A Crème Brulee Christmas

By Randi Lynn

Baker Donna Phillips finds herself whipped up between nosey neighbors and an arrogant architect, all while trying to survive Christmas chaos. Can her son, Owen, mix up a holiday miracle to show Donna that love is the reason for the season?

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Dec 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781487440145

Book preview

Who says naughty can’t be nice?

Baker Donna Phillips finds herself whipped up between nosey neighbors and an arrogant architect, all while trying to survive Christmas chaos. Can her son, Owen, mix up a holiday miracle to show Donna that love is the reason for the season?

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A Crème Brulee Christmas

Copyright © 2023 Randi Lynn

ISBN: 978-1-4874-4014-5

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc

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Smashwords Edition

A Crème Brulee Christmas

By

Randi Lynn

Dedication

For my sweet Abbi Lynn.

Chapter One

Mooooom, you’re not listening.

Please, not now, Owen.

Gabriel Maxim blew through the glass door of the bakery, pushed on by an icy wind.

A half dozen assorted muffins please, he called out as he hustled to the counter to pay for his order. Shopping bags and a briefcase had his arms full, so he had no idea how he’d carry the damned muffins. But he had skipped breakfast to finish his estimate workup, and they smelled heavenly, like nutmeg, sugar, and Christmas. He probably should have hung back and waited until the mother/son duo had settled their differences, but his head hurt, and he wanted to set down his load. The sooner he could get to his favorite recliner the better.

The woman filled a cheerful red-and-green-striped cardboard box and stepped behind the register. Gabriel had seen her that morning as she crossed Main Street. He hadn’t been the only one to track the progress of her well-rounded ass. The locals in the internet café had been jabbering about The New Baker at Crème Brule as he had worked on his laptop. She was filled out in all the right places to make a man’s fingers itch to touch.

Here you are, she said breathlessly, hairs curling around her flushed oval face. His gaze landed on the boy, no more than fourteen he would say, and saw frustration. The two had moved to the small town about three months ago and had taken over the local patisserie. They also had moved onto the same street as Gabriel.

How much do I owe you? He angled his body to try to pry his wallet out of his back pocket and dropped his briefcase. When he leaned to scoop it up, one of the shopping bags slid down his arm and almost hit the tiled floor.

The woman smiled patiently. Her son crossed his arms as he narrowed his eyes at his mother, then turned a speculative gaze towards Gabriel, who finally sighed in resignation and gave up on the impossible rescue mission.

I’m Owen Phillips, the boy said. This is my mom, Donna Phillips.

Gabriel gave a nod in both directions. Gabriel Maxim. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Donna nodded back, causing whisps of honey blonde hair to fall loose from the bun atop her head. Then she turned an unreadable look on her son as if annoyed with him for making the transaction a social one.

You live a few houses down from us, right? Owen asked while going right on ignoring his mother’s frown and retrieving Gabriel’s briefcase from the floor. You seem like the most interesting person on the block. I’ve been wanting to stop by.

Gabriel smiled, even though his back was beginning to want to give out. What, you don’t think Ms. Carlisle across from your house is interesting?

Is she really a former spy?

That’s her story, and she’s sticking to it. He chuckled as he thought of the