Kris's Kringles

By Linda Bleser

Christmas hasn't been the same since Kris Miller's beloved grandmother passed. Every year, she made him a special batch of cookies she named Kris's Kringles. So when he discovers the local cookie contest will publish the winning entry, it seems the perfect legacy to honor her. Unfortunately, there's no record of the secret Kringle recipe.

Single mom, Sophie Lawson's new catering business is barely making ends meet. The opportunity to recreate Kris's grandmother's recipe from memory is almost as tempting as he is. She agrees to help on one condition--he'll have to bake them himself. She has her own entry and desperately needs the cash prize. But when they begin this friendly rivalry, they never expect their growing attraction to include consequences.

• Language: Unknown
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Nov 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781509236268

Book preview

Pizza’s here, Sophie’s father shouted. He opened the front door and Sophie peeked into the living room. Her jaw dropped when she saw Kris in the doorway balancing two pizza boxes.

Hope you don’t mind, he said. I saw the delivery man in the driveway and took this off his hands. Took care of the bill too, if that’s okay.

Sophie’s father clapped him on the back. I like this guy.

Come on in, Marilyn called. Sophie’s told me you’ll be working together to develop a prize-winning cookie.

I hope so, he said. Where do you want this?

On the countertop, Sophie said, leading him into the kitchen.

Kris set the pizza box on the counter then took a look at the various packages of flour, sugar and baking ingredients lined up on the other side. Are you sure I gave you enough money for all this?

Plenty, she said, then reached for a package shoved behind a bag of confectioner’s sugar. I had a little left over and bought you this. She held out a black apron with red lips on the bib and the saying Kiss the Cook across the front."

Kris gave her an incredulous look. You expect me to wear this?

Every good cook needs an apron.

He wagged an eyebrow. And if I do, will you…?

She grinned. Don’t push your luck. It was the only one they had.

Kris’s Kringles

by

Linda Bleser

Christmas Cookies Series

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Kris’s Kringles

COPYRIGHT © 2021 by Linda Bleser

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Debbie Taylor

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Edition, 2021

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-3626-8

Christmas Cookies Series

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

For my sister-in-law Kathy Milano who makes the best Christmas cookies in the world and went out of her way to mail them when we couldn't be there in person.

Chapter One

The first time Kris noticed Sophie she was eating a muffin. Not just eating it, but devouring it as if it was a religious experience, eyes closed and little satisfied hums escaping her throat.

She opened her eyes and caught him staring. His gaze was drawn to a crumb caught on the edge of her bottom lip. He fought the impulse to reach out and brush the crumb away, instead just touched his own lips in a brushing gesture.

Her lips turned up in a smile. This is the most delicious muffin I’ve ever tasted. She licked her lips and caught the crumb with the tip of her tongue. It was both cute and sexy at the same time.

He smiled back in a shared-secret sort of way, then turned to the woman—Beverley, according to the name embroidered on her apron—standing behind the counter. I’ll have what she’s having.

Beverley chuckled. Good one.

He gave her a blank stare. Good what?

You know, she said. "Billy Crystal. Meg Ryan. I’ll have what she’s having?"

He shook his head.

Never mind. She turned to the pastry case, leaving him feeling like he was in fifth grade again, frozen like a deer in the headlights at the annual spelling bee and not even sure where to start with a word he’d never heard before.

Beverley cocked her head. For here or to go?

To go. And coffee, please. Black, no sugar. He figured she must be the owner considering it was called Beverley’s Bake Shop. She was tall and regal, wearing a black apron that set off the strand of pearls around her neck. Her hair was steel gray, pulled up in an elegant swirl, with a wide silver streak that seemed to glitter, as if dusted with sugar.

It was the first time he’d been in the bakery, although he’d heard his co-workers rave about the place. Something about Beverley’s magical fruitcake. He remembered scoffing at it, especially since he wasn’t a fan of fruitcake. If the fragrant aromas were any indication, his co-workers were right.

He turned a wistful eye toward the woman at the table, but she was scrolling through her phone. It wasn’t as if he was going to ask to join her anyway. With a shrug, he paid for his coffee and muffin, then left the bakery.

As usual he was the first one to arrive at work. First in, last out. It wasn’t as if he had anything better to do. Besides, he loved his job at Brooks and Associates.

After turning on his computer he unwrapped the muffin. It was still warm. He breathed deeply, savoring the aroma of warm sugar and cinnamon before taking his first bite.

Oh, yes. It really was incredibly delicious. He relished every bite in a way he hadn’t since his grandmother baked his special cookies. He finished the last bite and had to stop himself from licking the wrapper.

Now he wished he’d asked the mystery woman at the bakery her name so he could thank her for the recommendation. Maybe he’d swing by the bakery the next morning and pick up a basket of muffins for the Board meeting. And