Page 20 of Donut Disaster

Jessica Nicole covers Cormack’s tiny pricey purse in the shape of a small glittery box and pulls it forward, pinching open the clasp.

I gasp at the sight as Jessica Nicole pulls out a wad of bills. Everything in me wants to shoutstop thief, but I think I have a better idea.

“Um, Cormack?” I talk right over Alex and I don’t even mind that I’m being rude. “My lips are dry. I need some lipstick. Do you think I can borrow some lipstickright this second?” Those last three words speed out of me like a threat.

Everett gives my hand a squeeze as if to ask what that was about. And Noah glances my way with a devilish gleam in his eyes.

“I can wet your lips, Lottie,” he belts it out low and husky and my darn stomach bisects with heat once again.

Cormack laughs it off. “Honey, she’s got Essex for that. Essex, plant a wet one on your sweetie, would you?”

“No, no, I need lipstick. Everett doesn’t like to kiss me when my lips are dry. Isn’t that right?” I give his hand a yank until he sits up a notch.

“That’s right.” It comes out more of a question.

But it’s too late. Jessica Pickpocket Nicole has extricated the cash and her tarantula-like fingers have already set Cormack’s clutch back in its place.

Cookie gives a cheery little bark as if he enjoyed the show. “Did you see that, Lottie? Jeremy had better watch his own pockets. Something tells me the thievery begins at home.”

I nod in agreement.

Noah leans in. “For the record, I’d kiss you with or without lipstick.”

“But always ask first.” Jessica Nicole offers her stolen two cents.

That was odd.

“Of course, I’d ask.” Noah is quick to agree. “I would never force myself on a woman.”

Except for that time in my sister’s coat closet. But come to think of it, that was entirely me forcing myself on him.

A raspy laugh sputters from her. “Someone did that to me once, and let’s just say things didn’t end so well for that moron.”

“Darn right.” Jeremy slings his arm around her shoulder and gives it a squeeze.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Jessica Nicole,” I say. “That’s a terrible thing that no woman should ever have to deal with.”

“He thought I wanted it.” She rolls her eyes. “He said every woman wanted him.”

Lily gasps. “Did you say no? Did you kick him below the belt? Did you poke his eyes out with your fingers?”

Cormack tips her head to her right. “Did you tell him he owed you a Birkin bag and a shopping spree at Neiman Marcus?”

Both Lily and Jessica Nicole frown at Cormack.

Something tells me Cormack has made her fair share of coital exchanges that led to making all of her retail dreams come true.

Jessica Nicole sighs as if she were over it. And who wouldn’t be?

“Actually—she plucks a loose curl that escaped her banana clip—“I used to work for a company that set me up on dates with rich dudes. He just wanted to get his money’s worth, but I wasn’t feeling it.”

Holy sexual bartering systems! I bet she worked for the Elite Entourage! That’s who my newly discovered half-sisters are working for at the moment. Speaking of which, I’ll have to lovingly tell them to steer the heck away from those prostitution-infested waters lest they get caught up in a sting and end up in the Ashford County jailhouse.

“So a customer did this?” Alex looks both amused and horrified.

“Hey”—Jeremy barks at his buddy—“no judging. My chick is not in it anymore. But if you want to judge, wait until you find out who her client was. Go ahead, Jessica Nicole. Tell him who the slime ball was who was hitting you up to get rough and dirty.”

She blows an impressively large bubble before sucking it back in with a ferocious snap. “It was his brother. Morgan Dawson was the dirtiest dog of them all.”