Wicked Whoopie Pies by Addison Moore (english novels to improve english TXT) 📕

Charlie’s attention gets pulled to the door and we look over to see Alex and Hook Redwood walking in. Alex may as well be Noah in different skin, and Hook has his dark hair slicked back, dark suit on, looking like his wolfish self. I’m guessing he’s here to make up with Meg. They’ve been together so long it can’t be easy to say goodbye.

“They’re both off-limits, too,” Lemon tells her.

Carlotta twitches. “That’s right, Cha Cha. This is Lot Lot’s town, and her rules go. Face it, Lottie Dottie here has all the choicest pieces of meat on lock. I guess you’d better tuck your tail between your legs and head back to Arizona.” She gives a few contrived sniffs. “It was great to see ya again. Be sure to write.”

Charlie looks less than amused. “I don’t have your address, Carlotta, and you know it.”

“Then I guess we’re right back to smoke signals, kiddo.” She pats her on the back. “Looks like this party is one big hello and goodbye. You know what they say, easy come, easy go-home-right-now, kid.”

Charlie opens her mouth to reply just as Mayor Nash steps into the room, and behind him are his original three children, Kelleth, Aspen, and Finn.

“Daddy!” Charlie shouts before springing over and wrapping her arms around the man.

“Daddy?” Lemon lifts a brow my way.

“That’s right, Lot Lot.” Carlotta shakes her head. “First, she steals your daddy, then she steals your men, then she’ll steal your bakery and your baby. I’d have Foxy draw up one of them fancy restraining orders—the kind that lasts a lifetime.”

Jimmy Canelli comes over and Carlotta takes him by the hand.

“Come on, Jimmy. Let’s load up on pizza and whoopie pies. It’s the only way to comfort ourselves since there’s not a drop of hard liquor.”

“I never leave home without hard liquor,” he tells her.

“You’re my kind of man,” she says as they take off into the crowd.

“What do you think, Sexy?” Lemon grazes her teeth over her lower lip. “Rumor has it, you’re pretty good at sneaking off and getting lucky.” She makes a face and her shoulders sag. “Is it wrong that I somehow want a comfy bed to be involved in the equation? And I sort of want to take my time, too.”

“Nothing wrong with that.” My finger glides under her chin. “It sounds perfect.” I tuck my lips just shy of her ear. “Believe me, I plan on taking my time, too. And I’m going to make it worth every single moment.”

Her cheeks burn crimson. “And you can believe me when I say I’ll be thanking you every single moment as well. In fact, I think my body is already getting a head start. I’ll make sure to nurse Lyla Nell to her heart’s content before I put her to bed, and I’ll make sure she misses out on the last nap of the day, too. That should ensure she sleeps right through the night—and that should ensure we stay up the rest of the night.” She winks. “Sleep is overrated.” She sucks in a quick breath. “Oh no, I see her napping in Noah’s arms. I’d better go take care of this.”

Lemon speeds off into the crowd, and I look around as Mayor Nash introduces Charlie to everyone who showed up for the pizza party.

Lemon and I are together. Married. We have children. We’re building a life, a home. I have everything I’ve ever wanted with her. And yet, that foreboding feeling still sits deep inside my chest as I wait for the other shoe to drop.

Cormack waves at me, and that foreboding feeling only seems to magnify.

Figures.

I still can’t believe Noah and I ruined a friendship over Cormack Featherby all those years ago, but then again, it was high school and we were just buffing out our egos at the time.

She pulls Noah along with her as they barrel this way. Cormack is blonde, fragile features, too much bravado, and never enough common sense to know she’s forever stepping out of bounds.

“Big Boss and I have great news.” She wraps her arms around Noah and dots a kiss to his cheek.

Noah closes his eyes a moment too long before disentangling himself from her.

I nod over to her. “He’s convinced you to sell your half of the B&B?” That would be the only end goal Noah and I have with Cormack these days.

Her expression sours. “No, silly. I’m thinking of hiring a surrogate to have a baby for me. Now that I see how much Noah likes being a father, I think it’s high time I pony up someone else’s uterus.”

“Ah”—I rock back on my heels, amused as I look to Noah—“so you’re expanding your family.”

“What?” Noah looks as if he’s just been knocked over the head with a two-by-four. “I’m sorry, Cormack, but we’re not having any kids.”

“But you said I’d make a great mother one day.”

“Yes.” Noah nods wildly. “But I never implied I’d be the father.”

She giggles as if he just said the most comical thing. “Isn’t he a tease?” She smacks a kiss to his cheek once again. “I can’t wait to bring our little bundle of joy into the world. I’ll find us the best woman to have the baby, and then I’ll hire the best army of women to raise it.” Her attention gets hijacked. “Oh look, there’s Linda. We should tell her the good news. Baby Louella Neil is going to have a brother or sister! Or who knows? It might even be a cousin.” She navigates him away with the strength of a sumo wrestler.

Cormack has never been big on getting Lemon’s name right. And to be honest, Lemon doesn’t care all that much. The new addition to the family might raise a few brows, though.

I’m about to find Lemon myself when that gray suit I’ve been avoiding steps in front of me.

“Jimmy.” My gut tells me I’m not going to like the direction he’s about to take things in.

“Judge Baxter.” He nods, his