She peeled off the crimson wrapping and opened a small box. It contained a round silver Christmas ornament.
Rue held it up so Cody could see. “What am I going to do with this? I don’t have a tree. I can’t even go to my house because it’s too dangerous for me to be alone.”
“You have a home with me,” he said.
His smile was gentle and warm. When he reached over and stroked her cheek, some of the ache went away. Right now, he was her haven. “My protector.”
He winked. “Somebody’s got to watch over you.”
And she was grateful. If he hadn’t been here, she’d be lonely and in danger.
“Have you been able to talk with anyone about the case?”
“Tomorrow. It’s going to have to wait until tomorrow.”
“What are we going to do for the rest of today?”
“I have plans.” His grin widened and he winked. “Get ready.”
“For what?”
“Tonight, we’re going to have ourselves a merry little Christmas.”
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Rue (Ruth Ann) Harris – Struggling to make a go of her custom cake shop, the last thing she needs is to witness a high-profile murder. Or to fall in love.
Cody Berringer – The ruthless corporate lawyer has a vulnerable spot when it comes to the twenty-year-old unsolved murder of his father, “Lucky Ted.”
Leticia Grant-Harris-Mason-Lopez-Jones-Wyndemere – Now a wedding planner, Rue’s mother never met a man she wouldn’t marry.
Danny Mason – Leticia’s second husband, the newly elected but not sworn-in mayor of Denver is the closest to a father Rue ever had.
Bob Lindahl – Danny’s old friend and political supporter.
Mike Blanco – Another of Danny’s friends, he’s a former cop who suffers from serious heart ailments.
Jerome Samuels – Danny’s campaign manager, who pulled himself out of the gang life to become supremely ambitious.
Tyler Zubek – A witness to the murder, he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Carlos – Lindahl’s bodyguard is injured in the murder.
Madigan – His criminal record makes him the police’s number one suspect.
Bernice Layne – Rue’s colourful assistant at the cake shop has a heart of gold and a wardrobe to match.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For Cassie Miles, the best part about writing a story set in Eagle County near the Vail ski area is the ready-made excuse to head into the mountains for research. Though the winter snows are great for skiing, her favourite season is autumn when the aspens turn gold.
The rest of the time Cassie lives in Denver where she takes urban hikes around Cheesman Park, reads a ton and critiques often. Her current plans include a Vespa and a road trip, despite eye-rolling objections from her adult children.
Christmas Cover-Up
CASSIE MILES
MILLS & BOON
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To Gary Outlaw and the guys,
especially Bernice. And, as always, to Rick.
Chapter One
Shortly after Rue Harris opened her custom bakery shop, she realized that she was going to need a lot more dough.
Though her profits from the morning pastry sales were decent, the real money came from providing designer cakes for big events. She had to publicize, to build her reputation. Which was why she had agreed to provide two free cakes for a political event on a Thursday, one week after Thanksgiving.
The purpose of this midafternoon party was to thank those who had contributed to the campaign of Danny Mason, the newly elected mayor of Denver. Danny was Rue’s former stepfather. One of several. Her mother had been married five times.
Though it was early for Christmas, that was today’s theme. The huge ballroom in a foothills mansion was festooned with wreaths and red velvet bows. A fifteen-foot-tall Christmas tree stood in the cathedral-style window, and the caterer’s staff wore Santa hats and holly pins. A very tall Santa Claus in full beard and suit meandered through the crowd making ho-ho-ho noises.
Rue reached up to tuck a wisp of brown hair into her high ponytail, then adjusted the shoulder strap of her burgundy chef’s apron so her white embroidered logo—Ruth Ann’s Cakes—would be visible. Nervously, she shuffled her weight from one foot to the other. Come on, Rue. Mingle. Her main reason for being here was to make contacts, and it wasn’t doing her any good to be a wallflower. She needed to meet people.
Her gaze skimmed the ballroom. Danny had once been a cop, and she spotted a couple of navy blue police uniforms in the crowd. Some of these people she’d met before but most were friends of Bob Lindahl, the owner of this mansion. Lindahl was a building contractor with a shady reputation that made her wonder how many of these guests—cops or otherwise—were carrying guns.
None of my business. If she happened to pick up a few new clients who were criminals, so be it. She’d run a special on cakes with files baked inside—the perfect surprise for a jailed felon.
She launched herself into the crowd, prepared to mingle, mingle, mingle. She said a couple of hellos, introduced herself to strangers, checked out the baubles on the Christmas tree and bobbed her head in time to the music from the jazz combo playing Christmas tunes.
When she glanced back toward the serving line, the caterer seemed to be almost ready for her. The red-draped table on the far right end was saved for her cakes. Time to bring them in from the van, but first she needed to wash her hands.
She slipped through a door at the edge of the ballroom, hoping it was a bathroom.
It wasn’t.
And she was not alone.
The tall Santa stood in the center of an oriental rug in a study. He was unbuttoning his red jacket.
“Sorry,” she said as she reached for the door handle. “I was looking for…a quiet space.”
“Me, too,” he said. “Peace and quiet and cool air. I’ve been wearing this suit for an hour, and it’s hot.”
“Not like the North Pole, huh?”
He stuck out his hand. “I’m Cody Berringer.” Peering over his fluffy white beard, he stared at her chest and read the embroidery. “You