business of which you speak?”
A silent laugh bucks through me. “All those months ago I accused you of being a witch, and you weren’t a witch after all. You were a true blue beguiler. You have the power to coerce others, and perhaps even things into doing your bidding.”
Her eyes widen another notch, confirming my theory.
“You’re transmundane, further classified as a beguiler.” I nod and watch as her lips float open in shock. “Yes, I know things about you, Serena. Now tell me right now if Suze shares this wickedness in her bones.”
“What’s this?” Suze squawks from my left, and I gasp at the unexpected sight of her. “Did you just call me wicked?”
Serena quickly drifts back to a table filled with women all clamoring to have at my platter filled with fresh baked brownies. Not that I can blame them. There’s nothing as scrumptious as a hot, out of the oven brownie. And it’s certainly something worth smacking a few wrists out of the way for.
Before I can answer Suze, a tall, dark, and handsome homicide detective waltzes through the door with a peppering of snow dusting his dark wool coat.
“Noah,” I force his name out brightly. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”
Suze growls, “Don’t get excited, Noah. I bet she says that to every handsome man whose path she happens to cross.”
“Right.” I glance to the ceiling. “I was just on my way to see you, Noah. Do you have a minute?”
“Not so fast.” Suze is quick to cut the investigative party off at the knees. Much like any party I’m assuming she comes by. “This woman just called me wicked,” she says while wagging a crooked finger my way.
Noah offers a playful frown my way before leaning over the counter and landing a kiss on my cheek.
“Play nice, ladies.” His dimples dig in deep as he looks my way. “If it isn’t the ever beautiful Mrs. Claus. Have you felt the baby move today?”
“Just a little when I got here. Nothing like last night.” And to be truthful, I felt bad that Everett didn’t get a full display of what this leggy little sugar cookie can do.
Suze heads over and straightens Noah’s jacket and clears the snow off his shoulders as if she were about to send him off to catch the school bus.
“I don’t know why you spend time pining after a woman who doesn’t have your best interest at heart,” Suze snips. “Not only that, but one who is rude to your mother. Both you and your brother take after your father in the romance department. If I knew that catastrophe would ensue, I would have kicked him to the curb about a decade earlier. Come to think of it, I probably should have killed him.” She gives a strangled laugh before heading back to the brownie bunch.
A part of me wishes Suze could go back in time and do the deadly deed with her ex. At least then I wouldn’t have to worry about my mother’s finances being hijacked by that wily dimpled man.
“What’s up?” I ask, but Noah’s gaze is very much still set on his mother. “Hello?” I wave a hand over his face. “Earth to Noah. Everything okay?”
“I don’t know.” He takes a seat at the counter, and I offer him a plate full of crullers, chocolate chip cookies, and gingerbread men, right before I pour him a cup of coffee just the way he likes it, extra milk and sugar.
“Noah, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You didn’t see that man from the portrait in my living room, did you? I’m sort of on the lookout for him myself.”
“No.” He winces. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s something.” My mouth opens. “This has to do with the case, doesn’t it?”
He gives a single nod.
“Tell me if you’ve identified who that gun belongs to,” I whisper as I lean in as far as my blooming belly will allow.
“Only if you tell me if you’ve enrolled for birthing classes.”
“An odd exchange, but one that I’m happy to make because I just so happened to have done it this morning after I finished my baking. Classes start in early February.” I make a face. “Dr. Barnette is right. They’re all booked until then. If I would have waited another few days, I would have missed my chance entirely. I’m this close to blowing everything. Including the cover of this killer.” I give a short-lived smile, but Noah doesn’t partake in my stab