Page 5 of A Perfect Christmas Dance (Kringle, Texas #7)

Tuesday morning, five thirty a.m., the day after her kitchen dance with Ryan, and Nina couldn’t stop grinning. Yesterday evening, she’d emailed him a payment plan for the party catering that suited them both and when he emailed back that she’d saved his hide, she felt positively giddy.

Okay, yes, there’d been potential… and sizzle. Lots of sizzle. More than Nina had dared hope for actually, but these cookies wouldn’t bake themselves. She had work to do.

Focus, Ellis.

All four ovens hummed, the bakery toasty warm as Christmas music played, and Nina rolled out sugar cookie dough that had already rested in the fridge overnight.

She cast a glance over her shoulder at the table where she and Ryan had shared a sandwich and then two-stepped their way over the wooden floor. A giddy laugh pushed up her throat, and she reached for the snowman cookie cutter.

Oh wow. The guy she’d secretly been crushing on for years liked her back.

Or at least he seemed to.

Why had she waited so long to make a move?

Why? Because he’d been chin-deep in grief over losing his parents in a tragic accident, and the timing never felt right.

But now?

Time had passed. Things had changed.

She finished cutting out the cookies, arranged them on the baking sheet, popped them in a preheated oven, and then took out the tray of blueberry cinnamon rolls. She had half a mind to send a dozen out to the Double D as a thank-you to Ryan for the dance, but that felt a little too forward.

Nina set the cinnamon rolls on the sideboard to cool and mixed up the glaze for the cherry popovers cool enough to frost. Singing along with “All I Want for Christmas is You,” she filled the pastry bag and piped on the icing.

When her dance with Ryan ended, and they’d stood for a moment in the quiet kitchen, she’d thought that he hovered on the verge of dipping his head and kissing her. She’d pursed her lips and tilted back her head…

Even now, just thinking about it, Nina’s cheeks heated.

Goodness! How she’d wanted him to kiss her.

Yoo-hoo, Earth to Nina. Did you forget the real reason Ryan Danvers strolled into your bakery?

Yeah, he wanted a payment plan. Maybe he’d danced with her because he felt backed into a corner. Perhaps it had nothing to do with liking her. Maybe he simply felt obligated because she’d asked him to dance .

Nina dropped the piping bag and slapped a palm across her mouth. She’d never considered that possibility. She wanted Ryan to like her back and so she simply assumed that he did. But what if it was all a ruse to get on her good side so she’d offer him an ideal payment plan?

She didn’t think he was a manipulative person, but honestly, what did she know about him other than he’d smiled at her in church and had been good to Gee the time he drove him to his chemo treatment?

But when they’d danced, and his hand settled on her waist, he’d held her as if she was something precious…

Unless she imagined it.

The smell of burning sugar yanked her back to the moment. Smoke poured from the lower oven.

“No! No! No!” She grabbed oven mitts and yanked open the oven door. A puff of hot air singed her forearm hairs. Hissing, she dropped the tray into the stainless steel sink, the cookies burned to crisps.

Darn it. In her woolgathering, Nina had forgotten to set the timer. Terrific. Already down a batch, and she wasn’t even open yet.

No crying over burnt cookies. It was Gram’s voice in her head, gentle yet firm. Start again.

Right.

Nina took off the oven mitts and let out a sigh. Okay, enough with thoughts of Ryan Danvers. He’d derailed her too much already.

A knock sounded at the front door.

Nina leaned out of the kitchen to peek into the storefront. The bakery didn’t open for another fifteen minutes. Who was this much of an eager beaver at five forty-five in the morning? Nina squinted into the darkness.

She didn’t recognize the well-dressed woman huddled on the sidewalk, her frosted blond hair twisted in an elegant chignon. She wore a chic camel coat with knee-high black leather fashion boots. Definitely not from Kringle.

The woman spied her and waved.

Nina went over, unlocked the door, and opened it a crack. “I’m sorry, we’re not open yet.”

The woman’s smile was polished and professional. “I know it’s early, but I wanted to get here before the breakfast crowd claimed your attention.”

Nina narrowed her eyes and snapped her fingers. “You were in here last month.”

“I was.” She nodded.

“You bought two dozen madeleines for your book club.”

“Excellent memory. Your cookies were a huge hit, by the way.” The woman extended her hand. “Katherine Brothers. May I come in?”

“All right, but if you don’t mind, I’ll keep working while you talk,” Nina said.

“Not at all. I don’t want to hamper you.”

Nina pushed the door open wide and flicked on the dining room lights. “Come on in.”

