Read Online The Rock Star's Christmas Reunion: contemporary holiday romance (A Charisma series novel, The Connollys Book 1) by Heather Hiestand - Free Book Online Page A

but she couldn’t look at his face, couldn’t read him. Maybe he liked it that way. “Maybe so, but most men wouldn’t proceed to buy an expensive house in their small town in order to put their past to rest.”
    “Real estate values are back up. It might be a good investment.” He shifted. “Which is why you might want to sell your great-aunt’s house and get out of here, while the going is good.”
    “So, in conclusion, you think I’m perfect for you, but you just moved here, and you want me to move away. So confusing.” Bax was a walking contradiction wrapped in a dangerously sexy package.
    He smirked. “I’m a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, and cash.”
    “I cannot believe you just quoted The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ,” she said, secretly delighted. “You are so not the demographic of that show.”
    “I’m going to plead the fifth, but I might know the kids of one of the stars,” he said. “Which then leads to sneak-watching the episodes.”
    “That is some truly cringe-worthy information about you,” she said, almost whispering. “With serious blackmail potential.”
    “You misunderstand.” He widened his eyes. “I’m watching for blackmail potential on my friends. So you can’t use it against me. Besides, why are you watching?” He squeezed her again.
    “I plead the fifth.”
    “We’re going to have to discuss these dangerously low-brow interests you have,” he said. “But for now, let’s figure out dinner. I’m starving.”
    “Always with the hunger. You Connolly boys still haven’t stopped eating continuously, have you?”
     
    ~
     
    Yakima spent Monday morning in her commercial kitchen, baking perfect gingerbread man she was going to decorate and sell for big bucks at holiday fairs this weekend. She and Haldana were each going to work different events so she’d be in gingerbread man heaven all week prepping. By the time she was done, her hair had smelled like cloves and nutmeg and she had dried flour streaks on her jeans. She’d gone home for a shower and change of clothes when she finished baking, and hadn’t quite made it out of her house when she heard a knock on the door.
    “Hi!” She leaned toward the gorgeous man in her doorway.
    “Somehow I ended up with this massive block of tofu when I made it home from the market today. I decided it was a sign.”
    A black T-shirt peeked out of the collar of the V-neck pullover Bax wore. He’d found a hat for once, and the gray felt of the fedora was dark with rain.
    “What have you been up to?” he asked.
    She stepped aside so he could come in from the rain. “Gingerbread men.”
    “Doing them or making them?” He pulled off his hat and set it on the table in the tiny entryway, then ran his hand through his flattened hair. It sprang back to life.
    She drank him in. “Ha ha, Mr. Rock Star. I lead a very sexless life, thank you very much.”
    “This is where I step in and ask you on a date, right?” He winked. Behind him, a Fed Ex truck rumbled down the street, the third she’d seen today. Christmas presents were being delivered again.
    “What about that tofu?” she asked.
    He handed her a plastic bag with four pounds of extra-firm in it. She checked the expiration dates. “These are good until mid-January.”
    He stepped in closer and sniffed. “I am ashamed to say this, but until this moment, I have never smelled a more perfect woman.”
    “I thought men liked vanilla-scented women the best.”
    He shook his head. “Gingerbread man-scented women beat out all the other options. Were you baking here?”
    “No, in my commercial kitchen. We are selling them at holiday bazaars this weekend and getting our name out there.”
    He smiled hopefully. “Could we go roll around the floor in there now, get crazy? It would be like we were cats in catnip.”
    “You’re so funny, but no. That’s my workplace. I wouldn’t suggest we get crazy in a recording studio.”
    “Oh, but you should,” he said. “That’s