Page 55 of Peach Cobbler Confessions
Chapter 18
My mother’s haunted B&B is filled to capacity this afternoon and teeming with crew members from Caper Productions.
Collette Jenner’s ghost floats up near the ceiling of the vast registration area where most of the bodies are congregating.
“He’s headed to the library, Lottie,” she shouts and her voice echoes off the walls as if it were warranted. “Quick, call Noah.”
I give the strap of my tiny leather backpack a tug.
Noah is down at Ashford, but he said he’d be back soon. Everett went home to change and clean up. He shouldn’t be more than a few minutes himself. But I have Ethel with me—that has to count for something.
I thread my way through the crowd until it thins out, and I head into my mother’s sitting room with its rows and rows of bookshelves. There’s a set of French doors that lead to a small patio out in the rear where my mother has furnished it with a wicker sofa and a small fountain and dubbed it the reading nook.
The faint scent of a man’s cologne lights up my senses, and I follow it over to where the French doors sit open to find Ridge, tall and handsome in a jet-black suit, fiddling with his phone.
Collette appears next to me with a sprinkling of bright red stars glittering all around her.
“Whatever you do, don’t confront him, Lottie. He’s dangerous.”
I nod and whisper, “I agree.”
Ridge turns around, his eyes slightly widened with surprise as a smile curves on his lips.
“Lottie,” he says my name with a lilt in his inflection. “I hope it’s okay that I’m out here. I usually like to take a minute to reflect and meditate before the madness ensues.”
Collette moans. “Say goodbye and run, Lot. If I’ve learned anything, it’s don’t entertain dangerous men.”
“No, you’re fine,” I say, stepping out into the serene landscape and taking in a breath of fresh Honey Hollow air. A wall of evergreens sits to the right and a fuchsia bougainvillea sheds its papery flowers from up against the far wall. “It’s beautiful out here. This is one of my favorite spots to just get lost in. Nature seems to be shouting its glory.” I nod to the pink climbing vine.
“That it does,” he says. “And while I have you here, I must thank you for those delicious desserts. I’ll confess, I haven’t had many, but as soon as we wrap it up, I’m vacuuming up whatever is left.”
“Not to worry. I have many more platters that have yet to be brought out. In fact, I’ll save one just for you. I’m a big fan of your show. Can I ask you something?”
Collette gasps. “I knew you weren’t right in the head, Lottie Lemon. You’re going to get yourself killed out here if you keep yapping. I bet he’ll make sure you disappear and turn you into an episode of his sick show!”
Ridge tips his head my way. “Ask anything at all.”
“Your shows are so great. You investigate a lot of disappearances. By chance, did you know any of those people who disappeared?”
Any trace of a smile evaporates from his face as his expression contorts to slight confusion.
“I…”—he glances to the evergreens a moment—“why would I know them?” He casts a suspicious glance my way.
My shoulders give a little bounce. “I seem to run into a few investigations myself, and oddly, I always somehow happen to meet the victim just before they perish.”
His eyes narrow in on mine. A crooked grin struggles to slide up his cheek.
“Are you confessing something to me, Lottie?”
I shake my head. “No. Do you have something to confess?”
His lips knot up as he tries to figure out what to make of the conversation.
“What exactly is this about?” His voice is darker, thicker, and decidedly angrier.
“Oh, nothing.” I blink quickly as if I were just rousing from a stupor. “I just ran into Kent and asked if you had any eight-by-ten glossies you could autograph for the guests of the B&B and he mentioned they were back at your office, something about it being at his house.”
“Oh, that.” He belts out a light laugh. “I keep my office at his place. It was temporary in the beginning, but I’ve found it easier than renting a space.”