Page 24 of Donut Disaster
I blink back, blindsided by the fact Noah had the cookies to ask.
The other night’s dalliance in Everett’s living room shoots through my mind like an erotic bottle rocket.
“We will.” I swallow hard. “But I’m not sure why we’ll have to. You’re already engaged!” There I go again. Honestly, I didn’t see this tirade coming, and I’m already regretting it.
“Lottie.” Noah pinches his eyes shut. “We’re not engaged.”
Cormack pops up behind him. “Who’s not engaged?” She does her best to whisper while Alex whips the room into a frenzy. “Would you look at this sparkler?” She shoves the replica of my own ring in my face. “And guess what? I’ve booked the Evergreen Manor for June. Amanda says there can be no hesitation when it comes to venues, invitations, live bands, and bakers. So far I’ve secured them all with the exception of the baker, of course.” She bats her inch-long lashes my way. “Lolanda Lemon, would you do Noah and me the honor of baking our wedding cake?”
The room erupts into screams of delight as Alex picks up both the drama and the tempo of his raunchy reading.
My mouth opens to answer her. Every cell in my body screamssay no and run.
“Sure,” I say instead. And just like that, I’m the nicest ninny on the planet. “Stop by my shop anytime you like and we can go over sketches.”
“Yes!” She shoots her fist in the air as if she just won a custom Vera Wang wedding gown. “I’d better get back to my seat. We’re about to get to the good part.” She scuttles off, and I smear a smile Noah’s way.
“Oh, we’ve already gotten to the good part. Good luck with that mess.”
Noah glowers at Everett. “How much are you paying her?”
By “her” I’m assuming he means Cormack.
“I don’t pay for the company of women. Apparently, that was Morgan. Speaking of which, aren’t you here to work on his case? I believe your suspect is seated next to your fiancée. Why don’t you take off? You’ve upset Lemon and that upsets me.”
Noah takes a never-ending breath as if he had an entire jumble of words he wanted to spew at once.
“You lied to me, didn’t you?” He boldly shoves Everett once again. “You said you wanted to give Lottie and me a chance to gain some real closure and here you are, making me look like some womanizing freak.”
A dark laugh rumbles in Everett’s chest. “Sweetie, you did that on your own.”
“Don’t call me sweetie.” Noah’s jaw redefines itself.
Alex finishes up, and the room is once again on its feet for him.
Everett leans in, looking both serious and lethally angry. “I don’t lie, Noah. I deal with the truth for a living. You deal with dead things. And if you killed your relationship with Lemon, I can’t help you there. What I’m offering you both is the chance to say a proper goodbye or a permanent hello. Newsflash: the option belongs toher, not you. I’m not a fool. There is too much unfinished business between the two of you.” He turns to me, a soulful sweetness in his eyes. “Lemon, as you’re working through this, I suggest you try to forgive him. I don’t like seeing you in pain, and I see it. I can hear it in your voice. Find it in your heart to really forgive him for everything. Do it for yourself.”
Noah tips his head back as he looks to Everett. “So you’re standing by your word? I like that.” He turns my way. “Lottie, how about we ditch this circus and grab a bite at Mangias?”
Everett grunts, “Oryoucan go to Mangias, and Lemon and I can pen our own raunchy romance.”
I shoot them both a lethal look as bodies begin to mill around the room.
Cassie gets up and waves to someone in the center of the room, and I watch as she runs over to Cascade and they exchange a hearty embrace. Wait a minute… Cassie Montgomery?CascadeMontgomery? I’m beginning to see the familial light.
I head over as the women part ways. “Cassie,” I say, trying to sound cheery. “It’s me, Lottie, from that night at the lake.” Judging by the vapid look in her eyes that’s just taken over, I’d better present myself in a more memorable manner. “The one you gave the shiner to?” I say, pointing to my eye.
“Oh, you.” Her head inches back as she watches me from those glowing pools she calls eyes.
Cascade starts in on a laugh. Cascade Montgomery is the cousin of the very first murder victim I stumbled upon, Merilee Simonson. Cascade breezed into town during the middle of that mess and not only took over my apartment, but she took over her cousin’s craft shop as well. She’s tall, dresses as if she just popped out of a time machine from the steam punk era, and has a permanent scowl on her face on most occasions. Although, at the moment, she seems pretty happy to see Cassie.
“I’ve been wanting to give Lottie a shiner for months.” Cascade gives Cassie a high five.
Cassie shrugs my way. “Sorry about that. So, you’re here for the reading, huh? Who knew Honey Hollow had a naughty side?”
Cascade belts out another laugh. “Lottie here invented the naughty side of Honey Hollow. See those two men ready to duke it out in the corner? I’m willing to bet every stich of yarn in my store they’re about to battle it out over her questionable honor. Lottie has had a threesome going for quite some time now. But we all know those unnatural relations never end well.”
“Two men?” Cassie’s eyes widen as if she suddenly admired me. “You’ll have to give me all the tips and tricks. I couldn’t even keep one louse under my belt, and now he’s dead because of it.”