by Piper Rayne
Copyright @2020 Christmas Treats
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission except in the case of brief quotations included in critical articles and reviews.
For information, please contact the author(s).
* * *
This a work of fiction. The names, characters and
incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
* * *
The Gingerbread Showdown copyright @ 2020 Piper Rayne
Sweet Girl copyright @ 2020 M.C. Cerny
‘Tis The Season to be Jelly copyright @ 2020 by Kyra Fox
Baker’s Dozen copyright @ 2020 by Kali Brixton
Deck...the Balls copyright @ 2020 by DL Gallie
Muchas Smoochas copyright @ 2020 Halo Roberts
Nog or Never copyright @ 2020 Melissa Williams
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Paperback Edition ISBN:
EPUB Edition ISBN:
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Cover art by Leah Holt
Formatting by DL Gallie
Contents
The Gingerbread Showdown
Piper Rayne
1. Sophie
2. Sophie
3. Sophie
4. Sophie
5. Sophie
6. Sophie
7. Sophie
8. Sophie
9. Sophie
Epilogue
A note from Piper Rayne
Also by Piper Rayne
About Piper Rayne
Sweet Girl
M.C. Cerny
1. Evan
2. Remi
3. Evan
4. Remi
5. Evan
6. Remi
7. Evan
8. Remi
9. Evan
10. Remi
11. Evan
12. Remi
Also by M.C. Cerny
About M.C. Cerny
‘Tis The Season To Be Jelly
Kyra Fox
1. Eloise
2. Declan
3. Eloise
4. Declan
5. Eloise
6. Declan
7. Declan
8. Eloise
9. Declan
10. Eloise
A note from Kyra
Also by Kyra Fox
About Kyra Fox
Baker’s Dozen
Kali Brixton
1. Scott
2. Nova
3. Nova
4. Scott
5. Nova
6. Scott
7. Nova
8. Nova
9. Nova
10. Nova
11. Nova
12. Scott
Epilogue
Also by Kali Brixton
About Kali Brixton
Deck…the Balls
DL Gallie
1. Reese
2. Jesse
3. Reese
4. Jesse
5. Reese
6. Jesse
7. Reese
8. Jesse
9. Reese
10. Jesse
11. Reese
12. Jesse
13. Reese
14. Jesse
15. Reese
16. Jesse
17. Reese
18. Jesse
Epilogue
Also by DL Gallie
About DL Gallie
Muchas Smoochas
Halo Roberts
1. Freya
2. Enrique
3. Freya
4. Enrique
5. Freya
6. Enrique
7. Freya
8. Enrique
9. Freya
10. Enrique
11. Freya
12. Enrique
13. Freya
Also by Halo Roberts
About Halo Roberts
Nog or Never
Melissa Williams
1. This is Fine
2. The Shit Storm
3. Home Not Just for the Holidays
4. Express Your Elf
5. Protecting Santa
6. Reaction
7. Slice of Heaven
8. Pillow Talk
9. Baking Love
10. A Snowball’s Chance
11. A Christmas to Remember
A note from Melissa Williams
Also by Melissa Williams
About Melissa WIlliams
A note from the authors
Synopsis
What do you get when you mix a handful of authors, a cup (or two) of booze, and add a dash of Christmas spirit?
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Sound like a recipe for lots of laughs and steamy hijinks!
* * *
A holiday baking anthology full of sweet and sexy Christmas love stories.
* * *
Featuring seven amazing authors including USA TODAY bestsellers Piper Rayne, MC Cerny, Amazon bestseller DL Gallie, and authors Halo Roberts, Kyra Fox, Kali Brixton, and Melissa Williams.
The Gingerbread Showdown
Piper Rayne
Synopsis - The Gingerbread Showdown
Sophie’s had a rough day. What better way to take the edge off than to take a surfer home from the beach for some quick and easy action.
Only it doesn’t turn out to be quick, or easy.
Not when he pops up the next day where she least expects him. And especially not when she finds out he’s not who she thought he was.
Let the showdown begin.
copyright @ 2020 by Piper Rayne
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission except in the case of brief quotations included in critical articles and reviews.
