Whiskey Rebellion (Romantic Mystery/Comedy) Book 1 (Addison Holmes Mysteries)

find someone for you to replace Greg with. I didn’t want you to be mopey, so I thought Nick would be a good choice for rebound sex.”
    “Thanks,” I said, wincing.
    The problem was I didn’t want to have rebound sex with Nick. I wanted to have relationship sex with Nick. Now I could never be sure if it was one or the other.
    “You look great tonight,” I told her.
    “Well, I figured if I didn’t try at least a little in the dress up department you’d just bitch at me all night.”
    I thought about denying it, but she was probably right, so I kept my mouth shut.
    “Speaking of Greg,” Kate said. “I hate to have to tell you this, but they’re assigned to our table. And before you ask, I’ve already tried to swap the seats out at another table, but no one else wants to sit with them either.”
    “What?” I asked horrified.
    I was already looking for the exit, when I noticed Nick walking over to our table. I knew his full attention was on me because all the hair on the back of my neck stood up and my nipples wanted to turn in his direction like homing beacons.
    “What’s going on?” he asked, pulling my chair out for me.
    “We have to leave,” I said, grabbing my handbag.
    “You can handle this, Addison,” Kate said, pushing me down in my seat. “Just remember you can’t hit Veronica unless she attacks first. I’d hate for you to get arrested. Of course, you do have friends with enough clout to get you off easy, and if we get a sympathetic judge you probably wouldn’t have to serve any jail time.”
    Mike rolled his eyes at Kate. “Maybe you just need to have a drink and relax.”
    “A drink. That’s a good idea,” I said, the panic sending me close to h yperventilation. I grabbed Nick’s arm in a death grip and stuck my head between my knees.
    “Would someone please tell me what’s going on?” Nick asked, looking at us both like we belonged in a looney bin.
    “Addison’s ex-fiancé and the other woman are sitting with us tonight,” Kate whispered.
    “Oh. So what’s the big deal? We’re all adults here,” Nick said, obviously unfamiliar with what had transpired in the breakup process.
    “Greg and the floozy got caught doing it in the limo on Addison’s wedding day,” Kate said, leaning as far around me as possible so Nick could hear the sordid story.
    “Really?” Nick asked, the corners of his mouth quirked up in a smile that promised laughter.
    “Don’t you dare laugh,” I said. “It’s not the least bit funny.”
    “No, it’s not,” he said, continuing to smile. “Does that mean I’m your rebound?” He brushed his finger down the side of my cheek and sent heat straight down to my unmentionables.
    I blushed red because I didn’t really know how to answer him. Was I interested in him only on the rebound? The tingles that coursed through my body told me I didn’t want to be. I’d never felt those tingles before with anyone. I’m not the most experienced person in the world, so maybe the tingles only came when you were on the rebound. I’d have to ask someone who knew.
    The good news was that the sexual pull of Nick’s touch kept me from hyperventilating. The bad news was I still hadn’t figured out how to get out of a situation that was bound to be uncomfortable.
    The table got quiet when Greg and Veronica approached. Veronica was pulling Greg along behind her like a dog on a leash, a look of devilish excitement on her face when she saw where she was sitting. Her double D’s barely held up a slinky column of shimmering silver that was slit up her side to show long tanned legs. I had no idea what that woman was teaching to a room full of teenagers, but it probably wasn’t how to cook a roast turkey.
    “Well hello, everyone,” Veronica said, oozing honey and southern charm, all of which was as fake as her implants.
    She made a point of shaking both men’s hands and she lingered over Nick just a little too long for my taste. I think I started to growl because she backed up rather quickly, and Nick started to laugh.
    “Easy, tiger,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    Oddly enough, his words comforted me. Nick might have issues in etiquette, but there was something about him that said you could trust him. I relaxed in my chair and watched Greg take his seat next to Veronica.
    Greg picked at invisible lint on his jacket and tapped his fingers nervously on the table. A light film of sweat coated his upper lip and forehead. Greg