Ivy pulls a tight smile her way. “I was just reprimanding Noah for his misconduct last night. Neither he nor your husband is in any position to put themselves in a negative light. But I’m sure you’re well aware of that.”
“I’m all too aware,” Lottie says, rubbing her belly before taking a seat next to me.
The scent of warm vanilla floats from her, and I take it in.
Lottie Lemon is intoxicating in every single way. I can’t get enough of any single part of her.
And don’t think I didn’t notice the fact Ivy pointed out that Lottie already had a husband. I know what Ivy is up to. Not only does she want to drive home the point I shouldn’t be doing any extracurricular activities, but she wants to drive home the point that Lottie is taken.
Lottie tips the platter of desserts toward Ivy. “Raspberry tart?”
“Are you trying to poison me?” Ivy doesn’t miss a beat.
“Not while you’re in my bakery.” Lottie blinks a smile her way. “So what’s going on with the case? Have you questioned Bambi Bailey yet? Did you know that Verity had a shouting match with her the night she died? She threatened to get a restraining order against her. What did Bambi have to say about that?”
Ivy gives a solid blink. “Since you asked me and not Bambi herself, I’ll go ahead and tell you what I know as a reward. But let’s be clear. This is my case, Lottie. You’re not to interfere with my suspects.” She pulls a raspberry tart onto a napkin. “Are we clear on that?”
“Clear as day,” Lottie says just as a rumble of thunder goes off outside from the storm percolating up above. “Now spill it.”
Ivy takes a moment to frown at the two of us. “Bambi Bailey said she didn’t know what that restraining order threat was about. She said that the two of them weren’t on the best of terms as of late, but that most of that fell on Verity’s shoulders. Apparently, Bambi stopped acting like her personal henchman, and Verity wasn’t all that pleased. She mentioned that Verity said she’d ruin her. As I see it, that little stunt about needing a restraining order could have very well fit the bill.”
“And?” Lottie doesn’t look satisfied in the least with that explanation. “You’re still digging into this, right?”
Ivy tips her head back as if Lottie struck her. “I’m digging into a lot of things at the moment. The operative word being I. You, on the other hand, have a bakery to run, a husband to keep busy, and a baby to prepare for. There’s no need for you to worry about Verity Prescott’s killer. I have it handled.” She takes a sip from her coffee. “Delicious,” she says, toasting us both with it. “But I’m afraid I have to run. I’m meeting with Chad Harris this evening to have a few more words regarding his late girlfriend.”
“Ooh”—Lottie perks up—“where did you hunt him down? I know nothing about him.”
A dull laugh bounces from Ivy as she stands to her feet. “And that’s exactly how we’ll keep it. Stay out of trouble, the both of you. Noah”—she nods my way—“we’ll keep in touch. Perhaps next time we can do dinner across the street at Mangias? I hear they serve impeccable Italian food.”
Lottie grunts as Ivy stalks off into the snow.
“I swear that woman just likes to get under my skin,” she growls. “And believe me, she wants to get under the sheets with you. I don’t need a road map to know where she’d really like to go with you. I’ve told you for years that she has the hots for you.”
“And apparently you’re right.” I tip my head toward the door. “What did you think of what she said?”
“Regarding the case? Pfft. She’s clueless. Personally, I think Bambi fed her a load of bull and Ivy opened her mouth all the wider while it was shoveled in.”
“So what’s our next move?”
Her lips twitch back and forth as she tries her best to restrain a smile.
“You know that asking to help me on a case is tantamount to shamelessly flirting.” She gives me a cheeky wink.
“And you can’t stop me from the effort. I mean it. Who’s next?”
“Do you have to ask? I think Bambi Bailey has some serious explaining to do.”
I nod. “I say we don’t waste any time. Let’s go find her.” I hold a hand out her way. “Team?”
Lottie places her hand in mine and gives me a squeeze. “We’ll always be a team, Noah.”
“Now that is music to my ears.” I kiss the back of her hand before she can protest. “Hot Cop and Hot Baker on the case. For life.” A smile rides on my lips as I say it, and a laugh bubbles from her.
But she doesn’t shoot the idea down.
And I’m betting that’s because she knows it’s true.
Lottie
It doesn’t take long to track down Bambi Bailey. Being the social media maven she is, she leads us straight to her doorstep—or more to the point, the coffee shop in which she’s currently taking up residence.
Lava Java is located in downtown Leeds on a ubiquitous corner in this seedy town that looks as if you could get shanked just walking through. Usually this end of town is reserved for drug lords and porn pins, and outside of that it’s typically a ghost town, but tonight there’s hardly any parking for blocks. Which is the exact reason Carlotta, Noah, Everett, and I landed and parked and trekked a million miles in the snow uphill both ways until we finally get to the door.
We come upon the coffee-inspired establishment and a sharp gasp circles the vicinity
