Red Velvet Vengeance Read online

  He bounds over from the back as if he knew he were on my mind and barks up a storm with those fiery coal eyes of his burning bright. Dutch is the first dearly departed creature I’ve been able to hear, and last month Eve Hollister’s pet black bear was the first to move things around—as in having an actual cause and effect in the material world. My mother’s B&B is still paying the price for that unhappy haunting that promptly occurred just before poor Eve keeled over, and to this day there are whispers that Eve Hollister’s ghost still lingers there.

  Keelie growls like a black bear herself. “Heads-up, here comes Lily, the terrible trio, and one terribly good-looking judge from Ashford.” She chortles just as the front door opens, and an entire gaggle of girls led by Lily Swanson scuttle in dressed to the nines, Greer Giles, Nikki Spencer, and Tinsley Shields. And if that malfeasance isn’t bad enough, in strides the woman who bore me alongside her new BFF Miranda Lemon—the mother who raised me—along with Mayor Nash’s ex-wife, Chrissy, my mother’s stable rock in these tough times—and last but not least, Judge Everett Baxter himself. And no sooner does the door close than an entire herd of tiny, barking, biting, darn near rabid Chihuahuas hurry in after them.

  My mouth falls open as I look at the miniaturized, nearly invisible phantasms prattling about, nipping at any and every ankle in the place.

  Everett tries to make his way over to me but is quickly accosted by the brunette brigade as each of Lily’s old sorority sisters vies for his attention. Lily is too busy excavating baked goods from my suspiciously full shelves to appropriately shield him from the onslaught. Lily has sort of claimed Everett as her own.

  Everett is tall, dark, and handsome in an otherworldly way. He’s slow to smile, has smoldering blue eyes that practically scream get in my bed, and enough testosterone to fuel an ovary explosion the world over. He’s commanding, and demanding, and incredibly loyal. Mostly to me. He has an entire string of exes that he exclusively allows to call him by his first name, Essex. A luxury not extended my way, but I’m more than fine with it.

  I can’t imagine calling him anything but Everett at this point. He also happens to be a judge down at the Ashford Courthouse, and we met back in September after my old landlords took me to small claims court. Everett wisely sided with me, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Sort of.

  Greer accosts him, and he whispers something into her ear as he tries to circle around her.

  She cackles so loud the windows rattle. “Oh, Essex, you’re so silly! Just wait until you see what I’m wearing for you tonight.”

  Lily’s ear hikes up a notch as she glares past me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say there was dissension in the ranks.

  A dark-haired woman strides on in and makes her way to the counter. She has amazing feline-shaped eyes that glow a rich shade of gray, and her gaze flits to the wicked trio cackling up a storm in our midst. She puts in an order for a Danish and a latte, and Lily tends to her quickly. My mother speeds over just as she collects her goodies.

  “Lottie, I’d like you to meet Nicole Brand. She’s a boarder of mine at the B&B.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you.” I extend a smile in lieu of a hand since both of hers are taken. “I hope my mother doesn’t cause too much trouble for you.”

  She laughs loud and long, and I have a feeling I hit the nosy nail on the head. My mother has a propensity to get a little too deep into her boarders’ business. If you’re looking to stay a weekend, you’re more or less safe, but anyone staying longer risks my mother digging into their entire family history.

  “She’s wonderful. She really is.” The woman takes her things and winks at my mother. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  Mom waits until the bell jingles from her departure. “She came all the way from Bassett Ville hoping to make amends with her estranged daughter. I bought a ticket for her to attend the charity ball tonight. You never know who you might meet at those kinds of events. After all, love is in the air.”

  “So it is.”

  “And don’t forget to bid freely on the items set for auction tonight. All the proceeds go to the cardiac unit.” She touches her own heart because it just so happens to be near and dear to us. “Oh, and great news! Meg put in for an official sabbatical. It looks like she’ll be in Honey Hollow just in time for your birthday next month.”

  “A sabbatical, really? I thought that was reserved for scholars and the clergy. For some reason, I just don’t associate it with female wrestlers on the Las Vegas circuit. But I don’t care what it’s called. I cannot wait to see my little sister. It’s been far too long.”

