“I can’t believe you stuffed a gun under your Santa coat.”
He grins. “I like to keep the naughty list on their toes.”
“Oh honey, I’ve been very,verynaughty.” I waggle my brows, and a wicked grin curls on his lips.
It looks like Santa is bringing the heat tonight—and I’m not talking about the cocoa.
CHAPTER 22
“Did you see that elf just wink at me?” Georgie gasps, clutching her peppermint martini as if it were blessed by three wise bartenders and a reindeer. “I don’t know if I should be flattered or filing a report.”
“That’s the third one tonight,” Mom says, averting her eyes. “Face it, Georgie. You’ve got elf magnetism.”
“Maybe it’s my festive pheromones.” Georgie winks. “Or maybe it’s this mistletoe brooch that used to belong to my Aunt Fanny, who ran off with a magician.”
I blink her way. “I have so many questions and zero time.”
I guess you could say the Thornfield Starlight Christmas Eve Gala has everything tonight—ten chocolate fountains, six-foot nutcrackers, a sleigh made entirely of peppermint bark, and now—just to keep things festive—a full-blown sheriff’s department takedown.
The scents of pine garland and spilled chocolate create an oddly festive atmosphere, and I can hear guests murmuring in amazement as they take cell phone videos of what’s probably going to be Cider Cove’s most talked about Christmas Eve ever.
Leo has already escorted Jennilee out in handcuffs, her chocolate-splattered gold gown trailing behind her like evidence of the world’s messiest food fight, while Jasper—still in full Santa regalia—finishes up the paperwork with the kind of professional efficiency that somehow makes detective work look festive.
That woman never stood a chance once my furry buddies and I got involved,Fish mewls from her perch near the destroyed dessert table.Hoomans forget that animals are excellent at cornering prey in expensive evening gowns.
This is the best Christmas ever!Sherlock barks and jumps with glee while vibrating like a furry little tuning fork.We caught a bad guy AND there are cookies everywhere! It’s like all my dreams came true at once!
Before I can fully process the surreal nature of Santa arresting a killer, I’m suddenly engulfed in what can only be described as a Baker family celebration avalanche. Mom steps in close, brimming with pride.
“Oh my goodness, Buffy, Bizzy!” she exclaims, pulling us both into a group hug that threatens to cut off circulation. “You solved it! You actually solved another murder!”
“Excuse me,” Macy interrupts while clearing her throat so loud it could probably be heard in neighboring states. “I was standing right here. And I’m the one who got the confession by being direct instead of dancing around a killer like a couple of timid little flowers.”
Mom blinks like Macy just materialized from another dimension. “Oh! Macy! I didn’t see you there, sweetheart.”
“Clearly,” Macy grunts as if she’s accustomed to being overlooked but has finally reached her limit. “Despite being the sister who actually cracked the case.”
“All three of my daughters are brilliant,” Mom beams with tears in her eyes.“Even if they do have a disturbing tendency to get involved in homicide investigations.”
Dad and Gwyneth arrive wheeling Ella’s stroller through the chocolate disaster zone while she sleeps peacefully through herfirst murder arrest, because apparently, my daughter has inherited the Baker family ability to sleep through chaos and mayhem.
“That was quite the investigation,” Dad says with a touch of both admiration and apprehension. “What’s it going to take to get the three of you to steer clear of killers?”
“It’s her fault,” both Buffy and Macy say in unison while pointing right at me.
A laugh bubbles from me. “Well, at least you’re unified in one thing.”
“I mean it, girls,” Dad says, attempting a stern dad voice and failing spectacularly. “You’ve hit your holiday crime-solving quota.”
He’s mostly teasing, especially since he’s eyeing the chocolate-slick marble floors like they’re out to take him down.
And judging by the way his gaze keeps drifting toward the dessert buffet, he’s either plotting his next move like it’s a tactical operation or debating whether triple chocolate mousse is worth the risk of a holiday slip-and-slide.
“But I’ve got to hand it to you,” he adds, softening. “You were thorough. I’m proud of all three of you.”
Gwyneth frowns.Note to self,she thinks,never underestimate this family’s ability to turn social events into crime scenes.
She is definitely not wrong.
