Stealing Christmas

By Lynn Chantale

 

Secrets abound in Benson's Bakery. A crazed Santa wants something valuable hidden inside the building, and only two things stand in his way...Jake and Sara.

 

When Sara Henderson receives threatening letters just days before Christmas, she asks sexy bread baker Jake Benson for help. Jake is more than happy to provide the muscle to keep the beautiful cake decorator from harm, but he has an ulterior motive--to steal a kiss under the mistletoe. Sara wants that kiss as much as he does, but first they have a mystery to solve.

 

Will they find out who is stalking Sara, or will Santa succeed in stealing Christmas?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynn Chantale
• Release date: Aug 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393010463

Book preview

Stealing Christmas

by

Lynn Chantale

Romantic Suspense

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Stealing Christmas

COPYRIGHT © 2012 by Lynn Chantale

2020  The HOuse of Lynn Publishing, LLC.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The House of Lynn Publishing, LLC. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: www.thehouseoflynn.com Cover Art by Covers in Color

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

A HUGE thank you goes to my family for being there when I need you the most. I love you and thanks.

A special thank you to my editor,

for all your hard work and patience.

As always I thank God

for blessing me with this talent.

Chapter One

She stopped short. Of all the vehicles parked behind the bakery, hers was the only one with a sheet of paper fluttering beneath the wiper blade. Fear danced along Sara Henderson’s nerve endings, shooting her pulse into overdrive as she trudged toward her blue 300C. Would this be another threat? And did these mysterious notes have anything to do with why Jerry died?

Seven weeks had passed since her boss, Jerry Benson, was murdered—apparently he interrupted a robbery attempt at the bakery. Sadness stole through her. Upon his passing, he left Sara fifty percent interest in the business, and the other half went to his grandson Jake. The police, as of yet, had no leads and everyone at the bakery was on edge.

A crisp, wintry wind buffeted her face and she tugged the collar of her coat a little tighter in the somber morning light. Please let it be a flyer. Footsteps echoed from behind her. She whirled and scanned the shadows, straining to glimpse any movement. A soft ho-ho-ho murmured on the wind. The knot in her stomach coiled tighter.

She should return to the bakery. Forget about her purse in the car and the paper on her windshield. Dark ink zigzagged across the glass, leaving an ominous stain on the thick layer of ice. She cast a nervous look around. This was just like the last time, right after Jerry’s

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funeral. Some crazy person dressed like an elf had mugged her.

Another wary glance around the area reminded her of her vulnerability. She blew out a breath. Get the purse get the note. Actually she could ignore the paper, if a brisk breeze didn’t flap the page with noisy persistence. Squaring her shoulders, she unlocked the trunk.

Sara grabbed her purse from the back of the trunk and slammed the lid. The constant flutter was a reminder that she still had to read this one, regardless of her apprehension. She stalked to the front of the car and snatched the flyer from the windshield. With trembling fingers, she smoothed the page. Footsteps echoed loudly in the alley. She held her breath and glanced over her shoulder.

Nothing. A shaky breath misted from between her lips in the frigid air. Time to get inside. She turned and screamed.

Sorry, Sara. Didn’t mean to scare you. Seth Driscoll, one of her employees, chuckled.

Sara placed a hand over her galloping heart and gulped several deep breaths. Still, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she glanced around. Was someone watching her even now?

Yeah, well, I’m glad it’s you. She retrieved her purse from the ground, shaking her head over how she released the strap. Silly. Glancing at her watch, she stood. The paper pricked her palm as she clutched it in her fist. You’re early.

He shrugged, avoiding her gaze. I switched with Tori. Gotta watch Becca later.

Sara edged toward the front of her car, smiling at the mention of Seth’s little girl. She flicked a glance at

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the note. What did this one say? How is Becca?

Seth smiled, his dimple flashing, but it quickly faded as concern shadowed his brow. "Fine. Did you

want me to wait for you?"

She studied him a moment. He shuffled his feet,

hands shoved deep in his pockets, his shoulders so high and tight they almost greeted his ears. She frowned. Hey? Are you all right?

He turned away, his footsteps crunching across the salt and ice. Yeah. I better get inside. Jake hates when I’m late.

Sara chuckled at the mention of her new