Pancake Panic Read online

  “Oh no, they never divorced. Both Flip and my mother were too cheap to do it. They just sort of amicably split up and started living separate lives. He still cut my mom a check from their investment income each and every month.”

  I glance back to my dad and he shrugs. “Flip was known to squeeze a dime until it cried uncle. I can’t tell you how many times he’d forget his wallet when we took the girls to dinner.” He chuckles.

  “Well, that sounds”—I want to say terrible as I turn back to Jennifer—“generous.”

  “Oh, it wasn’t. Flip always kept a little extra for himself as a management fee, since my mom had little to nothing to do with the properties. She claims she only ever received a fourth of what was due to her every month.”

  “Wow, that’s a significant loss. I’m surprised she didn’t take him to court.”

  “She couldn’t afford it. I guess death was cheaper.”

  I inch back. “You’re not insinuating your mother had anything to do with this, are you?”

  A laugh bubbles from her. “Heavens no. Although if she did, I might have cheered her on. He’s the reason I can’t afford my pricey dance lessons. I was almost done with the academy, too.” She sighs as she stares off at the marble counter before her. “But, the troupe I’m joining will count as experience, I suppose. It won’t land me on Broadway anytime soon, but it will keep my feet moving.” Her eyes avert. “Unless, of course, good old Flip left me something in the will. Wouldn’t that be ironic? He kicks the bucket and I finally get my money back.” She shrugs. “I’m sure I sound cold. But trust me when I say, that man was a walking, talking bad investment.”

  Dad sighs from behind.

  I would guess it’s not easy to hear such things about a man you regarded like a brother.

  A thought comes to me. “Say, Jennifer, the morning of the pancake breakfast, there was a woman in a pink sweater at the table with you. Do you happen to know who she was?”

  She glances to the ceiling. “That was Olivia Cartwright. She’s an art dealer in Fallbrook. She and Flip go way back. I think my mom once accused them of having an affair. I’m not sure what the outcome was.”

  “An affair? While your mom and Flip were together?” I ask and she’s quick to nod.

  “Mom made a snide remark about her being at the pancake breakfast, but Olivia laid her out by telling her it was for a good cause. My mom actually knew Olivia first. She’s the one who introduced them. When Mom and Flip would fix up houses to sell, Mom’s job was to stage them. Enter the art dealer. Mom bought a few stunning pieces that they’d use over and over again to give the house that luxury feel. But after she started to suspect something between them, Mom sold the paintings on eBay for next to nothing in an effort to insult the woman. To this day she can’t stand Olivia.”

  “Oh, poor Lisa. I mean, I know how painful it is to be cheated on.” My ex-boyfriend Bear comes to mind, then my ex-fiancé Curtis who I caught in bed with my college roommate, then there’s the new addition, Noah. And that last one is the most painful of them all.

  “I do, too.” Jennifer shakes her head wistfully just as Naomi struts over.

  “Come on, Jen. Let’s move this party elsewhere.” She shoots Lily a mean look for a second. “Lottie, I’m throwing Jennifer a going away party in a couple of weeks before she moves. Would you mind whipping up enough sweet treats to feed two dozen?”

  “You bet.”

  “Great. Neither you nor Lily will be invited. In fact, I’ll pick up the treats myself. Just have them ready to go.”

  I shake my head, not that it’s a shocker.

  Jennifer waves as they take off down the snowy street.

  I spin on my heels. “What do you think?” I whisper to my father.

  His face is pale, his eyes set on a distant horizon and they look more than mildly annoyed.

  “I knew Flip was having trouble at home. And I knew he was tight with money in more ways than one. None of that truly surprises me.”

  “Not even the part about the affair?”

  He shrugs and the spray of stars that surrounds him spark through the air. “People surprise you sometimes, Lottie. You can think the best of them, but on occasion they prove the worst is true.”

  I nod as the door chimes, and I turn to find Noah—Guilty as Sin and Full of Crappy Surprises—Fox headed my way.

  He offers a sheepish smile, and those dimples dip in and out despite the dark scruff peppering his cheeks, attempting to hide them, but I find it near impossible to look him in the eye.

