Page 12 of Macaron Massacre
Toby is the golden retriever that Noah and Britney share custody of. It was bad enough when Britney was using the poor dog as a pawn, but et tu, Cormack?
Britney leans toward the counter. “Now how are we going to get rid of her?”
“Are you kidding? Cormack is harder to get rid of than head lice. She’s on Noah like white on rice and every other bad euphemism known to man. Face it, he’s stuck with her and so are you by proxy.” I shrug over at her unapologetically. “You’re the one dragging out your divorce from Noah. You can deal with all of his stray psychotic girlfriends.” I land a blueberry muffin on a plate and slide it over to her. “On the house. You’ll need the carbs to fuel your schemes.”
She pulls the muffin toward her. “I wish I did have a scheme. She’s getting on my last nerve, Lena.” Both Cormack and Britney have a very real aversion to my proper name, thus the endless butchering. She straightens with a jerk. “I just thought of something. Cormack is using Toby to get to Noah. Everyone knows the way to a man’s heart is through his dog. We’ll outsmart her.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s through his stomach.”
She spikes a finger through the air. “Brilliant! You’ll bake him something.”
“Something for Toby! Why didn’t I think of that? I have everything here to have a doggie bakery up and running. I’ll buy a mini display case just for pet lovers. Nowthatis a brilliant idea, Britney.” Come to think of it, that was my brilliant idea.
The bell chimes, and speak of the charming devil, Noah breezes in, an easy smile on his face just for me, and I can hear Britney growl with disapproval.
“Hello, ladies.” He offers a nod my way. As of late, Noah’s been prone to giving me an innocent peck on the cheek, but I’m glad he’s showing a little restraint, considering the company.
Cormack bounds over like a hound from Barbie hell. “Is it time?” She fastens her arms around him as if he had just come back from war.
“It’s time.” Noah offers a wistful shake of the head my way. “Everett is meeting us at the range. Don’t hesitate to shoot on sight.”
My lips stretch with an unwarranted grin as I glance to Cormack. “Maybe I will.”
Chapter 5
The shooting range in question is behind the sheriff’s department in Ashford, and it doubles as a training ground for incoming deputies.
Noah and I went home and picked up my gun. I thought I’d find Nell curled up on the sofa with the cats, the way I left her this morning, but she was nowhere to be seen. And let’s just say Noah was more than amused at where I hid the gun he and Everett gifted me a few weeks back.
“I never would have pegged you for a thong girl, Lottie,” he teases as he helps strap on my protective chest gear.
“What? Did you really think I went around with granny panties all day?” Okay, so I do. What Noah doesn’t realize is that I’m not a fan of every pair of undies I happen to own. “Besides, you’ve seen me in less. I’m a little hurt you don’t remember what I choose to adorn my body with.”
He offers a sly smile my way. “I’d like to arrange for that to happen again. I prefer you when there’s nothing between us.” His dimples press in. “That’s because the only thing I wanted to adorn your body with was me. We were always in such a hurry to get our clothes off, I guess I don’t remember what you were wearing.”
“All right,” Cormack sings as she struggles to get her gear on. “Can I get a little help here?”
Noah heads off to assist her just as Everett shows up looking lean and mean in a jet-black suit and matching silk tie. Some might say he’s overdressed for a shooting range, but I say bring on all the silk ties you want. Everett Baxter’s smoking hot suit is the right fit for any occasion.
“Lemon, Kevlar suits you.” He presses a tender kiss to my lips. “Now let’s get your hat on and protective eyewear. There are always hot casings and hot gasses flying through the air, not to mention brass shrapnel, and you don’t want any part of it to hurt you. The range is full today. It’s all a part of the process.”
“Yes, sir.” I melt over him a moment as I pull on my glasses and my hat. “Who knew the good judge was up on his shooting range etiquette?”
“I didn’t.” Noah steps over. “What gives? You did a little Google search last night to sound like a know-it-all?”
“Nope. I spent some time at the range not long ago. Let’s just say I had a few people who weren’t too happy with how their verdicts ended. And they had disgruntled family members who vowed to avenge them. For a while, I looked into carrying myself, but eventually opted not to since concealed weapons aren’t allowed in any courthouse.”
“Oh, Everett”—I grab hold of his arm and hold on tight—“that’s terrifying!”
“I’ll say.” Cormack traipses on over in her clunky gear. And as much as I don’t want to admit it, she looks adorable in it, too. “Essex, that sounds dangerous. Couldn’t you do something safer for a living? I just knew you should have taken my father up on his offer to work in his law firm.”
Everett’s jaw redefines itself as if he were reliving a bad memory, and I’m sure he is. “I’m fine. It turns out, I haven’t had a crazy stalker in the bunch.”
“That reminds me.” I shrink a little as I say it. “A woman came by looking for you yesterday just before Mayor Nash gave his big speech.” I relay all the details I can, including a full description. “She seemed a little disappointed that you were taken.”
Cormack huffs, “Can’t say I blame her. If you weren’t engaged to Llama, and Noah wasn’t available, I’d throw my hat in the ring—and, believe you me, I would get that ring.” She wiggles the fingers on her left hand in his face.
“Throw your hat in the ring? More like your back on the mattress,” I mutter to myself, and both Everett and Noah shoot me a look. “What? It’s true.”