Page 11 of Macaron Massacre
I’d venture to say, the best.
* * *
The last thingI wanted to discuss with Nell last night was finding the killer. Typically, when the murder is solved, the soul that’s been sent to assist me leaves for paradise—never to be seen again—at least not on this side of the celestial divide. And that’s the very last thing I want to happen to Nell. For that reason, I’ve made a firm decision. I’m not going to butt into this homicide investigation. Captain Jack Turner, Keelie’s father, invited me to use my amateur sleuthing skills to assist Noah and Ivy—and even though I agreed at the moment, I’ve since changed my mind.
I’m sure Noah will appreciate it for once. And if he and Ivy crack the case, then it must have been meant to be. But I can’t participate knowing full well it’ll cut short my time with Nell once again. Besides, Rich Dallas had a nasty habit of enraging all sorts of people. I’m sure it was a crime of passion—a one-off. It’s not like there’s a serial killer roaming on the loose.
I pause from loading up a tray with blueberry muffins and glance around the shop.
The Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery is up and running, this, the very next day after the murder, but the Honey Pot Diner will be closed for the rest of the week. My ex, Bear Fisher, is here this afternoon putting the finishing touches on the plywood wall he’s erected temporarily over the walkway between the two shops, and I can’t help but notice Keelie there with him having what looks to be an all too friendly chat.
Lily presses her shoulder next to mine. “It looks like the tramp is back at it.”
“What?” I pull back to show Lily my full disdain. “Please refrain from calling my bestie any such thing. And really? She’s your best friend’s sister.”
“Please. We all know Naomi regards me a sister far more than she does Keelie. Once Keelie crossed over to the Lemon side, Naomi never forgave her.”
“Only because she was morbidly jealous of our relationship,” I say as Keelie hops this way.
“Bear says that’s the best he can do.” She tugs at a blonde curl before biting her lip as she looks his way. “I told him I’d buy him lunch at Mangias across the street.”
Mangias is Honey Hollow’s premier Italian restaurant, and it just so happens to be the one Noah and I used to call our own. We’d have pizza at his place and then have a feast of our flesh for dessert. I can’t help but frown at the fact. If only I knew at the time that I was letting a married man frost my cookies.
“What’s the sour puss for?” Keelie looks affronted by my momentary annoyance. “You’re mad that I’m here with Bear, aren’t you?”
Bear pops up before I can defend myself, and an easy grin glides on his face. He looks sun-kissed with his sandy blond hair and deep olive skin.
“Lot still has the hots for me.” He gives a quick wink my way.
“In your dreams, Fisher.”
“Good.” Keelie takes a breath, and that heady look in her eyes suggests something of a lusty nature is cooking. “Because now that Bear is back on the market, I’d like to exercise my right to play in the forest, if you know what I mean.”
“Bear, you broke up with Rigby?” Bear was seeing Rigby Emerson—ironically, the very girl who was seeing my other ex, Curt Vanderlin. And dear Lord, please tell me Rigby doesn’t have the hots for Noah now. That would be three for three.
Bear leers at me as if I had the nerve to ask. I know for a fact that Bear has an ego the size of this town. He’s not one to easily admit defeat.
“She did it. Rigby broke it off.” He shrugs. “She went back to that sci-fi boy she had the hots for. Or was it that dude that works at Red Satin?”
“Rags Bojangle?” I offer up. I’m all too familiar with that trio. They were all remotely involved with another murder a few months back. But honestly, those were her cousin’s boyfriends, not hers. “But go on. You’re available now? And Keelie? Really? You’re jumping on the randy Bear bandwagon? What happened to Hook?”
She smirks. “Ask Meg. Last I heard they were shopping for rings.”
“No!” I’m gobsmacked by this juicy little tidbit. To think, I might have more than one wedding cake to bake. Not that Meg will want me at her nuptials either.
“Yes,” Keelie snaps as if she were angry about it, and I have no doubt she is. “Anyway, we’re off. Let me know if you need me to help out on any of your killer thriller adventures. I promise not to land us in the pokey this time.” She gives a wave of her fingers as they sail through the door, and in their place an entire gaggle of women storm in.
Lily sighs as they dash toward the register. “Looks like another Swift Cycle class just finished up.”
“Yup. And look who’s holding up the rear?” I say as Cormack and Brit head this way. Britney is not only Noah’s legal plus one, but she happens to own an entire string of Swift Cycle gyms.
Both blondes have their hair in the requisite pony. But Britney still has one eye covered in an obligatory manner. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen her left eye. It’s a mystery on whether or not it exists at all.
“Lonnie.” Cormack, the brash and sassy blonde by Brit’s side, forces a smile to come and go. “I spoke with Noah, and he let me know we’re headed to the shooting range this afternoon.”
“Really?” Honestly, I doubt Noah invited her at all. Cormack is turning out to be quite the little stalker where my ex is concerned. “Are you sure you want to brandish a weapon? I hear it’s a real killer on your manicure.”
Lily and Britney chuckle at my play on words, but Cormack simply makes a face as she examines her nails. “Good thinking. I’ll schedule an appointment for right after. Oh, and before I forget—you’ll be seeing a lot more of me around Country Cottage Road.” Country Cottage Road is the street where Noah has a cabin rental. Last fall, while we were still hot and heavy, I thought it was a great idea to rent a house across the street from him, and coincidentally—or not—Everett purchased the home next door to mine. “Noah is letting me watch Toby—seeing that both his mother and father work all day.” She passes a look of judgment Britney’s way before taking a seat in the café and pulling her phone out. Great. We’ll all be one big dysfunctional family. And now that Cormack has sworn to show up on the regular—well, there goes the neighborhood.