  “Good afternoon, Lottie.” He cocks his head to the side. “Did I just see Jennifer Norman leaving?”

  “That you did. I got a few little morsels if you’re up for a cup of coffee.”

  “I’d love it.” He takes a seat on the stool Jennifer just vacated, and I quickly pour him a mug of hot java. My heart wrenches as I glance to his hands as he takes the mug up—hands that were all over Cormack Featherby’s naked body.

  The agony in my heart feels as if it’s about to strangle me. How could Noah do that to me? To us?

  Dad leans in. “I’ll give you two kids a minute. I think I smell a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies in the back. And did you put walnuts in this time?”

  I give a simple nod and Dad takes off right through the wall to get there faster. Dad knows exactly what went down between Noah and me at the reception the other night. He happened to find me sobbing into my pillow when I got home, and I spilled it all.

  “So? What did you hear?” Noah sits slightly slumped. That bruise under his left eye Everett gifted him looks a bit more noticeable in the light, and it hurts to know I had something to do with it.

  Although, in truth, I’d like to decorate his right eye with a matching set right about now. I may have slept with Everett first—and only after Noah and I were officially not together— but it doesn’t mean I love the idea of Noah with Cormack. In fact, it feels like the ultimate rejection.

  I ramble out everything that Jennifer just said about the identity of the lady in pink and the fact Flip was so cheap Lisa was probably glad to see him go.

  He tips his chin back. “It sounds as if Lisa had a motive.”

  “Jennifer might have, too. Maybe not one that was as strong, but she blamed him for having to sacrifice the lessons she believed would have given her a shot on Broadway.” I manage to say it all without looking into those jade eyes. “They both had a motive.”

  I turn to leave, but Noah reaches over and clasps his hand over mine, and I look into his eyes for the first time since he’s walked in.

  “Lottie.” He presses my name out slow and heated the way he had done so many times before, during far more intimate moments—moments he’s now sharing with someone else. Noah pleads with his eyes before he can get his next words out. And before that can happen, the door bursts open and in comes Cormack, bounding over with a small bushel of leaves she promptly sets on fire with a lighter.

  “Away, you evil spirits! Away!” She wags the leaves, which are quickly morphing into an inferno, before leaning my way. “Begone, witch!” She yanks Noah out of his seat. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I stopped in at Dr. Barnette’s office on the way over.”

  Noah steps back my way as he resists her efforts. “Lottie, I—”

  “Don’t worry about it, Noah.” I sniff back any emotion that might try to spring to the surface.

  “Can we meet up later?” he asks as Cormack continues to pepper him with those flames in her hand.

  The nerve of Noah Fox wanting to meet up with me later while the psychotic next to him is harboring his child.

  “I’m afraid I’m busy.” A fire of my own brews in me as a spike of anger surges through my veins. “I have a date—with my husband.”

  Noah closes his eyes a moment. “Lottie, we need to talk.”

  “No talking,” Cormack scolds as they hit the door. “That woman is liable to cast a pox on you.”

  Noah looks back my way, and I abruptly turn away.


  Dr. Barnette is both Keelie and Lainey’s OB-GYN, too.

  It must be real.

  Cormack and Noah are having a baby.

  How did everything go so spectacularly wrong?

  Chapter 10

  Everett has a long history in Fallbrook, considering he was born and raised here.

  As soon as he came home last night, we researched that woman Jennifer told me about—Olivia Cartwright. It turns out, she’s working at the Fallbrook Art Center, and they just so happen to be having an art installation the very next day.

  And that’s what brings us to the opulent yet contemporary art center with its geometric architecture lit up in cobalt blue as if trying its best to outdo Judge Baxter’s eyes. Not that it were even remotely possible.

  “I can’t believe Noah is going to be a father.” Everett shakes his head. “I still don’t think this is real. Do you think he’s staging some retaliation for what he thinks you put him through?”

  “Really?” I shake my head. “Noah’s not like that. At least I think he’s not.”

  “I don’t think so either.” Everett presses his hand into the small of my back as he opens the door to the art center for me. “You know, Lemon, you don’t have to share this with me, but I wanted to ask how things are going with your father.”

