Page 44 of Donut Disaster
Cookie rotates around my knees and rubs his face against my legs. I’d swear there’s a trace of liquid outlining his eyes. “She is a saint, isn’t she, Lottie?”
“Aw, Cookie. Are you crying?” I whisper.
“No. My eyes are leaking.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I fish it out. It’s a text from Everett.
At Mangias. Stopped in at the bakery, and Lily said you were out. I hope you’re up for lunch because I happen to have front-row seats for what will be the most interesting show in town.
It sounds like an offer I can’t refuse, so I text right back.I’ll be there in ten minutes.
I head over to free Keelie from Dr. Drake’s conversational stronghold on her, and yet she seems to be enjoying herself a little too much—laughing at whatever he says, leaning in while he does the same, biting down on her bottom lip as if she were doing her best to seduce him.
“Party’s over,” I say it curtly. “It was nice seeing you again, Dr. Drake. Congratulations on your new position.”
“Thank you. And a very big thank you for the treats. I’m about to plow my way through those donuts.” He looks to Keelie and gives a crooked grin. “It was especially nice meeting you, Ms. Turner.”
He takes off, and I haul Keelie out into the parking lot.
“What were you thinking flirting as if you were fishing for a fling?”
“That’s because I was.” She yanks her wrist back from my hold on her. “I was investigating, and you’ll never believe what he told me.”
“What?”
Keelie spills it all like dice at a Las Vegas craps table.
And she’s right.
I don’t believe it.
* * *
Mangias is filledwith tourists and hungry residents alike. After dropping the van off at the bakery, and thanking Keelie for extending herself in the name of my investigation, I trotted across the street and landed right here at a table with Everett just as Noah and Cormack took a seat not too far away from us. And thankfully, they haven’t spotted us yet.
“How did you arrange this and why?” I ask as he stands and lands a sweet kiss to my cheek before we both take a seat.
“Noah called and asked if I had any pointers on how to cut a woman loose.” His left brow arches for a moment.
A waitress comes by and we put in an order for a pepperoni and extra cheese pizza and a couple of sodas.
“So?” I lean in. “What pointers did you give him?”
“The usual. Make it sound as if it’s best for her. Encourage her to explore her options. Remind her that it’s her life and she needs to be sure she’s making the right decision.”
“Everett!” I swat him playfully with my napkin. “That happens to be exactly what you said to me.”
A dry laugh thunders through his chest. “Yes, but I meant it with you. And I have news for you, Lemon. Nothing has changed between us.”
“Nothing but the fact you abruptly cut me off without warning. Do you realize what happens to a woman once you force her to go cold turkey?”
“They invite their ex in for coffee well past their bedtime?”
My nose wrinkles. “Okay. You got me there, but that’s what you wanted. I’m simply fulfilling your request.”
“Good.” He lifts his chin a notch, and suddenly it feels as if I’m right back in his courtroom. Believe you me when I say this man has the upper hand in any courtroom he walks into—and that goes for bakeries, pizzerias, and any other establishment known to man and God. “I trust you will do what’s best for both your heart and future. I meant what I said. I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.” I reach over and pick up his hands. “You always make me happy.” I glance over at Noah and Cormack, but they’re just now putting in their orders. “Before things get heated over there, I want to let you know that Keelie and I just finished up at Dr. Drake’s inaugural ceremony at the hospital. It’s official. He’s the chief of surgery.” I let Everett in on all those things Aspen told me the other night and he seemed reasonably impressed. It takes a lot to really impress Everett. Although I’ve been known to do so myself on an occasion or two. “Guess what he told Keelie today? They were talking about traveling and she mentioned she has never been across the pond, but she’d loved to see a castle or two before she dies. So he tells her he spent some time teaching in Oxford. Then he casually mentioned he had trained to be a palace guard for the queen.”