D is for Drunk Read Online Free PDF Page A

looked around at her sister’s immaculate kitchen. Emily was making spaghetti and meatballs, and a giant pot of spaghetti sauce simmered on the stove. It smelled like heaven.
    “I’d love a glass of wine,” Sofia told her sister as she snuck a spoonful of sauce out of the pot. The sauce tasted even better than it smelled—tomato, basil, oregano, and a bunch of mystery spices only Emily knew. “A big one.”
    Emily took the spoon off her and put it in the sink. “Rough day at work?”
    She thought about her really rough days at work—when people kidnapped her, shot at her, or humiliated her in public. “Even worse. A boring one. But the morning was good.”
    Emily poured her a glass of red and handed it to her. “Tell me about your morning. I had to start off talking to Van’s teacher because he took apart the sprinkler system and flooded the classroom.”
    “Was he in much trouble?”
    “Not for Van, no. Anyway, tell me about your morning.”
    “I went swimming at the beach in front of my house.” She took a sip of wine. “And—”
    The kitchen door burst open, and two blond kids came flying through. She set her wineglass on the counter to intercept them.
    “Auntie Sofia!” Violet hugged her around the waist. With her blond curls and cherubic face, Violet had the face of a seven-year-old Shirley Temple, but she had the temperament of a professional wrestler.
    Van grinned and waved. “Hey!”
    Playing it pretty cool for a six-year-old.
    “Hey back!” Sofia tousled his hair.
    Emily’s husband Ray came in behind them. “Good to see you, Sofia.”
    “You, too,” Sofia said.
    Violet bounced up and down on her toes. “Wanna see my new move?”
    “Will it hurt?” Sofia looked at Van instead of Violet. If Van flinched, she didn’t want to see it. Van shrugged.
    “It’s called the samurai slice, and it won’t hurt unless I have a sword. Which I would be very responsible with.” Violet looked hopefully at her mother, but Emily shook her head.
    Violet pouted for a second, then dropped into a samurai stance, lifted an invisible sword up, and slashed it straight through Sofia’s abdomen.
    “I’d be in bad shape if that were a real sword,” Sofia said.
    “Your guts would spill right out onto the floor in a twisted mess. I read it in a book.” Violet lowered her sword, bowed, and dashed off.
    “Where would she get a book like that?” Emily gave Ray a look.
    “Not me.” He backpedaled out of the kitchen, pulling Van along with him.
    “You were saying, about your morning,” Emily said.
    Sofia told her about the latest client and his neighbor problems.
    “The neighbor over on that side,” Emily pointed with a wooden spoon, “likes to walk around his yard naked whenever there’s a full moon. Sometimes he howls. Ray went over and talked to him about it. He says he’s taking moon baths.”
    “Well, you guys are definitely getting mooned.”
    Emily rolled her eyes. “You’ve been spending too much time with Aidan.”
    “I know.” She really had.
    Emily stirred her sauce. “When was the last time you had a date?”
    “Tomorrow.”
    Violet spilled in through the door with Van right behind her.
    “Tomorrow?” Violet asked. “Do you need me to show you some self-defense moves?”
    “What did I say about listening at the door?” Emily asked.
    “Not to do it.” Violet had already assumed her stance.
    “What’s this guy’s name?” Van crossed his arms and tapped his foot. He looked like the disapproving dad Sofia never had.
    “Action,” Sofia said.
    “What?” Emily nearly dropped her spoon.
    Damn Aidan for putting that into her head. “Jaxon. I meant Jaxon. Jaxon Ford.”
    “How did you meet?” Van wasn’t dropping his scowl. Sofia felt bad for Violet’s future boyfriends.
    “And do you remember the Nutcracker?” Violet asked. “That one’s always handy.”
    Yup, Sofia felt sorry for those future boys for a lot of reasons. “I saved his life.”
    Fifteen minutes later,