A Frightening Fangs-giving

listened to him the first time. But no, I had to go my own way. I wanted some arm-candy for my photo ops, and in exchange I got a viper capable of destroying everything I’ve worked so hard to get away from.
Get away from?
“I met Hunter.” I give my sister the side-eye as she piles donuts high onto a plate. My guess is that Flint has no idea about the Hunter-Macy connection. Lord knows I won’t be the one to tell him. “He does seem like a nice guy. He seemed to get along well with my cats.”
“Cats?” Flint laughs on Hunter’s animal-loving behalf. “Now that he’s hit the unemployment line, maybe he’s the one that should go into politics? Rumor has it, he likes babies, too.”
A warm laugh strums from me.
For as cheesy as Flint seems to be, there’s something magnetizing about him.
“Is there anyone else that Ember may have rubbed the wrong way?”
Everyone else, he muses to himself.
“The only other person I saw getting under Ember’s skin was Marigold. They were a forced bond to begin with—through marriage. Ember was constantly saying that woman would be the death of her. And who knows, it may have panned out yet. I’m sure the detectives are looking into it. Marigold had quite the colorful life before she became the next Mrs. Sweet.”
“Really? What kind of colorful life?”
“I think she was initially hired as his personal assistant while he was still married to the last Mrs. Sweet. He’s had quite the collection of wives. It was actually Ember who helped her get the position.”
“They were friends?”
“More like acquaintances on the party scene.” My guess is Ember wanted someone new to manipulate and found her victim in Marigold.
Manipulate for the sake of manipulation? I’m guessing there’s more to the story.
He shakes his head. “And, of course, there’s Willow Taylor.” His mind flits to white noise—a sure sign his thoughts just took a dive for the naughty. If there is one bright spot in this unique ability of mine, it’s the fact that I’m blocked from witnessing any depraved indelicate thoughts a person might be having. It’s mostly men that I encounter the white noise phenomenon around, which is the equivalent to snow on a television set. And to be truthful, Jordy is the man I see it in most. Usually that happens after a beautiful woman walks past him at the inn. Even though Jordy and I had a short-lived marriage, nothing physical has ever happened between us, and I’m glad to say we came away with our friendship intact after that whole Vegas debacle.
“What about Willow?” I ask. “Hey, you don’t think she was capable of poisoning Ember, do you?”
He holds up his hands. “I’ll be the last person to accuse anyone of anything.” That’s one way to keep my hands clean. Stay out of the drama. And how I wish I had stayed out of the drama with Laurel.
Who the heck is Laurel? Is that a nickname he had for Ember? Wait a minute. Marigold mentioned Laurel just yesterday, internally at least.
Before another question can brew in my mind, Georgie and Juni appear at my side like the unstoppable hurricanes they are.
“How’d you like the show, Councilman?” Juni asks, looking every bit like the tough chick she is, clad in leather.
“We’re the ones with the sign.” Georgie gives an enthusiastic nod while wearing one of her wonky quilts over her body like a bathrobe. “And you’ve got blood on your hands, mister.” She gives a wonky wink just as Jasper runs up winded.
Sorry. He wraps an arm around my waist. I tried to stop them.
I shrug up at him. I think at this point we both know they’re unstoppable.
Flint belts out a belly laugh. “You’re my first hecklers.” He offers both Juni and Georgie a warm smile. “What is it you’re after?” I would have asked, what makes you think I have blood on my hands? But I’m afraid I know the answer to that. And I very much have blood on my hands.
I squeeze the life out of Jasper’s waist, and my hand accidentally forms around the butt of his gun, causing him to jerk in reflex.
Juni wags a finger at the councilman in front of us. “You’re not here to stop free enterprise, are you?”
“Yeah.” Georgie shakes a fist at him. “We spoke with the landlord who owns the dirt under Suds and Illuminations, and he said he can’t let the poor girl who got stuck with the soapy bag out of the lease. He said to take it up with the city council.”
Jasper groans. “I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding.” He glances to Georgie. “The city council has been cooperating with the sheriff’s department. They just need an all-clear from me. I’ll get on that, Georgie. I can assure you Councilman Butler has nothing to do with it whatsoever.” He nods to the councilman in question. “Nice to see you again, Flint. I’m here with my wife.” He nods my way. “The inn she runs is taking part in the Founders’ Day festivities.”
“Ah!” Flint tips his head back. So my arrest isn’t imminent after all. He chuckles to himself, and oddly it sounds as if it comes out more playful than it does worrisome. “Any word on the case?”
“No.” Jasper bears hard into Flint Butler’s eyes as if they were having a showdown. “Like I said that first day we met, if you have anything that might help the investigation, I’m just a phone call away.”
“You bet.” He glances to the crowd. “I think I’d better mingle. I’ll see you all at the concert at the cove.” He gets two steps away before Macy accosts him with her donuts.
“I see you’ve escaped my sister’s clutches.” Macy shoots me a quick look before handing him a donut.
He offers a smile way. “It’s always a pleasure,” he calls out. But having Laurel creep back to the forefront of my mind was anything but. And just like Ember, Laurel Crabtree