  I pull him in close as we step away from the rest of the crowd streaming inside. “Everett, it’s been amazing.”

  His lips curve in the right direction. “I knew it would be.” He pulls me in close. “I’m so glad you get to experience this.” Everett had a chance to experience it himself. Thanks to my abilities he’s visited with his dead father before himself.

  I nod. “Joseph Lemon has filled my heart once again with his shining light.” My voice is threadbare. “And, even though I threatened to stop working on the case, both he and Nell insisted. They assured me my powers would grow.” I’ve already filled Everett in on everything going on with the ghosts from the B&B. “Hopefully, they’ll grow sooner than later so Greer and her family can eat. And I might be able to see my dad once in a while.”

  “And Nell.” Everett brushes my cheek with his thumb. “I’m happy for you, Lemon. I know how much it means to have your father back from the great beyond. You’ve given me mine, twice now.” He leans in and presses a warm kiss to my cheek. “Thank you for that.” He gives a quick glance around. “Is he here?”

  “No, not yet at least. I never know when he’ll pop in. He’s been with my mother. Mom was missing him, so I suggested she pretend to date him, only it’s really happening.”

  “That’s—heartbreakingly beautiful.” His lips purse as he sweeps his gaze over me. “I want that for you, Lemon. I want you to know that special brand of love.”

  “I want that, too.” I reach up and brush my finger over his lips.

  “Ooh,” a female voice trills and we turn to find Detective Ivy Fairbanks standing there with her homicide driven counterpart, Detective Noah Fox. “Looks as if things are getting a little heated.” She gives a sly wink. “You’re not a part of tonight’s raunchy installation pieces, are you?”

  “No,” I flatline.

  “Raunchy?” Everett glances over at the blooming crowd gathered around something we’re not privy to see. And if I’m not mistaken, people are elbowing one another to get a better look.

  Noah groans, “See that, Lottie? Your new husband has an appetite for all things perverted.”

  “Please.” I avert my eyes. “He’s not perverse enough to bed a Featherby.”

  “That’s because he’s already done it.” Noah doesn’t miss a beat, and I gasp at the audacity.

  “How dare you.” I take Everett by the hand and drag him over to where the crowd is oohing and awing.

  “I’m sorry, Lottie,” Noah says as he quickens his steps in an effort to keep up with us. “I just—I don’t get what you see in this guy.”

  An incredulous laugh bubbles up from my throat. “And I certainly don’t get what you see in Cormack Featherhead. She’s nothing but a trophy wife in training.”

  “And he’s nothing but a playboy who won’t change his ways, Lottie.”

  I scoff at the thought. “Are you implying that Everett would cheat on me? That’s rich, coming from the boyfriend who did just that.”

  The crowd gasps and I look up to find that their focus is on the two of us. There’s a split in the crowd, and I spot a trio of women standing behind red velvet ropes. Each one of the beauties is staged in various salacious poses. They’re nude, save for what looks to be mud dried over their flesh, and it’s a disconcerting sight to say the least.

  “Beware, Noah.” I turn back to face him. “There are nude women behind me. I should probably call Cormack and warn her that you might impulsively sleep with one of them.”

  The crowd gasps again.

  Everett steps in. “Lemon, we should leave.”

  “No, we were here first,” I practically spit the words out. “I’m not running away from anyone. And I’m not running away from you, Noah. Just like I didn’t run away when you were in a coma. I didn’t run away when you needed to be protected from horrible truths last month either.”

  Ivy snorts. “And you certainly didn’t run away when it came time to marry Judge Baxter behind Noah’s back. Please, Lottie—this high and mighty routine isn’t painting you in a better light.”

  “Stay out of this, Ivy,” I pant the words out thick with anger.

  Everett wraps an arm around my waist as if to stop me from charging at her and Noah’s jaw pops at the sight.

  “Take your hands off of her.” Noah shakes with rage as he says it.

  “Pull the wife card,” I whisper to Everett through the side of my mouth.

