I’m so sorry.”
Everett comes up and growls at Noah. “I see you didn’t miss a beat.”
Lainey practically stumbles out of her new husband’s arms. “What in the world is going on?” Lainey and I share the same caramel-colored waves and hazel eyes. Even though I’ve always known I was adopted, I thought since Lainey and I looked so much alike that my parents might have gotten the details wrong.
Meg and Hook appear from seemingly nowhere, both of them looking as if they’ve just rolled out of bed after a hard night’s sleep.
Meg honks out a laugh as she points my way. “Looks like Lottie was playing seven minutes in heaven with not one but two boys.” She swipes her forefinger together as she tsks my way. “Those aren’t the rules, Lot. That’s liable to get you kicked out of the pearly gates and sent straight to the red-hot sheets. But then, you always did roll to the beat of a different bedroom drummer.” She leans in toward Everett and Noah. “And if you boys aren’t careful, she’ll date the drummer, too. Lottie has a thing for the boys in the event you haven’t noticed.”
“Lottie?” She gasps. “Who gave my baby sister that shiner?” Lainey digs her fists into her hips just as what sounds like a herd of wild horses trample down the stairs from behind.
Mom leads the pack with the back of her dress unzipped and flapping open, exposing a wonky hooked bra—no thanks to all that spinning and moaning with regret she’s doing. Pastor Gaines is adjusting his trousers.
Carlotta has her T-shirt on backwards with the V-neck facing the wrong direction, and Mayor Nash is working hard to button his shirt.
“Jiminy Christmas!” Lainey covers her eyes a moment.
“Whoa, whoa.” Forest holds up a hand, his gaze wisely set in another direction. “Did you guys move all our furniture in today?”
Lainey parts her fingers and carefully inspects the rest of the house. “You did!” Lainey gives both Meg and me a simultaneous strangulating hug. “Oh, I just love you! Now we don’t have to stress about getting everything hauled over. Is that what you’re all doing here?” She pulls back and takes in the various degrees of disarray that abounds. “Never mind, I know what you were doing here. You took my sweet, innocent house and turned it into the best little whorehouse of Honey Hollow. Thank you for the move, and, now,out! All of you. I’m sure there’s a motel in Leeds that would be glad to take you on by the hour. Newsflash to both Pastor Gaines and Mayor Nash: bring fat wallets. These ladies come to play.”
Carlotta and Mayor Nash are the first to take her up on the offer, followed by Mom and Pastor Gaines.
Mom pulls both Lainey and Forest in for a quick embrace out on the porch before leaving. “It’s so great to have you back. You’re both radiating like only newlyweds can!” she sings. “I’m putting in an order for grandchildren before next summer. I’m not getting any younger, you know.”
“Subtle, Mom.” I roll my eyes to Meg.