Juliet pokes her head our way and gives an apprehensive smile. “Everything okay here, ladies?”
My lips part, but before I can answer, the lights flicker on and off as Cressida Bentley jumps to the center of the room.
“All right, nitwits!” She tosses up her hands, and I do believe Cressida meant nitwits in the traditional sense. She’s just that mean. “It’s seven o’clock. You know what that means!”
The entire inn vibrates to life as shockingly loud rock music bellows from the hall, and I look that way to see the lights have dimmed and in their place flashing pink and blue spotlights highlight the chaos as that mass of bodies starts gyrating to the music in tandem.
“What in the hell?”
“Lot Lot.” Carlotta smacks me on the arm. “You’ll have to excuse her, Juliet. My daughter can’t help but get salty in front of mixed company. She was raised by wolves.”
“I was raised by Lemons,” I’m quick to correct.
Carlotta nods. “Too bad there’s no lemon law on getting a return for your childhood. That’s a part of the reason why I came back on the scene to try to right all the wrongs in this poor girl’s life.”
I shake my head at Juliet. “She came back because she needed to be present to get her full inheritance. That, and I suspect she wanted to live rent-free with me.” Never mind the fact she lived at Nell’s old place for five hot minutes before it burst into a moldy flood zone.
Carlotta clucks like a chicken. “I suppose you’re going to accuse me of tweaking the test results in that black mold study we had done on the house to work in my favor.”
I gasp at the thought, and Carlotta quickly darts out the door.
“Why that little…” I choke on the expletive begging to come forth. “Never mind. What’s done is done. Or I should say what’s manipulated has been manipulated.”
Teddy wraps her furry arms around my neck and sits on my belly. “That’s Carlotta for you. She told the girls at bingo that manipulation is the best way to move ahead in the world.”
I have no doubt.
Juliet gives a short-lived laugh. “I think Carlotta is a hoot.”
“She’s something.”
Cressida claps her hands over her head. “Come on now, you’re not really a bunch of nitwits, are you? Now shoo! The party just started and we need to transform this room into the snuggle lounge.”
Keelie raises her hand. “Is that what the stuffed animals are for?”
Cressida lowers her lids as she growls at my bestie, “Those are for snuggles and ambiance during daylight hours. At the Rendezvous after dark, we like to take things in a spicier direction. So scoot, all of you.” She gives Lainey’s bag a nudge with her foot. “Come on now. Vámonos!”
The crowd of knitwits quickly mobilizes as they scoop up their belongings, and Juliet shrugs.
“I’d better gather my things, too,” she says. “I had no idea that this place turned into a club every evening.”
“Neither did I, but I’m guessing by the way these women are dolled up they had more than a clue.”
Juliet nods just as Mom runs over.
“Lottie, isn’t this fabulous?” Mom trills. “And that Evie, what a diva she’s become!”
Juliet’s mouth falls open. “I’m sorry, did you say diva?”
Mom gives a frenetic nod. “She’s always been a bit of a queen, but this just took her right up to another level.” She laughs.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear it.” She looks my way mournfully. “Excuse me, I’d better clean up my mess,” she says as she takes off to gather her things.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” Mom waves me off. “I just knew Evie would make it big one day. I had no idea how soon she’d hit the big time. Anyway, can you believe this, Lottie? A real party every night at seven o’clock. Cormack and Cressida have really taken the B&B to the next level.” Her lips swim as she says it, and I can tell she’s not buying a word that just flew from her mouth.
“Mother,” I whisper. “You have got to be kidding me. This is a travesty. This place is a hollow shell of the sweet little inn you were running. We need to find a way to put an end to this nightmare.”
Mom leans in. “I happen to agree with you, but Cressida and Cormack spent the afternoon letting go of anyone from my staff that complained about the changes. Lottie, if I don’t go along with their shenanigans, I could find myself homeless. Then Wiley and I will have to live with you, or one of your sisters. I’m flat broke. I can’t even rent a home in Honey Hollow. I gave all my money to that publishing company.” She plucks at the hot pink frock she’s wearing. “I’d better get out on the floor. I need to tend to the partygoers.”
She takes off, and my entire body goes rigid. “Lainey,” I hiss as my sister heads this way. “Mom is this close to getting booted from the B&B, and she’s threatened to live with either you, me, or Meg. We need to get this B&B back in her name no matter what it takes, or you’re going to have both her and Wiley living under your roof.”
Lainey’s mouth falls open. “My roof? You’re the one building the mega mansion. They might be under my roof temporarily, but face it, Lottie, they’ll be shacking up with you forever. Once Meg gets a whiff of this, she’ll move into Red Satin. She’d rather live with a bunch of strippers than our mother and Wiley any day of the week.”
“Come to think of it, so would I.”
“I’ll catch you out on the dance floor,” she says. “The fire department is participating in the all-male
