But I let my friendship with Mack drag on for a few more years until she decided that stealing every one of my boyfriends was her new favorite hobby. And the biggest takeaway from the not-so-friendly shove? I came away with the ability to pry into other people’s minds. It turns out, I’m something called transmundane, further classified as telesensual, which basically means I can read minds.
Hux leans my way. “Why is Macy growling like an attack dog ready to pounce?”
I make a face at my brother. He shares my dark hair and light eyes and happens to be a top-notch divorce attorney—a career he’ll need to lean on if he ever plans on taking things to a matrimonial level with the piranha he’s leashed himself to. I’m not thrilled with the fact he’s gotten serious with Mackenzie Woods, of all people.
“Take a look around,” I whisper, and Hux does a quick evaluation of the signage before his eyes bug out. “Exactly.”
Ember pulls Mackenzie in by the hand. “Everyone!” she shouts to the crowd of women all bustling their way into her store. “Mayor Woods was kind enough to agree to christen my little shop on this, the one hundredth birthday, of this fabulous town.”
Mackenzie stuns in a navy power suit and a matching dark trench coat on over that. She has a shock of long chestnut hair and large amber eyes that give off just enough wickedness to warn others to keep at an emotional arm’s length. Apparently, my brother isn’t interested in heeding the warning.
“Hear ye, hear ye”—Mackenzie laughs as a thicket of bodies gather around—“I’d like to be the very first to welcome this fine establishment to the town of Cider Cove!”
Another blonde emerges from the store, who oddly enough also looks like a Macy Baker knockoff. I’m sensing a disturbing theme here. She’s dressed in the same dark leather jacket, shredded jeans, and boots. And in her hand she wields a bottle of champagne.
Ember snatches the bubbly from her. “Has this been chilled?”
The blonde gives a frenetic nod. As chilly as your black heart.
I can’t help but hold back a smile at the quip. I learned long ago not to judge anyone for whatever they might be thinking.
Next to the blonde is a tall brunette with shoulder-length hair and icy green eyes.
She takes a breath as she looks over at Ember. All right, you little brat, let’s get this over with so I can go stuff my face with whatever that sugary scent is that will find its way into my stomach soon enough. I’ve got a lot on the agenda this afternoon, and I’m going to need to keep up my energy.
The woman has sharp features, thin cranberry painted lips, and an overall look of indifference to the setting around her. I’d say she has a couple of years on Ember, and so far I’m liking her best. What can I say? My stomach is itching for whatever that sugary scent is, too.
Ember lifts her chin. “Thank you, Mayor Woods, for welcoming both my business partner, Willow Taylor, and me.” She pulls the blonde in close and they look like sisters. “We are so very privileged to be a part of the Cider Cove community, and we look forward to many successful years, right here on Main Street!” She sets down a knee-high wooden sign that has the shop’s name on it and creates a small clearing as she hands the bottle of champagne over to Mackenzie.
It takes less than a tap for the bottle to crack and champagne to bubble and ooze down the sign as the crowd grows wild with cheers.
Mackenzie waves to the thicket of people. “Now if you’ll all join me at the gazebo at the end of the street, we’ll kick off the Founders’ Day Festival and get this party started! The Country Cottage Café has donated enough apple cider donuts to feed the entire seaboard. This is going to be a great month and a great one hundredth year for all of Cider Cove!”
She leashes her arm through my brother’s as they stride toward the gazebo that’s festooned with fall leaves and pumpkins. The high school band is tuning up, and there’s a giant arch made of balloons that hovers over an expansive banner strung over the gazebo. The banner reads Welcome to the Founders’ Day Festival! Happy Birthday, Cider Cove! One hundred years and counting!
“Congratulations,” I say to Ember, much to the horror of my sister. “It’s nice to see you again.” I’m not thrilled about what she’s done, but I’m not committed to helping my sister hide the body either.
Bizzy! Fish yowls from the tote bag warming my side. If you’re not careful, Macy might just want to kill you, too.
Sherlock barks. She’s not wrong.
She’s not, but that’s beside the point.
“Bizzy Baker.” Ember’s eyes light up like blue flames. “Look at you! You’ve grown up to be a beautiful young woman.”
My lips twitch because it just so happens that Ember, much like my sister, is just one year older than me.
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“What are you doing now? How have you been?”
Macy grunts as she rolls her eyes my way, Careful, Bizzy. She just might be gunning to replicate your life next.
“I happen to run the Country Cottage Inn just down the street. And I just got married in September, so I’m Mrs. Baker Wilder now.”
“Oh, isn’t that nice.” She takes up my left hand and her thumb dances over my wedding ring. Bizzy deserves to be happy. I hope her happiness makes Macy all that much more miserable.
Miserable? Boy, she’s really got it out for her. Not that my saucy sister hasn’t amassed her fair share of enemies over the years, but this seems to be a bit over the top.
“And what a
