Baby Bundt Cake Confusion (Murder in the Mix Book 31) by Unknown (reading eggs books .txt) 📗

reluctantly flash the screen her way. “Geez. I knew it.” She pushes her tray table away an inch. “I knew she’s had a massive crush on you for who knows how long. I bet she was trying to lure you away from me the entire time we were together.”

There’s a growling edge to her voice and I can’t help but laugh a little. I know she’s chock-full of hormones at the moment, but I love the jealous sentiment.

“Not true,” I reassure her. “Ivy was more or less respectful. And just for the record, I’m not looking.” My hand glides onto her stomach. “I already found what I was looking for.” The baby gives me a thump and we share a laugh, but deep down I wonder if that’s Everett’s kid telling me to back off.

Sorry, kid, but I can’t. I can’t help myself. I’ll take any part of her that Lottie is willing to give me. I’m her soulmate. Nell says so. And ironically, I don’t think I even needed that supernatural news to keep my spirits up.

“You know I love you, Noah.” She takes my hand and kisses my fingertips. “I’m sorry everything got so complicated.”

“Don’t apologize for something I’ve done. And, speaking of things that I’ve done, I’m going to find a way to fix this for Everett. I think I’m going to run down to Red Satin and have another chat with Jimmy.”

I have to know if that woman that was there the other night is a part of his hit team. Not that I would be surprised if she was. I’ve arrested just as many women as I have men over the years. But there was something about her. That hair. She seemed familiar.

That night last month when my mother said she was speaking to Lottie runs through my mind. Lottie clearly denied it.

Something’s not sitting well with me, and I don’t like it one bit.

“A chat with Jimmy? Don’t waste your time,” Lottie says, taking a quick bite of her eggs. “Carlotta, Lil’ Mama, and I went down to talk to Jimmy last night.”

“What?” There’s a hard edge to my voice, and I don’t bother apologizing for it. “Lottie, why in the heck would you go down there to talk to a mob boss, of all people, without Everett or me? You’re in a delicate state.”

As much as I hate reminding her, I feel like she might need the reminder. She’s not exactly in a position to make a quick getaway. Besides, Leeds is dangerous. There’s an assault, a carjacking, and a drug deal gone wrong on any given night. It’s easy to get tangled up in the wrong situation. And if Lottie has a knack for anything, it’s getting tangled up in the wrong situation.

“Noah.” She struggles to sit up a bit more. “I said I had Carlotta and Lil’ Mama with me. It’s not like I went alone.”

“It brings me more comfort to know you brought the dead dog than it does to know Carlotta was with you.”

“I heard that, Foxy!” Carlotta shouts from the other end of the door. “And Harry says thanks for breakfast!”

“You’re welcome,” I say without raising my voice because apparently I don’t have to. I nod to Lot. “So what happened?”

“He’s not calling off the hit. The man is stubborn. Oh, and Luke Lazzari showed up, too. They both think they’re in the running to be my father.”

“Your father?” The conversation may have just zigzagged, but I followed it right to the insane finish line. “Is this real?”

“Who knows with Carlotta?” She bites down on her lip a moment. “Okay. Don’t freak out because I’m going to say no, but Greer thinks I should take Cressida up on her ridiculous offer.”

I grunt at the thought. “Do you really want to go on a talk show to reveal who the father of your child is? I get that a million dollars is a ton of money, but there are some sandwiches you can’t un-eat. However, I will do whatever you want.”

“It’s not the money.” She cringes. “Greer wants me to ask Cressida for the B&B.”

“Now that might actually work. If it helps you land the B&B back in your mother’s hands, I will be at that paternity reveal with bells on. And I’ll dress like a clown if you want me to.” Something tells me I won’t need the costume to humiliate myself on live television.

“Thanks, Noah. I’ll talk to Everett.” She takes a big breath. “How did my life turn into such a circus?”

“Honestly? I think we can trace the circus elements right back to my father.”

“Because he hoodwinked my mother into selling the B&B and giving him all the cash for his publishing company?”

“That and the fact he had me.” I give a little wink. “I’m starting to think there’s a Fox curse in play, and I’m the prime beneficiary. Alex seems untouchable, at least so far.”

“Speaking of Fox curses.” Her left brow hikes into her forehead. “You have transmundane powers in your family. Noah, your mother all but admitted she’s a beguiler.”

“She did?” As if my day hadn’t already been thrown for a loop or twelve. “My mother? Transmundane? How could she hide this from me?”

“Oh, it’s not uncommon for the transmundane to hide their powers. I watched her do some weird mind control on a group of customers. And when I called her out, and demanded she come with me to see Jimmy Canelli and change his mind about shooting a bullet through Everett’s heart, she said she couldn’t. It only worked on the weak-willed. And then, of course, she denied everything, backpedaled, and all but gave me the finger.”

“Wow.” I glare over at the wall. My own mother? “I guess I’ll be speaking with her soon. I’ll let her know we don’t have to tell Alex. But Lottie, if this baby is mine, and I still believe it is”—although it’s getting harder to say out loud with each passing day—“it could very well be