Sealed with a Hiss by Addison Moore (read 50 shades of grey .txt) 📕

once Buck gets good and sugared up, I plan on hauling him to my place. If sugar doesn’t work, I’ve got bacon.”

“Well, if he doesn’t show up, Sherlock will,” I assure her.

Mom glances over to the refreshment table. “Come on, girls. We’d better squeeze a dance or two in before our dates fall into a sugar coma.”

I shrug her way. “On the bright side, if there is a medical emergency, your date is fully capable of swooping in and saving the day. You’ve landed yourself a doctor.”

“A doctor who can’t stop lauding the accolades of a woman by the name of Juniper Moonbeam. I don’t know what she’s got that I don’t have.”

“Leather skirts.” Georgie nods.

“Nah.” Juni waves the thought off. “He likes me because I’m limber.”

“Hear that, Toots?” Georgie butts her arm to my mother’s. “Are you limber?”

“No, but I’m nimble,” Mom is quick to inform us. “And if he tries to bend me in any unconventional positions, I’ll be showing him exactly how nimble I can be by running straight for my car.”

“You can’t make a run for it.” I sigh her way. “Not unless you want to miss your son’s wedding.”

Both Mackenzie and Gwyneth are upstairs in Gwyneth’s room getting ready to their heart’s content. Gwyn moved in over a year ago when her plumbing burst at her place, and she’s been happily living here ever since. And tonight just so happens to be her very last night. I guess all good things must come to an end. And this way I can charge for the room once again.

Mom shrugs. “I can always hit the next double wedding. It’s clear Huxley has inherited more than his father’s good looks. They share the same passion for collecting brides.”

Can’t argue with her there.

The three of them take off to put a cookie moratorium on their dates just as my sister, along with a date of her own, walks in.

“Macy,” I say as the two of them stride my way. “Tiger, nice to see you again.”

Macy flashes a toothy grin. “Hey, Biz. We came to prove that it’s not impossible to find your perfect pairing. I can’t wait to share the news with Bobbie and Lacey.” She cranes her neck past me. Maybe they’ll have us on their next podcast? Who knows? This might just lead to me having a podcast of my own.

Macy stuns in a little black dress that showcases her two greatest assets, both of which look precariously set on a perch—one that they’re liable to fall right off of. Honest to God, it’s a gravity-defying act just to keep those knockers from bouncing to the floor. And Tiger looks more than willing to pounce on those assets, judging by the way his eyes keep floating below her chin.

He looks ready to light the night on fire in a shiny silver suit, a dark fedora with a striped feather sticking out of it, and a devilish grin on his face that tells me everything I need to know about his intentions with my sister on this night dedicated to all things amorous.

“Nice to see you, too, Bizzy.” Tiger nods my way. “Any news on the case?”

That’s right, Jasper outed himself as the lead homicide detective to Tiger on that tawdry train ride.

“Nothing yet.” A thought occurs to me. “Tiger, I heard Diane mention that Chip didn’t have Bobbie as his beneficiary on his life insurance policy. Why do you think that was?”

He blinks back. And there you have it. The guy wasn’t all there upstairs. Why in the heck would he leave what little he could contribute to the other woman, of all people? I don’t need a road map. I know for certain he was stupid enough to do just that.

Tiger closes his eyes a moment and scowls. “I don’t know anything about it.” But I do know I’ll never see my money again. Heck, maybe that’s why he hid the funds? I wouldn’t put it past him. “Excuse me, ladies, those cookies are calling my name.”

Macy growls at me once he leaves, “Way to put my date in a bad mood.”

“Please.” I cluck my tongue. “If those cookies don’t cheer him up, I’m sure you’ll find a way to put him in a good mood yourself. Speaking of which, can’t you put your boobs back where they belong? Half the men in here are going to be rooting for them to fall out.”

“You always miss the point, Bizzy. That’s exactly how I’m going to cheer him up. They’re practically medicinal.”

She slinks his way, and between my mother and sister, I’m starting to see a medical theme forming. Here’s hoping nothing medical goes down with my brother or father during their nuptials.

A sharp bark gets my attention from the door, and I spot Diane Regal and her adorable fuzzy friend, Gizmo, as they step on in.

I head over, and Sherlock beats me to them.

Hey, Gizmo. Sherlock gives him a nudge on the back. Come on. Fish and I are throwing Sugar a goodbye party under the refreshment table. Great news, it’s raining cookies!

Cookies! Gizmo barks as they blow past me, and both Diane and I say a quick hello.

“I guess I’m chopped liver.” She laughs. Diane looks regal indeed in a navy beaded blouse paired with matching slacks and wedges. Her platinum hair is teased just enough, and her smile is accentuated with shiny pink gloss.

“Well, I don’t think you’re chopped liver. But Sherlock really does like Gizmo. Please feel free to stop by the inn anytime you want. In fact, if you and your husband ever need a getaway, I’ll be sure to set you up with a room. As soon as spring hits, the cove is just beautiful.”

“I just might take you up on that.”

I bet Diane knows something about Chip’s mistress. If I only knew the right questions to ask.

My lips part without my permission. “Diane, do you really think Chip was having an affair with Keegan?”

“Oh yes.” Her eyes enlarge a moment.