A Christmas Cannoli Kiss by Anne Armistead

Author:Anne Armistead [Armistead, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance; Second Chance; Holiday Romance; Bake; Christmas; Homecoming; Love Reunited; Shared past; Troubled past; wedding; Reconciliation; Family Issue
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2021-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Isabella slammed her hand against the kitchen’s swinging door, and it smacked open against the kitchen wall.

Beth snapped her head up. “Whoa, that’s some entrance.”

Angie paused in stirring the contents in a stainless-steel mixing bowl. She handed the spoon to Beth and wiped her hands on her apron. “This dough needs a minute more stirring before it goes into the refrigerator to set. We’ll need to grate an orange for more zest.” Angie faced Isabella. “I’m so sorry about you wanting to buy our place. We had no idea.”

Beth waved the spoon in the air. “I didn’t say a word until Nate did.” A glob of cookie dough threatened to fall, and Beth stuck the spoon back into the bowl.

Angie nodded. “She didn’t. Nate told us about you wanting to counter his deal.” She pressed a hand to her bosom. “Sal and I are heartsick about the two of you falling out over it. We don’t know what to do. If we sign Nate’s offer, we hurt you, and if we wait for you to raise the money to buy us out, we hurt him.”

“Oh, Angie. It’s too much of a gamble for you and Sal to reject the offer from Nate’s client in order to wait for me. I want you to do what’s best for you two. Nate and I are fine, so don’t worry about us.” Isabella forced her voice to remain calm even though anger toward Nate bubbled inside her.

“Are you sure, Isabella?” Concern clouded Angie’s eyes.

“Yes, one-hundred-per-cent sure. Blink away your worried look.” Isabella removed her coat and hung it and her purse on a hook by the back door leading to the alley. She put both hands on Angie’s shoulders and gently spun her to where the recipe lay on the counter. “Now, let’s get back to these cannoli cookies. Any ideas about how to tweak the glaze?”

Angie shook her head. “It’s something about the orange flavoring.”

“If I’d been at Mom’s elbow in the kitchen. I would have learned all her little secrets.” Isabella began drying the cups Beth washed. “Instead, I preferred spending the time with Dad, discussing the latest book we were reading together.”

“Don’t be hard on yourself, Isabella.” Angie retrieved the dough from the refrigerator. “Not every girl is interested in baking, and there’s nothing wrong about that.” She dolloped the dough onto the cookie sheet.

“I regret it, though.” Isabella scooped a tad of the dough into her mouth. “Yum.”

Beth helped herself to a spoonful. “I have an idea. We can sell the refrigerated dough for people enjoy them hot from the oven.” She grinned. “Well, people other than Isabella.”

“Ha. Ha.” Isabella scrunched her face. “You’re right, though. We’ll offer Dottie’s Cannoli Cookies refrigerated dough.” She envisioned the commerce website she’d build. The cookies and the dough would be their brand item, along with the other bakery delights they’d produced. Of course, books and gifts would round out their inventory.

Angie placed the cookie sheet into the oven and washed her hands.

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