For information, please contact the author.
This a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
1
Sophie
I fall into a chair at Surfing Tacos where my best friend Teegan and her new friend group, courtesy of her boyfriend Leo, are sitting at a table in the back of the beachside restaurant.
Teegan’s eyes widen when she looks over. “Bad day?”
“You could say that. I had a phone interview with another magazine that I stumbled through. I’m definitely not getting the job. Then I find out Jackass Henry gave the Gingerbread Showdown gig to another writer because he’s his nephew or something.”
Teegan’s man, Leo, passes me a beer and I shoot him an expression of gratitude. These are his friends and significant others, one of whom includes Hollywood’s ‘it’ actress Layla Andrews. When Teegan first told me about these new women in her life, I wanted to wrap my arms around my bestie and lock her in my apartment. Turns out they’re all cool. We do shopping excursions together all the time now.
“I have connections,” Layla says, eyeing me over her drink. “Let me use them.”
I shake my head. See? How can you hate her even if she wears a size two and doesn’t show any signs of aging? “We’ve been over this. I want
to earn it.”
“You will earn it, but sometimes people need a shove in the door.” Vance puts his arm around Layla with his free hand. His other hand colors with Layla’s daughter Via. The man can multi-task like no one else.
“I have some connections too. They’re in the book world, but I know some people who work for big papers. I could make a few calls.” Jagger’s wife Quinn hesitantly smiles because she doesn’t want to push me. As much as I like everyone at this table it’s hard being surrounded by people who are all so successful.
I mean, Layla’s an actress, Vance is a screenwriter, Quinn is an acclaimed author, and Jagger owns his own agency. Leo started his own company that manufacturers dog clothes that’s turned into a huge success and Teegan handles all his PR for him. And since they’re all the sweetest couples I get a toothache just looking at them.
Then there’s me, writing for the local magazine, What’s Up LA, and failing at life. I still live in my one-bedroom apartment and have to check my checking account before going out on the weekend.
Jagger puts his large hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Stop being stubborn and take the help.”
I blow out a breath and sip my beer.
Teegan wants to say something but luckily the waitress distracts and comes to ask for our food orders.
My phone dings in my purse but I ignore it because I’m not in the mood for any more shitty news. Especially since the best thing about coming to Surfing Tacos are the surfers who visit it regularly. And the blond hottie that just came in has my name written all over him.
But when my phone alerts to a voicemail, I tear my eyes away from the guy who, let’s be honest, would probably only be good for a one-night stand and that’s about all.
I pick up my phone and see it’s my boss Henry who called. Whatever jackass.
“Hey Soph, Henry. Turns out I will need you to cover the Gingerbread Showdown after all.”
“What happened to your nephew?” I can’t help my snide tone.
“Got something bigger I need him on.” I roll my eyes. “You need to report there tomorrow at ten am. It’s just for press coverage so they’ll direct you. Please, just don’t cause any waves. Call me when you finish with a recap.”
The call disconnects, and my mouth hangs open from his audacity to use what happened to me two years ago against me.
“What?” Teegan asks.
“Well, I got the gig much to Henry’s dismay, I think. And he pretty much implied that I cause trouble wherever I go.”
Teegan says nothing, and the table falls quiet. With two kids present we should declare it a miracle.
“We’re two of a kind.” Jagger laughs.
I smack him in the shoulder. “I’m nothing like you.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Let’s go over some examples, shall we?”
“Jag,” Leo warns.
Jagger ignores Leo and turns to look me square in the eye. “There’s nothing wrong with it. Own it. What happened at the Winter Games?”
I huff. So, I got caught on a ski lift with my top pushed up to my neck and a professional skier’s tongue in my mouth. It could happen to anyone.
“And then there was the time you covered the Flea Market,” Jagger continues. Everyone chuckles.
I point at him. “That was not my fault. Their stuff wasn’t authentic.”
“But instead of just reporting it you went after them until it caused a fight.”
“They were forging Layla’s signature,” I argue.
Jagger holds up his hands. “I’m not saying anything is wrong with it. I’d do it all the same way you did.”
