A Christmas to Dismember by Addison Moore (best desktop ebook reader TXT) 📕

“And did Angelica leave upset?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I left. I figured poor Quinn needed a moment to lick his wounds.”

Georgie snaps her fingers. “So it was Angelica who did it. Knew it.” She slaps her hand onto the counter. “It’s always the ex-socialite. I bet she asked for cash and he pulled out the wrong bill. No wonder she hacked his hand off.”

“Georgie.” I wrinkle my nose at her.

“Oh, it’s true, Bizzy.” Georgie shakes her head. “You’ve never seen anything like a socialite scorned. How do you think I got this scar?” She points to the cleft in her chin, and I make a face because I have a feeling we’ve just careened out of reality and into the magical land where Georgie’s mind believes whatever comes out of her mouth—and as long as Warwick believes it, I don’t mind one bit. “I was hunting sea glass down at Bar Harbor, and a rich witch tried to shake me down. And when I wouldn’t hand over all my tumbled sea jewels, she pulled a blade on me.” How am I doing, kid? Her eyes expand my way, and I shake my head at her. Georgie waves me off. “Anyway, this case is officially closed. I’m sure they’ll cuff her tomorrow.” She snuggles up next to Warwick. “You know what’s not closed? My bedroom door. I’m the last cottage just past the inn. I’ll leave a trail of chocolate chip cookies in case you have a hard time finding it.”

The two of them share a throaty laugh, and I can’t help but shake my head at it.

“She’s clearly kidding,” I say.

“I’m as serious as that heart attack I’m looking to give you.” She blows the man a kiss before diving in for the real deal.

“Would you look at that”—I say, pulling Georgie off the stool—“the keg is free, and it’s been years since either of us has done a decent handstand. It was nice talking to you, Warwick! I’ll see you at the reading of the will!”

“Speak for yourself, sister,” Georgie says as she tries to swat me off of her by way of her purse. But it’s too late. I’ve dragged us over to beer central in hopes to herd Juni and Macy back to the car. I’ll have to text Jasper and tell him not to bother to show. I’ve got everything we need.

Before I know what’s happening, Macy and Juni storm me with a group of frat boys, chanting the words chug it over and over again. Someone lifts my legs off the ground and I grab onto the lip of the keg for dear life.

A perky brunette gives me a splash in the face with the spigot in her hand, and as I open my mouth to protest the effort, what feels like a gallon of beer is quickly funneled down my throat.

“GAH!” I twist my head to the side and end up giving myself a beer facial instead.

The next thing I know, I’m falling through the air before landing softly in the arms of a dangerously sexy, yet more than slightly bewildered homicide detective.

I take a moment to cringe. “Can you believe I wanted to see how limber I could be?”

He shakes his head, not a sign of a smile in sight.

“I can explain everything,” I say the words in one quick breath before he decides to drop me like a stone and run for the hills. “Got a minute?”

“For you? I’ve got all night.”

I collect my crime-fighting posse, and we hightail it back to Cider Cove.

And I spend all night explaining to Jasper everything I learned about Angelica and Arthur.

There is a very real possibility one of them took an axe to Quinn Bennet. But soon enough, we shelf all talk about the case, and I decide to test out how limber I can be in much more creative ways.

I leave on the reindeer antlers and blinking red nose to spice things up.

And yet, it’s Jasper who slays me with his moves in the very best way.

Chapter 12

“Here you go.” Jordy lands a large plastic tub marked Christmas at my feet as I stand in front of the fresh evergreen the Sugar Plum Tree Lot just delivered. “The last of the Christmas ornaments. Are you sure we needed another tree?”

“Yes, we absolutely needed another tree. The reading of the will is tomorrow in the library, and I thought it would be a nice touch to have a tree in there. You know, get people’s mind off the grief. And thank you for moving the tree from the entry to the library for me. I didn’t think the tree lot was going to deliver a new one until tomorrow. At least this way the entry won’t be bare.”

“Oh yeah, it was fun shedding ornaments every two feet.” He makes a face. Jordy looks exactly like Emmie in female skin—partially why that twenty-four hour marriage of ours didn’t last. “But Sherlock helped pick them all up.” He gives Sherlock’s ears a quick tussle. “I’ll go finish up in the library. Just holler if you need me.”

The inn is bustling, the snow is falling lightly outside, and I can see the flickering flames of the fireplace in the grand room. It’s a perfect December afternoon, or at least it would be if Quinn Bennet’s killer were behind bars. I can’t believe the poor man was murdered, let alone right here at his own inn.

Fish mewls as she stretches her front paws and retracts her claws, one after the other. Why do trees smell so good?

So we know where to relieve ourselves! Rudolph gives an adorable little yip as he continues to run a circle around the evergreen. Watch me do it now!

“No, no, no,” I say as sweetly yet sternly as I can. There’s no way I can reprimand that cutie pie. He’s far too adorable with the perennial smile on his face. It would be