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CHRISTMAS CRUSH
CHRISTMAS CRUSH
MINK
Watching Ruby build a life away from Reindeer Valley hasn’t been easy, but I had to let her spread her wings and find out what she really wants. I’ve known what I wanted from the moment I saw her in high school. But I was a jerk then, someone who didn’t understand what love truly meant. Now I do.
And now it’s time for Ruby to come home. Her grandmother’s bakery has (quite mysteriously) been overwhelmed with holiday orders over the past week, and Grams needs help. There’s only one person she can call to help, one person with the know-how to help make the mountain of Christmas cakes and cookies.
Ruby.
When she comes home, I’m going to show her how I’ve changed and how much she means to me. I only hope that will be enough to convince her to stay here with me in Reindeer Valley forever.
1
KNOX
“Thanks for all the help.” Mrs. Lane gives me a warm smile.
“Anytime.” I adjust a few of the thermostat controls on the back of her convection oven before rolling it against the wall again.
Her bakery smells like cinnamon and vanilla, Christmas baking in full swing.
“There’s simply no way I can fill all my orders without that oven working. I need both full-time.” She wipes the back of her hand across her forehead, smearing some flour into her already-white hair. “And if I’m being honest, I still don’t know if I can get it all done before Christmas. The orders just won’t stop.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” I test the controls. They’re working fine. “Let’s see if it heats.”
“It’s not a bad thing.” She turns and looks at the stainless steel table in the middle of her bakery, every inch of it filled with cakes and cookies in various states of construction or icing. “But I think it’s finally time I hired someone on to help. The only problem is nobody has the skills I need. So much of this is taught.” She wrings her hands. “If I tried to train a new person, it would take me even longer to get everything finished.”
“Orders have picked up that much?”
“Knox.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know how, but I’m suddenly the busiest bakery in the world, it seems like. I’ve already filled 30 orders this morning alone. Cakes, cookie, pastries—you name it.”
“Hmm, yeah, you do seem overwhelmed.”
“You don’t happen to know how to bake, do you?” she asks.
“Sorry, Mrs. Lane. I’m more of a metal and grease kind of guy.” I shrug.
“I know.” She leans against the counter. “You’re a lifesaver when my equipment breaks. I can’t ask for more. How’s your father? I heard he’s been ill.”
“He’s fine. Just banging around in that big old house and terrorizing the help every chance he gets. Same as always.” I check the oven once more. “It’s getting to temp properly now. You should be good to go.”
“Thanks so much. What do I owe you?” She follows me to the front of the shop.
“I’ll just put it on your tab.” I sidestep Olin as he walks to the counter to place a slew of new orders.
“Hi, Olin. I’ll be right with you. More orders?” she asks somewhat incredulously.
He nods. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Yes, I’ll be with you in a second. Knox, you have to let me pay you something. My tab has to be huge by now. You’ve never charged me for—”
“No worries.” I wave her concern away. But before I push out the door, I pause.
Olin glances at me and waits.
I clear my throat. “Mrs. Lane?”
