We say goodbye to Diane, Gizmo, and Sugar, and we watch as they take off into the night.
“It’s all over,” I say.
“Oh no.” Jasper nods to the inn. “The fun is just beginning.”
The four us make our way back into the ballroom where the music is still playing and about half the room is either blissfully unaware of what’s transpired or they don’t really care all that much about Bobbie and Lacey’s murderous intentions.
We make our way to the front where we find my father and Huxley both wearing matching dark suits with bright red ties. Judging by their facial expressions, you’d think they were next up at the guillotine.
“Bizzy!” Georgie calls out as Juni and my mother run up along with her. “Are you sure you nabbed the right killer?”
Mom nods. “My daughter doesn’t make a mistake.” She takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Macy and that tiger of hers saw them haul those women off just before we went out and inspected the chaos for ourselves. I’m proud of you, Bizzy—keeping Cider Cove crime free, one killer at a time.”
Juni claps her hands together. “That can be your slogan when you run for office. Way to give Mackenzie Woods some real competition.”
“She’s not running for mayor.” Georgie flicks her fingers as if shooing the idea away. “She’s gunning for her husband’s position down at the sheriff’s department.”
Jasper gives a wistful tick of the head. “At this rate, she just might get it.”
Macy strides up, as do Leo, Emmie, Jordy, Keegan, and even Grady and Nessa. We gather together along with all of Jasper’s brothers, his sister, her sweet baby, and her handsome hubby. The Woods family showed up, too, but their numbers are sparse.
I pull my brother and father into a warm embrace at the very same time.
“I love you both,” I say as I look into their twin denim-colored eyes. They’re both so handsome, so strong, and yet there’s an air of vulnerability about them tonight as well. “You’re going to do great,” I tell them. “You’ve got a lot of happiness ahead of you. And on the up side, you will probably never forget your anniversary.”
We share a quick laugh as Georgie steps up.
“Down a minister?” She winks at the grooms. “Have no fear, Georgie’s here.”
Soon, the sound of the “Wedding March” fills the air, and Jasper and all four of his brothers walk Gwyneth down the aisle with Sherlock barking alongside them.
Gwyneth looks gorgeous with a silver gown and a pom of red roses in her hand as she takes her place next to my father.
Next up is Mackenzie Woods with her father by her side. Mack looks dangerous in a short red number. It’s a bold look, but to each his own.
Hux sniffs hard and, if I’m not mistaken, I see tears glistening in both his eyes and my father’s, and I get the feeling they’re not tears of remorse.
Georgie does her thing, and before we know it, the four of them are hitched—Dad to Gwyneth, and Huxley to Mackenzie.
Sherlock yips and jumps as the four of them smooch it out.
I look over to see Emmie and Leo smooching it out as well. Of course, Macy and Tiger seem to be checking out one another’s tonsils. Nessa and Grady are going at it for the sake of going at it. Mom even lets Dr. Bernstein sneak in a peck.
Georgie and Juni are finally giving their fluffy kissers a little action with Mr. Leather and Bobbie’s brother, Buck, whom I’m not entirely sure is apprised of his sister’s current location.
A slow song bleats through the speakers, and Jasper pulls me in close as we begin to move in time with the music.
I glance over to the refreshment table and spot Fish and Sherlock chasing one another’s tails, and everything feels right again.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Jasper whispers the words so close to my ear it tickles. “You’re glad everything turned out great, but you sort of want to make a quick escape.”
“Oh?” I pull back and bite down on a smile. “Is that what I’m thinking? Are you a mind reader now?”
He shakes his head. “I read hearts. Your heart specifically.”
“Aww,” I coo. “You know what that means? We have the most intimate form of communication two people can have. It looks as if we’re the perfect match after all.”
He nods. “I was thinking the exact same thing.” His lids hood a notch, and his lips begin to curve with delicious, yet malevolent, intent. “You know there’s another form of intimate communication we’re pretty good at.”
“I’d say we were great.”
He gives a quick glance in Georgie’s direction. “You could say that, but it’s doubtful anyone would believe you.” A dark laugh strums from his chest, and I swat him. “But the important part is”—he coils a lock of my hair around his finger—“that you believe it.”
“And do you believe me?”
A sly grin rides up the side of his face. “Make a believer out of me.”
Jasper and I head back to our cottage and make firm believers out of one another in the very best way.
It’s a happy Valentine’s Day indeed.
***Thank you for reading!
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A Winter Tail of Woe (Country Cottage Mysteries 14)
A haunted book store and a killer—winter in Cider Cove will leave you chilled to the bone with fear.
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My name is Lottie Lemon, and I see dead people. Okay, so I rarely see dead people, mostly I see furry creatures of the dearly departed variety who have come back from the other side to warn me of their previous owner’s impending doom.
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