Read Muffins And Mistletoe (A Starlight Hills Holiday Novella) Online

Authors: Debora Dennis

Tags: #Holiday Romance Novella

Muffins And Mistletoe (A Starlight Hills Holiday Novella) (7 page)

BOOK: Muffins And Mistletoe (A Starlight Hills Holiday Novella)
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He glanced at his mother and then back out into the crowd. This had been their plan all along. Though he had no clue, Corinne knew exactly what was happening here. She knew exactly what risk she took with this public display.

"Two hundred," shouted Tiffany Fortunato.

Annalise and Tiffany now stood arm to arm, jockeying for position. They shoved and scowled at each other.

"Three hundred." Corinne aggressively pushed her way between them.

What was she doing?
Corinne didn't have that kind of money. Although Jimmy was flattered and, he'd admit, more than a little turned on by her uncharacteristic behavior, he felt he should put a stop to this right now.

Annalise elbowed her out of the way, shaking her hips and thrusting her more than ample chest toward him. "Four hundred!" she screamed.

The crowd went wild.

Then, Annalise hip-bumped Corinne right into the lap of Lance Baldwin. And Lance, leech that he was, quickly wrapped his arms around her and whispered something in her ear.

Jimmy's blood boiled and he clenched his fists. Through the glare of the spotlights, he sent Lance a warning glower. Punching a man in the face at the holiday gala would definitely keep the town talking all winter.

With his arms locked tight around her, Corinne squirmed in Lance's lap and stomped her heel on his foot. "Five hundred for Jimmy, and Lance, let me go!"

Jimmy grinned. Beautiful and strong-willed, that was his Corinne Mackenzie.
His
. In that moment, he didn't need to think, didn't need time for his wounded heart to forgive her. He simply needed Corinne in his arms. Now.

Without another thought, he strutted to the edge of the platform he'd built and jumped to the ground. As he pulled Corinne from Lance's arms, he heard his mother rap her gavel on the podium three hard times.

"And the first bachelor of the night goes to Corinne Mackenzie. Who I suspect will be making an honest man out of him before the night is over."

So, his matchmaking mother once again refused to be daunted. Deep down he knew he'd have to thank her one day—but not now. This moment was all about Corinne. For one second Jimmy allowed himself the pleasure of looking deep into her green eyes, glistening in the bright lights and filled with tears of love. The bare skin of her arms felt like silk against his fingertips. The scent of her perfume made him hungry to feel her body against his. He pulled her up close to his chest and his beating heart, and his lips sealed against hers. All satin and warmth and a hint of gingerbread on her breath—Corinne Mackenzie was worth waiting for.

 

* * *

Corinne wanted to remember this moment for the rest of her life. The sight of Jimmy jumping from the stage, the crisp white of his shirt shining like a beacon under the spotlight, his eyes focused on her. Only her.

She didn't care where she stood, who was around them, or what anyone would say later. She molded her body to his and returned his passionate kiss. His arms circled her waist and crushed her to him, fingers splayed against the small of her back, causing shivers of delight to dance along her spine. When their kiss broke, she touched the side of his face, then let her fingers delve into the soft waves of his hair and she pulled him into her again. The clean, woodsy scent of his cologne filled her head, making her dizzy with anticipation. His mouth captured hers once more; his tongue swirled across her teeth and teased the edges of her mouth in a seductive dance that made her almost forget they stood in the middle of a crowded room.

More than a little breathless, she pulled back slightly and said, "Jimmy Crane, I love you and—"

His mouth was back on hers, halting her words. She ran her hands across his shoulders and down the muscles of his back while his own hands explored the curves of her hips. His fingers plundered into the curls at the nape of her neck, and his warm breath fanned out across the skin of her neck. When he moved his hips against hers, there was no mistaking the erection that rubbed at the apex of her thighs.

He kissed her neck, his lips nibbling their way to her earlobe. "And?"

And
? His blue eyes held her captive, probing deep into her soul. She was lost in their depths. Unable to concentrate, all she wanted to do was kiss him again and again, but he was asking questions. She wanted his hands on her everywhere. Hot blood pumped frantically through her veins, heating her skin. But all their friends and neighbors were looking on.

Feeling a blush creep into her cheeks, she looked past his eyes and the sexy waves of brown hair brushing the edges of his brows to the disco ball overhead. The multicolored lights somehow brought her back to reality and made everything clear. She knew where they needed to be.

Taking Jimmy by the hand, she wove her way through the crowd and found the mistletoe at the entrance and stopped him directly beneath it.

With his hands in hers, she lifted her gaze to meet his. "Jimmy Crane, will you marry me?"

He titled his head and a slow, devastatingly handsome smile lit his face. "Try to stop me."

He retrieved a ring from the inside pocket of his jacket and slipped it on her left hand. As she flung her arms around his neck, the diamond caught the twinkling lights. But the only light Corinne saw was the love in Jimmy's eyes.

 

 

 

Bitty's Gingerbread Muffin Recipe

 
Yield 1 dozen

 

Ingredients:

 

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup Molasses

1/2 Cup packed brown sugar

1 3/4 Cups Flour

1 TBS Baking Soda

1 tsp Ground Cloves

1 tsp Ground All Spice

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Grated Fresh Ginger

1/4 Cup Butter, melted

1/2 Cup Hot Water

 

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl - can be refrigerated until ready to use.

 

2. Bake in paper lined muffin tins at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes (do not overbake!)

 

3. Best eaten warm.

 

4. Batter will keep up to 2 weeks in refrigerator!

 

 

Optional Sugar Glaze:

 

2 Cups Confectioners Sugar

1 TBS milk

1 TBS Lemon Juice (or more milk)

1 tsp Vanilla

 

Drizzle over muffins after they are slightly cooled.

 

 
*Recipe tested and approved by Debora's three kids!

 

About the Author

 

 

 

Debora Dennis is a native New Yorker and has been an avid romance reader since she first discovered Barbara Cartland on the shelves of her Junior High School library. A true believer in second chances and it's always the right time to fall in love; she writes spicy time travel romances and lighthearted contemporaries. She never leaves home without her NOOK, and always has a book on the table beside her bed. An eternal optimist and firm believer that love really can conquer all, every story she writes celebrates romance!

 

She loves to hear from readers and to connect via social media.

 

Visit her online:

 

Website:
http://www.deboradennis.com

Blog:
http://deboradennis.blogspot.com

Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/DeboraDennis

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/deboradennis.author

 

 

OTHER BOOKS BY DEBORA DENNIS

 

 

A Fistful of Fate

The Kandy Shoppe

A Knight in Her Arms

 

 

 

 

BOOK: Muffins And Mistletoe (A Starlight Hills Holiday Novella)
6.53Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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