“Excuse me?” Quinn’s hand with her sparkling million-dollar ring (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration), lands on her husband’s leg.
“Not the Winter Games thing babe. You know you’re the only pussy I eat.”
“Jag!” Layla screeches and looks across the table, but Vance already has his hands over Via’s ears. Layla’s son, Payne, who’s a little older, chuckles. I’m guessing this isn’t the first time Jagger has said something inappropriate in front of him.
“Sorry.” He eyes his wife’s small swollen belly. “We’re getting off course. I’m just saying, fuck him.”
“Jag!” This time it’s Vance but knowing his best friend he kept his hands over his stepdaughter’s ears anyway.
“I’m thinking you might have to take a parenting class before this one arrives.” Quinn rubs her belly and the whole table laughs.
“That kid’s first word is going to be pussy,” Leo says and Teegan widens her eyes at them.
“At this point Payne and Via will use the word on the regular,” Layla says, but she doesn’t seem horribly upset about it.
“You’re a writer and you want the story. The truth. I get it.” Jagger disregards the table and continues doling out his advice to me. “I’m an agent, do you have any idea how much of an as—jerk…”
Quinn claps for her husband on not swearing.
“I’m one all the time and unapologetically so. I do what gets my client the best deal. They hire me because of that. For you it’s getting the reader’s the real story. And if your boss can’t see that than find another job.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Believe me, your biting chihuahua personality is what anyone who appreciates journalistic integrity would covet. So own it.”
Quinn leans forward. “That’s his way of giving you a compliment by the way. Just in case it wasn’t obvious.”
I smile.
“Now, you’ve been eyeing that guy outside on the patio. Go celebrate… with him.” I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Jagger noticed. It’s his job to read people and use it to his advantage.
My gaze moves to the blond who’s all dimples and laughter with his friends. As though he can feel me staring, his gaze connects with mine and I hold it long enough to judge that there’s interest on his part too.
“He’s a surfer dude,” I say.
Vance scoffs. “We’re surfer dudes.”
“But you’re successful surfer dudes. He looks like a surf bum.” The hottie looks over at me again and I lick my lips. I wouldn’t mind running my hands down his rippled stomach. Or my tongue.
Leo turns around. “Surfer bum? That’s—”
I tear my eyes away from the guy to look at Leo who’s looking at Jagger.
“Do you know him?” I ask.
Leo shakes his head, his gaze still on Jagger. “Nope. He looks like someone but…”
Teegan looks over her shoulder, feeling I think like me, that something isn’t quite right with Leo’s reaction either. But she shrugs when she turns back.
“Just go.” Jagger nudges me. Why didn’t I choose the other side of the table to sit? “I’d be your wingman, but I’m off the market.” He puts his arm around Quinn and his other hand rubs her belly.
“Okay. I’ll probably be back.”
“Hopefully you won’t. He’s delicious,” Teegan says.
“Excuse me?” Leo asks and the table laughs.
The one thing I envy about these three couples is their sense of security with one another. The trust that remains amazes me. But maybe that’s because I come from a divorced household where both parents didn’t understand the meaning of monogamy.
I stand and tuck in my chair, eyeing the cutie one more time before I head toward the bathroom.
As luck or hormones would have it, he’s waiting for me in the small hallway outside the bathrooms when I come back out.
He kicks off the wall, wearing a threadbare T-shirt now with some surfing logo on it. “Hey. I’m Trent.”
“Sophie.” I smile.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“Only a drink?” Look at me. This day has pushed me to my limit. I have nothing to lose, so I might as well be straight.
He laughs. “What else did you have in mind?”
I shrug.
“Oh, now you’re gonna be shy.” He grins and pushes his hand through h
is long hair that’s blondest at the tips.
“I figured my meaning was implied.”
He shrugs. “I’m just a surf bum, all that sun has made me slow on the uptake.”
There’s something about the way he says it that catches me off guard. I hope he didn’t overhear me at the table.
“I’m thinking we pick up some drinks from a liquor store on the way back to my place. Is that clear enough for you?”