  “I agree.” She rushes off and takes a seat with Carlotta and Lainey.

  Those tiny see-through cuties prattle about, looking every bit like miniature reindeer. Chihuahuas have always reminded me of mini deer for some reason, and I can’t help but smile at the entire lot of them even if they are nipping at every heel they sink their tiny teeth into.

  “Lottie!” Mom jumps, and her black faux fur-lined coat bounces open revealing a dark sequin gown underneath. “I’d swear something just bit me. Do we have no-see-ums this time of year?”

  “Not in Honey Hollow.” Carlotta, the woman who looks strikingly like me, hops along next to her. My mother, Miranda, being the kind, congenial soul she is, has quickly befriended the woman who bore me, and you might even say has taken her under her wing. My mother has begged me to have a good old-fashioned sit-down with Carlotta, and I assured her I would when I felt the time was right. And suffice it to say, it hasn’t felt right, and I don’t foresee it feeling right any time in the future.

  I quickly count the yipping specters hopping around the bakery like bouncing balls and come up with twelve. Who in their right mind had a dozen darling pooches? A breath gets locked in my throat as I quickly realize that whoever it is, he or she is not only in this room—but tonight might just be the final night of their life.

  Lily zips behind the counter. “We sold out of all the food today. Can you believe it?” She lets out a congratulatory cheer as she gets straight to pouring each of her comrades in bakery crime a cup of coffee.

  We? I shoot Keelie a look.

  Keelie lets out a growl that rivals all of those angry animals tap-dancing over the floor with the clatter of their nails. “That’s because you gave it away for free.”

  Lily quickly dispenses lattes and red velvet cupcakes to her old sorority sisters and furnishes Everett with a cupcake as well. I’m tempted to remind her that at the Cutie Pie we don’t give baked goods away for free, but I’ll let this one malfeasance fly. No need to let them in on my most successful business strategy of them all—making my customers cough up government issued currency in exchange for those butterballs I roll in sugar.

  Greer Giles, the trio’s fearless leader and the queen of mean herself, lifts a wicked brow my way. “Free today but not tomorrow. I think we have a winner on our hands, girls!” She slaps them each an obnoxious high five.

  Greer has perfect features, perfectly pouty lips, and unimaginably sparkling white teeth. Come to think of it, I’ve just described Nikki and Tinsley as well. They are all rather interchangeable with their dark glossy locks, their olive skin, and shimmering diamond eyes. Yes, all three are unfairly beautiful. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Everett followed them in like one of these lost puppies bouncing off the walls.

  Lainey joins Mom and Carlotta as the three of them spank their ankles silly. Lainey too has taken a liking to Carlotta. It turns out, Carlotta was named for her own birth mother, so I guess that makes me the third-generation slapped with that moniker. There was a tiny part of my own adoption story I never knew, like the fact that I came with a note saying that my name was Carlotta and to please keep it as so. My mother thought it was best to honor my birth mother’s wishes but quickly and wisely nicknamed me Lottie.

  The angry ankle biters vibrate over the floor tiles in a riotous rage, and Dutch cowers in the corner, unsure of what to make of the minute menaces.
/>   I lean in to Keelie. “If someone in this room were to once own a Chihuahua, who do you think that would be?”

  “Ooh me!” Keelie lifts a hand. “Don’t you remember Ruby, Rosie, Snuggles, and, oh heck, I can’t even remember all their names.”

  My mouth rounds out in horror. “My God, that’s right! Your mother always had a purse puppy while we were growing up.”

  “I remember them, too,” Lily says without hesitating. “My mother was the one that bred them. We had more Chihuahuas than we knew what to do with.”

  “Yes!” Mom chimes from across the way. “Oh, we had them, too, when I was girl. How I loved my babies. We must have had a dozen if I didn’t have three.”

  Gah!

  “Really?” Carlotta presses a hand to her chest. “I did, too! In fact, I had them in Arizona once I moved there. I credit them for aiding in the healing process.” Her eyes flit my way. “Abandoning your child can do a number on your psyche.”