“Thank you.” Katherine stepped inside, rubbing her palms together and giving Nina a bright smile. “I do appreciate your time, Ms. Ellis.”

Nina moved behind the counter to grind the beans and start the coffee. Katherine trailed after her, scanning the bakery’s interior. “Such a charming old building.”

“Yes, Kringle built the town square in the 1890s, and all the buildings are still original, although the National Historical Society green-lighted renovation on most of them.”

“And the bakery has been renovated as well?”

“Yes, my grandparents undertook that task when they started Ellis Early Eats.” Nina added water to the coffee maker and sent a sidelong glance at the woman. What was Katherine angling at?

“That’s excellent. You should be really proud of your bake shop.”

An uneasiness settled in Nina’s stomach. The woman’s praise wasn’t a casual compliment. There was a calculated gleam in Katherine’s eyes, a purpose that put Nina on guard.

She turned to face the woman as the smell of coffee filled the air. “What exactly can I do for you, Ms. Brothers?”

“Cards on the table?”

“Please.” Nina folded her arms over her chest and leaned against the counter.

“I’d like to buy your bakery.”

Nina stared at the elegant creature and blinked. “You want to what?”

“Buy your bakery.” The woman’s tone was straightforward as if she hadn’t just dropped a bombshell.

“I knew it was exactly the place I’d been looking for when I tasted those amazing madeleines.

It’s right here in the town square, in the heart of Kringle.

It’s got charm, it’s got history, it’s got je ne sais quoi . ”

“S-sell the bakery?” Nina’s brain hung in neutral, barely able to process what the woman was saying.

Katherine Brothers nodded long and slow, putting extra emphasis on her intent. “Yes.”

Nina shook her head. “My grandparents started this bakery, and then my parents took over and now they’ve passed it on to me. It’s been in our family for three generations.”

“Yes.” Nod, nod, nod. Seriously, the woman was a bobblehead. “That’s what makes it so special. That and your amazing cookies.”

“The bakery isn’t for sale.”

Katherine narrowed her eyes and deepened her smile. “Oh, sweetheart, everything is for sale for the right price.”

Goosebumps skittered up Nina’s arms. So many times, she wished to be free of the bakery.

She’d never really had a choice of career because of her family legacy.

She’d gotten her degree in business with the sole purpose of eventually taking over the bakery from her parents and it happened faster than she’d intended when her father’s rheumatoid arthritis forced him and her mother to move to a drier climate.

Nina had never worked anywhere besides the bakery.

“Here’s what I’m prepared to offer…” Then Katherine Brothers named a number so high Nina was certain she heard incorrectly.

“Excuse me?” She blinked.

Katherine repeated herself.

“I-I don’t know what to say.”

Katherine pulled a glossy business card from her designer purse and handed it to Nina. “I’d like to keep you on as manager. Name your salary. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything—you’d still be running the place but with financial backing and resources to expand and hire someone to help you.”

Nina took the card. The name and logo blurred before her eyes. This was a dream offer. She would never get another one like it.

“Just think about it. Take all the time you need. I know this is a busy time of year.”

The door opened, bell jingling, and one of her regulars, Mrs. Claiborne, walked in. “Mornin’, Nina. I need two boxes of donuts for the angel tree volunteers.”

“Coming right up,” Nina said, turning toward her customer. “All honey glazed, or do you want some chocolate?”

“A box of each.” Mrs. Claiborne eyed Ms. Brothers, then turned her attention back to Nina. “You’re still coming to help set up for the pageant on Thursday afternoon, right? And the potluck afterward?”

“Absolutely.” Nina boxed up the donuts.

Katherine Brothers cleared her throat. “Just give me a call when you’re ready, Ms. Ellis. I’ll be waiting.” With a wave of her hand, she strolled out and set the bell jingling again.

“Who was that?” Mrs. Claiborne asked, staring after the elegant woman.

“You saw her too?” Nina asked, clutching the business card. “I was beginning to think I imagined her.”

* * *

Garrett Ellis watched Jean Deerling lay down her last domino to a chorus of groans and laughter from the table. She had a way of making winning look effortless, always one step ahead of everyone else.

“The tournament is mine!” she said and rubbed her palms together as the organizer declared her the winner and gave her the gift certificate to a four-day stay for two on Padre Island.

He wasn’t surprised. Jean was sharp, with a quick mind and quicker wit. She didn’t miss much. He’d lost out of the tournament in the previous round and had been watching the few competitors left at the table, secretly rooting for Jean to win over the men.