Cozy Christmas Shorts by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: christmas, xmas, romantic suspense, Mystery & Detective, Fiction, General, mystery series, romance, romantic comedy, cozy, winter, holiday, mystery
ISBN: 9781943587759
Google: 5nJ6DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing
Published: 2016-09-01T11:53:21.075000+00:00

* * *

To warm us up after our misadventure, I baked some gingerbread men while Jones struggled with the tree and his demons. Damn it. Every time it seemed like the holiday was on track, something threw a big old monkey wrench into the works. Lizzy, the recipe book, Mavis and Peter, and now Jones's father, who appeared to be on a bender.

As I cleaned up from my baking, I stared out the kitchen window. How many times had I made gingerbread men with Nana on Christmas Eve? Every year before I moved out. I'd been too busy for holiday nonsense while I trained to become a chef. I figured I cooked for a living—there was no reason to cook more, especially not just for me. But there was something therapeutic about making something so different than the run-of-the-mill pasta.

We'd picked up Roofus and brought him home with us. He now lay smack in the center of the kitchen floor, snoring. I clipped his leash to him and dragged him out into the back yard to do his business. He gave me a stink eye and sat, staring up at me. I could wait him out though.

The sun had gone down, and the sky was purpling. We had a few hours yet before we picked up Pops and Aunt Cecily for midnight mass. I wondered where Kaylee was and if she was having a good Christmas. She was sixteen now, too old for the Santa shtick. What were her new family's traditions? Did they bake together?

"Andrea, I need a hand," Jones called from the back door.

I dragged the worthless mongrel inside and made my way into the other room. "What's up?"

The tree for one thing. Though Jones's hands were coated in sap, and he had scrapes on his knuckles, he smiled victoriously. "Will you help me string the lights?"

I shook my head, grinning. His enthusiasm was contagious. "Go wash your hands first."

"Yes, Ma'am." He headed toward the bathroom then stopped mid stride. "What the devil?"

"What?" I turned, but he bolted for the door. "What's the matter?"

He didn't answer me, intent on flinging open the front door and dashing out into the night. Somewhere down the street a car horn honked, and a dog started barking.

"Malcolm, what is it?" I followed him out. "Tell me what's going on."

He'd stopped at the end of the driveway and was looking down the street. "Never mind."

He tromped back up to the house.

I smacked him on the shoulder. "Damn it, what just happened?"

He shut the door and leaned against it. "Someone was looking through the windows."

"What?"

"I looked up, and there was this face there."

"Do you know who it was?"

He shook his head. "No, it happened too fast."

"Do you think we should call the police?" I was seriously creeped out.

"That's a good idea." Jones pulled me towards him. "You do that, and I'll wash up."

I dug my cell out of my jacket pocket. On Christmas Eve most of the local law enforcement were either out doing sobriety checks or home with their families, so I called Kyle directly.

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