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

more or less a warzone in here,” she grunts. “I should have figured it would happen when you decided to bake both cinnamon rolls and your whoopie pies. All of Main Street smells like cinnamon and chocolate.”

“It’s a pretty lethal combination.”

Lily scoffs. “Watch what you say, Lottie Lemon. Everyone in town is onto the fact you’ve weaponized just about every dessert in this place.”

“Oh hush, before I whip up something special just for you,” I tease.

Binky floats on over and whips her tail around and Lyla Nell does her best to try to catch it. She squeals and bounces against me as her little arms and legs flail around willy-nilly.

Lily shakes her head at the sight. “You know it’s almost as if she sees a ghost.”

“Ha!” I laugh a little too loud. “As if anyone could see ghosts.”

“Charlie can.” She gives a casual shrug as if it were no big deal.

Lyla Nell captures Binky by the tail and gives it a squeeze before laughing so loud her entire body trembles with her high-pitched squeal.

“She sure is cute.” Lily frowns as if she found this annoying. “She squawks like a bird, Lottie. Good thing Everett bought up all the houses in your neighborhood or you’d be slapped with noise ordinance issues.” Lily squints over at my sweet babe. “And she looks more and more like Noah every day.”

“She’s a daddy’s girl through and through,” I say, patting her feather soft hair and Lyla Nell rewards me by flashing her dimples. “And she’s every bit as much Everett’s. I’ve never seen two grown men drool while ready to serve at a girl’s every beck and call.”

Lily snorts. “You and I both know Lyla Nell isn’t the first girl those boys have fallen over themselves for. I don’t know how you do it, but it’s like you’ve got some superpower that drives the men wild.” She takes off for the back and I take a quick inventory of the bodies in the bakery.

Suze is talking to Evie and her friend Dash at one end of the café while the girls nosh on a plate full of raspberry Danishes, pretending to listen.

Everett and I make it explicitly clear to Evie that there was to be no more booty shaking videos of her in a pink sequin bathing suit or otherwise. It wasn’t a prudent move, considering she’s more than likely going to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a judge herself one day. The last thing she’s going to want is filthy footage of herself on the internet for all of her colleagues to gawk at.

Evie promised she wouldn’t do it again if we’d agree to let her have a decent prom. I was half-afraid to ask what justified a “decent prom,” but it was late and I was falling asleep on my feet so I agreed to her terms. I suppose we’ll find out the details of that agreement tomorrow.

A small group of girls waltzes into the bakery and Lily speeds back to the counter to take care of them.

“Lottie”—Binky whispers as if she needed to—“I tried my best to listen in on those two, but their conversation was enough to put me to sleep.” Her tail points over at Clem and Olive as she says it. “I don’t think we’re going to squeeze out a single thing regarding the killer.”

I shrug her way. “Don’t worry. I plan on heading out to see our next suspect in just a bit,” I whisper back and Lyla Nell laughs twice as loud.

That’s the nice thing about having the baby with me. People assume it’s her I’m talking to rather than a long dead skunk.

Clementine and Olive wrap it up quickly and Clementine heads my way.

Binky gasps. “Here comes one of them now. Act natural.” She wafts her tail in front of Lyla Nell and Lyla Nell catches it and secures it with her fist. Binky floats off about as far as she can go before falling flat on her face against my knees while Lyla Nell laughs hysterically at the sight.

Both Binky and I know she can just as easily float right through Lyla Nell’s hand, but she seems to be just as content in making the baby chuckle.

Clementine’s glossy blonde hair looks almost white against her tan skin, and she’s making me crave some time out on the lake soaking up the rays.

“Thanks for the desserts, Lottie,” Clem says as she coos over at Lyla Nell. “You didn’t have to comp them. You’re doing so much already by donating your delicious treats to the church business meeting. You do realize almost all of Honey Hollow will be there. I work in the office there. We pay for things like this all the time.”

“It’s not a problem. It’s my pleasure.”

“Have it your way. I’ll see you tomorrow evening at the meeting.”

“You bet,” I say as she takes off and Olive comes this way. Her hair is pulled back into its signature bun and she’s wearing a pencil skirt and pink blouse with pale green little flowers printed over it, and I can’t help but think she looks like the personification of springtime. “Olive.” I give a bright smile. “It looked as if you had a good time.”

“Hardly.” Her own smile begins to dissipate. “That was actually a session,” she says the words lower than a whisper. “Usually I have my clients meet me in my office, but since Clem is an employee at Covenant, she didn’t want her coworkers apprised to it. But I assured her there’s nothing to be ashamed of. We all have issues in our lives, and Lord knows it’s healthier to air it all out rather than hold it in. The more you hold your hurts inside of you, the more it could lead to reckless behavior.”

“I can see how that can happen,” I say as Charlie blinks through my mind. “I’ve got a sister in town who might just benefit from your services.”

“Oh?” Olive raises a neatly penciled-in brow.