 by C.M. Steele.jpg)
Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
At least, that is, until he opens the ever-chiming door to find a special greeting.
Holiday Belle just loves Christmas and cookies. It’s why she owns the town’s only bakery. Holiday’s new neighbor has just moved in, and according to the word around town, he’s grumpy. She just wanted to spread her Christmas cheer with some of her famous cookies. To her surprise, Mr. Crankypants was cranky, but he wasn’t wearing pants…just a towel…a small towel…that she couldn’t stop staring at until he took the cookies and slammed the door in her face.
Wanting the ground to swallow her up from embarrassment, she hopes to never see him again, but how can she be that lucky? They’re neighbors.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
James Snow just came to get some peace and quiet in a small town away from New York City so he could finish his latest novel and make his deadline. What he didn’t expect to find was Christmas Town, USA. Holly Hills should have given it away, but it’s like the North Pole’s twin sister, and he just doesn’t have time for it.
At least, that is, until he opens the ever-chiming door to find a special greeting.
Holiday Belle just loves Christmas and cookies. It’s why she owns the town’s only bakery. Holiday’s new neighbor has just moved in, and according to the word around town, he’s grumpy. She just wanted to spread her Christmas cheer with some of her famous cookies. To her surprise, Mr. Crankypants was cranky, but he wasn’t wearing pants…just a towel…a small towel…that she couldn’t stop staring at until he took the cookies and slammed the door in her face.
Wanting the ground to swallow her up from embarrassment, she hopes to never see him again, but how can she be that lucky? They’re neighbors.
Chapter One
Holiday
It’s the perfect weather to start baking, but then again, it’s always perfect up north where the snow starts just before October and continues until early spring. I love it here, and I can’t wait for Christmas to come.
I stretch while getting into my favorite yoga pose early in the morning. The sun isn’t up and won’t be for another two hours, but I have to get a move on soon or I won’t be able to open on time. One more good stretch with a sun salutation, and then a deep breath before wrapping up and hitting the shower.
It's going to be a long day, but I’ll finally get to put up my Christmas decorations. I’m practically giddy with excitement at the prospect of doing it. If I could leave them up all year without looking like an absolute weirdo, I would, but then again, I love other holidays too. I suppose my name is quite fitting: Holiday Belle. My parents thought it was adorable, and so does everyone that meets me. My bubbly personality and blonde curls don’t help with the cuteness overload either, but I don’t mind since I love the business it brings to the bakery.
I have cookies for every holiday, but my favorite are Christmas cookies. We have so many to choose from, and the lines never seem to end as everyone waits for my goodies. I’m nearly out the door when I see a car pull up next door.
The house has been for sale for about three months. Most people don’t want to buy it because it belonged to a grumpy old man who hated everyone in town. His granddaughter is a total sweetheart, and she spent a great deal of effort getting the house ready for sale. After grabbing my things, including my snowbrush from the front door, I walk out and make it to my car in time to see the realtor putting up a sticker on the old Manchester property.
I can’t help but smile. Today is going to be a fabulous day.
“Hi, Mr. Sanders, how’s it going?” I asked him as I remove last night’s snowfall off my car.
He smiles widely. “Great, pretty lady. Aren’t you ever going to call me Andrew?”
“Sorry. You are my former math teacher. Force of habit,” I say with a shrug.
“You’re all grown up now,” he says in a way that’s too intimate for my liking and the reason I’ve always kept the formality. Smiling politely, I create a greater distance between us, tuck my snowbrush in my backseat, and open my driver’s side door.
“That I am, and I’m running late to my business. Excuse me.”
“I can’t wait to get some of your delicious cookies.” Goodness—something tells me he’s not talking about my baked food. I pull out of the driveway in a slight rush and completely forget to ask about the new neighbor. It’s not worth it at this point. The small family will probably be here within the next week or two.
My shop isn’t far from home, so I arrive in fifteen minutes and park in the back. I have four employees, and we’re only open from seven to six Monday through Saturday. I’m the first to get in and unlock the back entrance. Turning on the kitchen lights, it’s nice to see a clean shop. We have a lot to bake today.
Twenty-five dozen chocolate cookies for special orders are up first. Then, we have to fill the slots full of gingerbread cookies, iced cookies, Almond cookies, and several varieties of brownies in Christmas shapes.
Turning on the ovens and the machines, I pull out my things and get to work. My team will be here within the next half hour, so we’ll be in full swing soon. The next thing to get flipped on is the Christmas music. Dancing around the room, I mix my ingredients and enjoy my morning.