  “Am I supposed to feel sorry for her?” I mutter to Keelie, and my bestie is quick to kick my shoe. Keelie adores her new Auntie Carly. And as much as I want to, I can’t fault her for that.

  “Aw!” Greer moans as she looks to her comrades in coffee shop crime. “Remember all those Chihuahua puppies we had back at Delta house? We must have had a dozen! They were so loving and sweet.” She snickers, and I can feel the zinger coming. “We actually trained them to attack our match-ups at Omega house. They were perfect little terrors when it came to anyone who didn’t live in the sorority.”

  Nikki and Tinsley coo in concert.

  Everett pipes up, “My mother had at least a dozen, herself.” That girl gang he’s surrounded himself with lets out an orgasmic squeal, and as much as I want to roll my eyes, my heart palpitates a mile a minute because I just so happen to know that those prattling poltergeists come with a deep, dark warning.

  A breath gets locked in my throat. “So, everyone in this room has had at least a dozen Chihuahuas?”

  A dull yes resounds as everyone gets back to their own conversations, and my mouth falls open once again.

  Everett makes his way over despite the fact his unholy harem struggles to hold him back.

  “Lemon.” He nods me to the side, and I follow. “Are you seeing one of those creatures again?”

  I shake my head. “I’m seeing twelve.”

  “Twelve?” His brows dip down like dark wings in flight, and he looks downright angry—and vexingly good-looking. It’s really not fair. “What does that mean? Are we looking at a Valentine’s Day massacre here?”

  “God, I hope not.” A mean shiver runs through me when he says it.

  Lily comes over and picks up Everett’s hand as if she owned him. “Come now, Essex, it’s time to load up the van.” She looks my way. “The Hearts of Hope committee asked The Coffee Cake Break to cater all the sweet treats and the coffee itself!”

  “What?” I squawk so loud that both the living and dead alike freeze solid for a moment. “But I thought I was catering all the sweet treats?”

  Lily shakes her head as she pulls Everett away. “You’re just bringing the red velvet cupcakes.”

  “But that’s all they said they wanted.”

  Lily nods. “From you.”

  I suck in a quick breath. It feels as if all of Honey Hollow is turning on me today.

  Those tiny terribly cute terrors bark up a storm as if agreeing with me, and I watch as Everett is hoisted to the door.

  “Let’s head out, girls!” Lily shouts. “Essex volunteered to help load the goodies into the van.”

  Greer grumbles with a dark laugh. “He can load my goodies any time he wants.” She looks to the two brunette bookends beside her. “And if I have my way, and I always do, he’ll be loading me full of his goodies tonight.”

  Gross. I watch in horror as Everett is shuttled out the door by that flock of flakes—and half the spastic specters scuttle out right after them.

  The other six perky puppies continue to nip and growl at the rest of the warm bodies in the room, and it has my every last nerve on edge. Could there really be a massacre at tonight’s Hearts of Hope Charity Ball?

  Keelie wraps an arm around me. “So, what do you think about the competition?”

  “I think after tonight there may not be any.”

  Keelie shudders. “That sounds foreboding.”

  I watch as another herd of tiny nearly invisible Chihuahuas prance proudly right through the glass door.

  “It is.”

  Mom, Chrissy, Lainey, and Carlotta head for the door.

  “We’ll see you down at the community center!” Lainey calls out as she heads out into the snowy night.

  Mom nods my way. “I told Brad I was on my way, but he insists on picking me up at my place.” She leans in as she waves it off. “I think he got a limo!”

  Carlotta chortles. “Just like prom night!” She shoots me with her fingers. “And that’s when you were conceived.”

  “Eww,” I say as Dutch comes up and taps his paw over Carlotta’s arm. It’s his sweet way of asking for a quick scratch between the ears, and Carlotta does just that before looking my way and shedding a sly wink.

  “Prom night?” Mom shuttles Carlotta to the door, and they chortle up a storm on their way out.

  Keelie sighs. “I guess it’s up to us to get these cupcakes to the community center. We’d better hurry if we want to get ready for tonight.”

