“We spotted the killer,” Carlotta says as she takes a sip of that concoction she’s holding.
Teddy nods my way. “I knew Carlotta would get to the bottom of this sooner than later. It’s just a shame that my sweet Sugar was involved. She must have had a hard time of it once I was taken from her. I dare say she’s lost her mind.”
“Someone has lost their mind, all right,” I say to Carlotta. “Please don’t even whisper anything about the killer. If she gets wind that we’re onto her, she could take off and live to torment Evie another day. We need to play it cool.”
The music hikes up and the crowd shakes its limbs with a little more vigor, and I narrowly escape getting my belly bumped as Carlotta does her best to shuffle us off to the side.
“We need to get you an iron dress, Lot,” she says, dusting off my bulging tummy.
“Carlotta always has the best ideas.” Teddy chortles.
“I couldn’t move in an iron dress,” I grunt. “In fact—” I hold out my arms to display the long crimson velvet number I’ve donned and accidentally smack my arm over someone’s chest. “Oh! I’m sorry,” I say as I turn to find Juliet blinking back as her hands rise a moment to protect herself.
“Lottie, hold your fire.” Juliet laughs as she adjusts her purse over her shoulder. She’s donned a white cardigan with pink and red hearts, and it looks perfectly scrumptious for this heart-shaped night.
“Juliet, did you make this cute sweater?” I ask, giving her arm a quick pat.
“I did.” She wrinkles her nose as she looks down at it. “It was my very first attempt at a cardigan all those years ago. Good thing the lighting in here is so poor, or you’d see all of the mistakes.”
“Well, it’s gorgeous and it looks sweet enough to eat,” I say.
Carlotta chuckles. “I’d watch that sweater if I were you,” she tells her. “Once my Lot gets a craving, there are no lengths she’ll go to procure that cotton candy cutie for her belly.”
Juliet chuckles right alongside her. “Funny you should mention that, but it’s actually why I went into knitting.”
I lean in. “You had a craving for a cardigan?”
“My doctor told me to add more fiber to my diet, so I took up knitting.”
The four of us share a warm laugh.
“I’m teasing.” She flicks her wrist. “But I could go for one of your raspberry tarts. It looks as if everyone here has one in their hand.”
“They’re right over on the refreshment table.” I point over to the tempting display. “Help yourself to as many as you like.”
“I will,” she says. “I’m a sucker for a good preserve.”
“It’s baker’s jam, actually,” I’m quick to confess. “Raspberries won’t be in season until summer, but well, Verity had requested them.”
“I can’t blame her. They are delicious.” She takes off just as Teddy floats my way.
“Oh dear, there’s Sugar.” The tiny specter points her razor-sharp nails toward the foyer, and sure enough, Sugar is standing there in a little pink dress, having it out with Chad Harris, of all people. Chad has his hair slicked back and a black leather jacket on, looking like the bad boy he is.
“Say, Lot”—Carlotta pulls my elbow toward her—“isn’t that Verity’s old stinker of a boyfriend?”
“It sure is,” I say just as Sugar stalks off in the direction of the library, and Chad walks straight for us, looking a little miffed by the exchange.
“Lottie.” He nods my way, and just as he’s about to push past me, I jump in front of him. “Whoa.” He comes shy of patting my belly. “It’s as if you’ve got a missile shooting out of your dress. I’d hate to bump into you.”
“I’m fine,” I assure him. “You look tense. Is everything all right?”
He smacks his lips. “Let’s just say I gave love a shot, but Cupid wasn’t in agreement with me. And in her defense, it was more lust on my part than it was love. But a guy’s gotta try, right?”
“You keep on truckin’, honey,” Carlotta is quick to encourage him with a pat to the back. “If one fish spits in your face, you just jump right back into that barrel and shoot another.”
“Carlotta,” I scold her before turning his way once again. “What she’s trying to say is there are other fish in the sea.” My lips crimp. “I guess that means you’re getting over Verity.”
“I’ll never get over her.” His face contorts with a look of grief. “But I’m not against finding someone to take the sting away either. Sugar and I go way back. She’s the one that introduced me to Verity. But it’s not happening, at least not at this moment in time. Have a great night, ladies.” He takes off, and Carlotta watches him go with her eyes bulging.
“Woo-wee, Lot. A couple of more strikes and that young stud will be primed for a cougar like me.”
“Ooh,” Teddy muses. “You’re quite the go-getter, Carlotta. Solving crimes and livening up your love life all at the very same time.”
“More like robbing the cradle,” I mutter. “Carlotta, it’s Valentine’s Day. Shouldn’t you be spending it with Mayor Nash?”
“Oh, I am,” she hisses. “But he won’t be breaking into the house until two in the morning. It’s up to me to keep myself occupied until them.”
“That does sound exciting,” Teddy coos. “Fighting crime and making time for love. You should really take a page out of Carlotta’s book, Lottie. She has it all together.”
A choking sound emits from me, but before I can say a word, Bambi Bailey spins her way over like a tornado.
“Great party!” she shouts above the music. “Verity would have loved it!”
“I’d like to think so.” I shrug. “Technically, it’s in her honor.”
Bambi smirks. “As long as she didn’t have to pay for it.”
“That cheap, huh?” Carlotta asks.
“She wasn’t just cheap, she was barely squeaking by,” Bambi tells us. “Things were about to take
