Page 43 of Toxic Apple Turnovers

Mrs. Noah Fox. Just last year I thought it was doable. I wanted it. Okay, I more than wanted it. And here we are, all these months later, and it feels like a pipe dream.

“Something tells me Cormack doesn’t like to share her toys.” I glance her way as she tosses what looks to be granny panties up at Alex.

“I don’t think Everett does either.”

Noah drives us home, with me in the back seat and Cormack up front as his official plus one. In his defense, Cormack called shotgun.

I have a feeling she’ll be doing just that forever.

Thank God I have more than I need to distract me. A killer. Thieves. A house full of ghosts. And an ornery judge who likes to lay down the law in the bedroom.

For Noah and me, the road to reconciliation feels as if it grows wider and wider by the moment.

Chapter 14

The next afternoon the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery is bustling and hustling at the seams.

Not only has my mother offloaded her Haunted Honey Hollow tourists my way—and, oh my stars, she’s sellingshirtsnow—but Holland called from the orchard and put in an enormous order for my apple turnovers with their infamous caramel dipping sauce. In between impossible amounts of bodies clamoring for turnovers, I’ve been trying to place orders for more supplies in keeping up with the demand.

Once the chaos dies down, both Lily and I sigh in unison.

“Geez, Lottie. I never thought working here would be akin to a marathon. You do realize I have a tracking device on my wrist, and each day I surpass the ten thousand steps I’m allotted to have.”

“You’re allotted to have as many as you like—and good thing, too, because I’m positive we just did twenty.”

She checks her Fit Watch. “You’re right. We’re about to break a record.” A wicked grin plays on her lips. “You know what else I broke a record doing?”

“Eating all the batter out of the side of the mixer once I pulled the cookie dough? Honestly, I’ve never seen it so clean. Good work, Lily.”

“No.” She leans in, her eyes sparkling with devilish delight. “Beating Naomi to the mattress punch with Alex Fox.”

“What?” I swat her arm with the kitchen towel in my hand as if she were on fire. And she will be once Naomi catches her. “Are you kidding me?”

“Nope. Naomi may have sung a decent duet with him last night, but we made our own music once he took me to my place. Naomi was the first drop-off of the night, so I made my move by inviting him in for a drink.”

“That’s a lure that Everett uses often with me, and it’s usually enough to cinch the deal.” True confession.

“Whose playbook do you think I ripped it out of?”

“Oh.Eww.” I wrinkle my nose at the implication, even though I’m well aware of Everett’s history with Lily. And just about everyone else.

Keelie comes in with her cheeks flushed, panting as if she just ran all the way over from New York.

“Did you hear the news?” Her eyes flash like lightning.

“You slept with Alex, too?” I’m teasing both Keelie and Lily at the very same time, and I don’t mind a bit.

Lily takes the kitchen towel and swats me right back.

“No.” Keelie takes a moment to giggle at Lily. “And congrats, by the way.”

Lily nods. “Nobody gets the pleasure of telling Naomi but me.”

“Done.” Keelie crosses her heart in haste. “Three different shops were broken into last night, right here on Main Street.”

“What?” I grab ahold of her and pull her in. “Which ones? Did they catch the thieves?”

“The Busy Bee Crafts Shop, the Wicked Wok, and the Woodhouse Grill.”