  Everett’s lips part before he takes a breath as if reconsidering. “Come here.” Everett reaches out and pulls Noah in by the shirt. “Don’t you tell me what I can and can’t do with my wife.”

  And just like that, it’s as if Everett lit a very short fuse.

  Fists are flying, and soon both men stumble into the bawdy art installation, sending the three muddy women running and shrieking. Noah launches at Everett and it looks as if he’s strangling him, so I hop on his back and do my best to intervene. The three of us topple to the ground, with me slipping underneath Noah and landing smack in between Everett and him.

  The crowd gasps just a second before a titter of laughter circles the room.

  Noah looks down at me, his arms extended on either side, taking in the weight from his body in an effort not to crush me.

  “I miss this,” he whispers. “I miss us.”

  The meaty hand of a security guard helps us to our feet and briskly escorts us right out the door and back into the snowy night.

  Noah flashes his badge at the man, and before long he’s cleared to head back inside.

  Noah leans in, his breathing still erratic from the unexpected exchange.

  “Lottie”—he leans in and I turn my head away—“we’ll talk. There’s so much I need to say. But, there’s a suspect in there I’m hoping to see.” His chest depresses, and he nods before heading back in.

  Everett’s mouth is hard as I look over at him. “He’s lost his mind, Lemon. Maybe that accident did more damage than we thought.”

  “Maybe,” I say as we head toward his car and a plume of smoke catches my eyes from the side of the building.

  Standing near a frozen bush in a long pink coat is a woman with short dark hair and same build as the exact suspect I was hoping to see tonight.

  “Everett, that’s her, Olivia Cartwright. Let’s head over.”

  He steps in, practically blocking my path. “She looks as if she’s on a break. We might spook her and she could head back inside. Why don’t you head over on your own? I’m betting you’ll get somewhere that way.” He dots a kiss to the top of my head. “I’ll wait in the car, but I’m not taking my eyes off of you.”

  My lips twitch. “I like that.”

  I head over, and just as I come
upon her, a ghostly sight for sore eyes appears beside me—my father.

  I give him a little wave.

  “I heard rumors of fireworks going off in there, Lottie,” he says. “That’s twice this month those boys have duked it out over you.”

  “I didn’t ask for it,” I whisper.

  Olivia turns around, wide-eyed as if startled to see me. “Pardon me?”

  “Oh, nothing. Sorry.” I pull my coat tight as she takes another drag off her cigarette. “I was talking to myself. Boy trouble. I thought I’d take a walk to clear my head.” Come to think of it, that sounds like a good idea.

  She balks, “Please, I know all about boy trouble.” She blows out another white plume against the lavender satin night. “They never grow up, do they?”

  “I’ll say. So let’s hear your war story and I’ll tell you mine.”

  She shakes her head. “You first. You’re the one in need of a walk. My boy troubles are long over.”

  “Well, in that case. I have two men I’m in love with. I was dating Noah first. I thought he was about to propose when his wife strolled back into town.”

  “His wife?” Her mouth hangs open at the thought of such a matrimonial misstep.

  “That’s right. And after that, I sort of started seeing—quite intimately—his old stepbrother. Everett confessed his feelings to me just before that.”

  “Stepbrother?” She blinks back, agog.

  “I know, it sounds bad. But it gets worse. Everett decided that before we could go on, Noah and I needed to tie off any loose ends, seeing that we never formally broke it off. Then Noah and I were accidentally married, he fell into a coma, and I thought I was pregnant, so when he woke up, I found out not only was I not pregnant but our marriage had dissolved. The doctor said I shouldn’t share any jarring news with him—so for a month I had to fake a pregnancy and a marriage. But Everett needed to find a bride of his own or he stood to lose his inheritance. I couldn’t let that happen. If I didn’t step up, Cressida would have. Both Noah and Everett have delusional pariah-like exes. Of course, his wicked witch of a mother found out about everything and spilled the barren beans to him on Christmas Eve of all nights.” She gasps at the thought. “Oh, I know,” I say. “Noah was angry, and hurt, and everything in between. And I just found out he slept with his ex-girlfriend who I can hardly stand. And now it looks as if they’re expecting a baby together.”