Red Velvet Crinkles and Christmas Sprinkles by Maria Imbalzano

Author:Maria Imbalzano [Imbalzano, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Holiday Romance; Christmas; Brother's Friend; Boy Next Door; Businessman; Career Woman; contemporary; enemies to lovers; family; community; happily ev
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2021-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

For the next two weeks leading up to the grand reopening of Barb’s Cookie Cottage, Bella, her parents, and their favored child, Dean, readied the store for their new venture. Bella tried hard to avoid the man who selflessly gave of his time to do her parents’ bidding—even at a moment’s notice. Whenever he neared, her internal radar announced his presence, and pleasurable shivers ran through her system. His good humor and ready smile, directed at her, sent her heart spiraling.

In order to keep him from inching further into her bloodstream, she erected blocks. Whenever possible, she left the shop upon his arrival, as if working on the next steps of her marketing plan could only be done from her parents’ house. But there were times when he’d prevent her furtive escape with a warm hand that caressed her wrist while he seduced her with his sincere request that she stay. And those were the times she couldn’t strip from her mind. Just his nearness sent her heartbeat into overdrive as it pounded against her ribs. Her entire body flushed with the heat of desire. And the way he looked at her—like he wanted to rip off her clothes and ravish her. Oh my.

These reactions were all the more reason to dodge him at every turn. They clearly weren’t going to start dating. His coldheartedness and insensitivity from years before wouldn’t simply disappear from her memory, even if he had buried them. Besides, she’d be back in New York City in a little over a month, slaving away at her next job, and he’d be here in Princeton, doing his landscape architect thing. They’d live the lives they’d been living, untouched by the other’s existence.

Frustration, angst, and desire stirred within at this untenable situation. She needed to walk it off. “Mom, I’m going to distribute these. I’ll be back.”

Bella had created a flier and stopped at every store in town, asking if she could put it in their window to advertise their grand reopening as well as their new branding. Since the community was so warm and supportive, no one denied her request.

On the day of the unveiling, four display cases filled with buttery, sugary cookies lined the right side of the store, radiating an aroma to die for. The bookcases behind them were decorated with stuffed bears, elves, Santas, and nutcrackers along with colorful holiday tins to purchase and fill with cookies as gifts.

A brand-new coffee machine, which also produced tea or hot chocolate, sat at the back end of the bookcases. Several tables were covered with Christmas themed cloths, and eclectic caned chairs accompanied them—all set up between the window and the middle of the store on the left side. The back of the store held their Christmas tree, still decorated with jewelry, scarves, and ornamental Christmas balls for purchase, as well as two tables of specially selected gifts for the season.

The event was a success!

A steady stream of customers kept them running from morning till night.

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