  “I’ll be right there.” I take a staggering step forward and watch as Carlotta piles into the car with my mother. “She saw them,” I whisper. “She’s just like me.”

  Chapter 2

  Honey Hollow glitters with a fresh blanket of snow after the latest storm deposited three feet of pristine white glittering glory. I take in all the beauty nature is willing to give before heading into the community center. The entire building hums with laughter and charged conversations, competing with the romantic, albeit loud, music already pumping through the speakers. Scores of tables are set out, laden with the goods for tonight’s silent auction. I look to the far end of the room at the dessert extravaganza, and I can’t help but give a smug smile. My cupcakes are quite the showcase compared to the meager offerings The Coffee Cake Break has ponied up. Earlier, Keelie and I took a painstaking amount of time to set all of the red velvet cupcakes out onto the three-tiered heart-shaped structure that my ex-boyfriend Bear constructed for me.

  Bear and I dated way back in high school, and things quickly went south for us once I realized he liked every girl as much as he claimed to like me. Of course, I was heartbroken, so I hightailed it to New York City where I found someone else to break my heart twice as hard. But, alas, I came back to Honey Hollow, and the rest is baking history.

  After Keelie and I dropped off the seemingly thousands of sweet, tempting red velvet cupcakes, I went home and hustled to put on my fitted crimson dress with its long see-through sleeves and neckline. It fits like a dream, and I cannot wait to show it off to my new boyfriend Noah. He let me know he left the sheriff’s department twenty minutes ago, so I’m suspecting he should be arriving any minute now.

  Inside the community center itself it’s dimly lit, festooned with heart-shaped balloons and red tablecloths as far as the eye can see, with the aforementioned dessert buffet set up on the side. Red long-stem roses adorn the center of each table, and there’s even a live band playing, which I hear is comprised of some of our very own firefighters. All of the proceeds earned tonight go directly to the cardiac unit in my father’s name.

  Joseph Lemon was the man who found me all those years ago when I was a wiggling infant left on the floor of the Honey Hollow Fire Department. He and my mother, Miranda Lemon, adopted me right away, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. But sadly, my father died of a heart attack years ago, and, truthfully, our lives haven’t been the same ever since.

  Dutch, of course, insisted on coming along tonight, and since I have no idea how to stop him from doing anything at all, here he is. And I do
n’t mind it one bit. Oddly enough, last month that black bear that once belonged to Eve Hollister was able to move objects in the material world, but Dutch thankfully hasn’t picked up that haunting skill.

  He barks up a storm before darting fearlessly into the crowd. There’s that. He always makes his way back home, though, so I never have that foreboding feeling as if I’ll never see him again. Ever since Waffles, Nell’s Himalayan, came to live with us, Dutch has needed much more outdoor time than before.

  Tinsley Shields struts by with a determined look on her face, her red shimmering gown with its perilously plunging neckline and up-to-there hemline makes my own dress look as if I plucked it out of a nun’s closet, and I can’t help but frown. I was hoping to be all Noah Corbin Fox could see tonight, and it’s quickly proving to be impossible.

  A thought comes to me as she passes me by. “Oh, hey—Tinsley?” I call out, and she takes a step back, pausing to look my way. “The door to your van is open.” I shrug into my seemingly good deed.

  To be honest, when I spotted it that way in the parking lot, I figured they were through hauling in their goodies and simply forgot about it. This kind of weather can really do a number on an expensive refrigerated van like that. I should know. I have one myself. Everett purchased mine as a thank you for getting him off the suspect list of a murder. But he assured me he did not purchase the van for The Coffee Cake Break. He simply helps them load it whenever they feel the need.

  She rolls her eyes, and I can’t help but admire the way her bright red lipstick pops off her olive skin. I know firsthand that shade would look garish on me.

  “That’s a Greer move.” Tinsley glances past my shoulder. “Her head is all over the place today. But when isn’t it?” She takes off, and I have a feeling she was more thinking out loud than she was filling me in on something I already know.

  Greer may be the leader of their fearless pack, but she’s also the ditsiest of them all. Okay, so she’s not all that ditzy. But she’s mean. Right to the bone. You can tell with some people, and she is definitely one of those people.