Murderous Muffins by Lois Lavrisa Read Free Book Online Page A

on?”
    Cat waved her hand. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking ahead. It’s a habit of mine. Joseph is coming back to see Mr. Phong.”
    I said, “You told him to come back later. So I assume he will.”
    “And when he does, if he causes any problems, then maybe Xavier can help you out. Because they work at the same place, they know each other? Or even if they don’t know each other, I think you should enlist the help of Xavier anyway.”
    “Oh. I don’t know about that.”
    “But you are all related, right?”
    I knew the answer was no. “Very loosely. It’s like we are complete strangers.”
    Cat took a sip of her drink. “Nice and strong.”
    I giggled. “Like you.” I gulped my margarita. My lips puckered.
    Xavier strolled into the kitchen. “Happy hour?”
    Cat poured Xavier a glass. “Here, we have plenty.”
    Xavier thanked Cat and took the glass. He took a swig. “Great cocktail. So, do you have karaoke to go with it?”
    “Huh?” I asked.
    Xavier pointed up. “Someone is singing.”
    I said, “Oh, that must be Mr. Phong.”
    “Mr. Phong?” Xavier asked.
    “You know him, don’t you? I mean, he’s your relative.” Cat topped off her drink.
    Xavier’s mouth dropped open as he looked at me.
    I raised an eyebrow, hoping that he would remember what I’d said earlier today about pretending to be my cousin.
    “Yes. Sure. I mean we haven’t seen each other in years. He’s from the other side of the family.” Xavier leaned against the counter and winked at me. “It sure is nice to be back here amongst relatives.”
    “And I’m going to let you two catch up. I have some paperwork to do in my room.” Cat picked up her glass and waved with her free hand.
    “Looks like we’re alone.” Xavier set his glass down and then crossed his arms. “Don’t know if I can trust myself with such a pretty, sweet cousin, so distantly related.”
    I let out a nervous laugh. A chill ran over me. Xavier both repulsed and attracted me. That combination was not good, any way I looked at it. I chugged the rest of my drink. Whoa. Sweet and sour collided on my taste buds. “Well, I trust that you’ll be a gentleman, as well as a good tenant, and mind your manners.”
    Xavier sauntered over and stood next to me. “I won’t make any promises I can’t keep.”
    As he moved closer, I breathed in a slight grapefruit-cinnamon scent on Xavier, reminding me of Bradley’s Ambre Topkapi cologne. I turned my back to him and set my glass in the sink. Grabbing the blender, I removed the glass top and set it in the sink, then filled it with hot water.
    Xavier said, “I’m not sure if I’m reading you right. But I seem to make you uncomfortable.”
    “Really?” I shut off the faucet.
    “C’mon. You’re nervous around me. I can sense that.”
    I dried my wet hands on a towel. Placing my hands on my hips, I glared at him. “So now you’re a psychic?”
    He put a hand to his forehead. “Yes, I am. And I see you falling madly in love with me.”
    “You need to get your crystal ball checked.”
    Xavier let out a guffaw. “It’s twenty-twenty.”
    I needed to stop this conversation now. I’d end this on a professional tenant-landlord type note. “I hope that your accommodations are acceptable. Please let me know if there is anything else you need.” I began to leave.
    Xavier said, “Wait a minute. There is something I need.”
    I stopped and turned around. “Extra towels?”
    “No. I’m good on those. I’d like to know who your other tenants are.”
    My mouth dropped open. That was a bold request. “I’m not sure I’m at liberty to disclose that to you.”
    “I think you are. The way I look at it, we are all living under the same roof. So it makes sense that we should know each other.”
    He did have a point. I said, “I’m not sure.”
    “Listen, we are all supposed to be relatives, right?” he said.
    “Well, I mean, yes, of course, I’d appreciate it, if anyone asked, if you’d say