Pecan Pie Predicament (Murder in the Mix #27) - Addison Moore Page 0,58
sofa and land my feet onto the coffee table. I’ve long since kicked off my shoes and put on a pair of warm, fuzzy socks. Noah doesn’t seem to mind my feet all over his furniture, and I’m thankful. “But I contest the fact I have an ice-cold heart.” My hands cradle my tiny blooming baby bump. I just can’t believe how much my stomach is rounding out and firming up. “I’m not cold-hearted.”
“Sure you are, Lot.” Carlotta smashes both Pancake and Waffles’ heads down one at a time in a rhythmic pattern, and I’m guessing it’s a move her customers love. The cats don’t seem to mind either. “You’ve got Foxy and Mr. Sexy on a string, especially now with that big question mark in your belly. I wouldn’t tolerate it if a man treated me that way—with another woman in the wings. If the tables were turned, you wouldn’t like it either.”
A choking sound emits from me, but Evie waves her off.
“Mom, don’t listen. You’re like a superhero when it comes to matters of the heart. I aspire to be you. I like the fact you’re essentially giving societal norms regarding relationship the finger.”
Noah steps in and sheds a dimpled grin my way. “The finger?” he mouths.
“I’m not giving anyone the finger.” I cover my belly with my entire arm as I say it. I can’t help it. It felt tantamount to saying an expletive. “Things have just been complicated, and we’re doing the best we can.”
Noah sighs as he picks up a brown bag off the floor before taking a seat to my right.
“You’re right, Lot.” He searches my features with an ache embedded in each eye. “And it’s all my fault.”
“Darn tootin’.” Carlotta doesn’t mind cutting Noah off at the proverbial knees. “You had Lot Lot on lock, and you botched that one up real good. Face it, you set Mr. Sexy up without even trying. And then you spent the next two years blaming it all on him.”
Everett steps into the room with a brown bag of his own as he heads this way.
“That’s right, Carlotta,” Everett is quick to agree with her. “It’s nice to see you’re on my side.”
Carlotta looks up at him. “I’m always on your side, Sexy—so long as you’re still offering up the free legal protection.” She purses her lips his way, her eyes practically popping out of her head with the quasi-threat.
Noah chuckles. “Carlotta, I’m the one with the ability to ticket and arrest you.”
She nods. “Don’t worry, Foxy. Lot’s heart is fickle. You still stand a chance. Besides, we all know Lot’s got two soulmates, and you happen to be filling the shoes of one of them.”
“So you’re saying the odds just might be in my favor?” I can tell he’s only half-teasing.
Carlotta wiggles Pancake’s tail. “Does a bear live in the woods?”
Noah glances over at Everett. “Apparently not.”
Everett hands both Carlotta and me a mug of hot apple cider, something he’s gotten into the habit of doing each night and we both appreciate the heck out of it.
“Evie”—Everett’s voice hardly garners her attention away from her phone—“hot cider?” he asks while heading over to stoke the fire.
“No, thank you. But as soon as Thanksgiving is over, I vote we switch our nightly beverage to hot cocoa. Uncle Noah? We’re going to miss you when we all move across the street without you.”
“We can leave Carlotta behind.” I give her a cheeky wink, and she all but scowls at me.
“You won’t miss me,” Noah says, expanding his chest. “I’ll be by every day. You’ll wish you can get rid of me.”
Carlotta snickers. “Not according to Lot.” She looks over to Everett. “Guess what your wife did today? She put a hit out on her ex.”
Everett’s eyes widen just as a genuine belly laugh bounces from him. Honest to God, it’s sort of a first.
Evie sits up with a start. “No freaking way!” Her phone buzzes, and she glances to the screen momentarily. “It’s Conner. He wants to talk about a real commitment between just the two of us.” She sticks a finger down her throat and gags. “Monogamy is for boomers like Glam Glam. Obviously, he doesn’t know who’s raising me. I’d better take this to my room.” She gets up, and Toby follows suit. “Mom, you’re my freaking hero. Sorry, Uncle Noah. Mom rules the roost. If you don’t play the game her way, she’ll find a way to make you disappear. And one day, I plan