A Christmas novella where everyone gets their just desserts.
Olive had a major crush on Hank in high school. She was the too-smart, slightly chubby girl who gawked as Hank ran track and made all the cheerleaders swoon. After high school, the two went their separate ways. Olive opened a yoga studio and swore off sweets while Hank traveled the world. No problem, right? At least there wasn’t a problem until Hank moved back to town and opened a candy shop across the street from Olive’s studio. Now, Olive will do everything she can to shut her old crush down. But Hank has other plans, and all of them end with an Olive sundae.
Author’s Note: This is a sweet Christmas treat that will leave you satisfied, yet desperate for a little taste of sugar.
Olive had a major crush on Hank in high school. She was the too-smart, slightly chubby girl who gawked as Hank ran track and made all the cheerleaders swoon. After high school, the two went their separate ways. Olive opened a yoga studio and swore off sweets while Hank traveled the world. No problem, right? At least there wasn’t a problem until Hank moved back to town and opened a candy shop across the street from Olive’s studio. Now, Olive will do everything she can to shut her old crush down. But Hank has other plans, and all of them end with an Olive sundae.
Author’s Note: This is a sweet Christmas treat that will leave you satisfied, yet desperate for a little taste of sugar.
“So, what’s your poison?” He turns and places the boxes on the counter between us.
“Just whatever you have is fine.” I try not to look at the swirling lollypops, jars of jellybeans, or rows of frosted cookies. The caramel candy apples with chocolate drizzle almost catch my eye, but I look away before I become ensnared.
He sidesteps to the candy apple display. “Try one.”
“No.” I keep my tone level. “Just pack up whatever you want to donate, and I’ll be on my way.”
He smiles, and butterflies go to war in my stomach. Lightly tanned skin, bright eyes, and dark hair are still my weakness, almost as much as the mouth-watering candy apple he picks up and holds out to me. “Give it a try.
I just put these out this afternoon. The apples are tart, and I made the caramel myself.”
I glance at the proffered treat. My sweet tooth demands that I take it, but my will is far stronger. “No, thank you.”
His smile grows, as if he already knew I’d decline. Then he raises the apple to his mouth and takes a bite. The perfectly ripe apple makes a delectably crisp crunch between his teeth. I watch as he licks the stray caramel from his lips, and I wonder just how sweet he’d taste.
“What was that?” He takes another bite.
“Hmm?” Lord help me, but I stare. Watch his Adam’s apple bob and follow the movement down into his flannel shirt right where the tan skin disappears behind the fabric.
He grabs a small plate and sets the rest of the apple down. “You just made a noise is all. Like a high-pitched sigh.”
My face burns bright red. A sigh? I made a noise? “No. I don’t think so.”
“Yeah, you did.” He grins. “Almost as if you’d enjoyed that as much as I did.”
REVIEW
Christmas Candy is a fun, sweet, holiday novella. Olive and Hank's story was just the little sweet I needed for the day.
Olive has struggled with her appearance and how its made her feel for years. She knows she had a problem in the past with her weight, and so she has done her best to avoid temptations to knock her off her good health kick. But when Hank opens up a candy store directly across from her yoga studio, the temptation of what (and who) is inside could be too much.
I loved the banter between Hank and Olive, and Hank's refusal to just walk away from Olive. He's a man who knows what he wants and he's going to try everything in his aresenal to make Olive see that too.
Though this story is short, it's full of humor, romance, and a bit of holiday spirit to bring it all together, leaving me wistful and happy, but also wanting more than just the taste I got.
Christmas Candy is a fun, sweet, holiday novella. Olive and Hank's story was just the little sweet I needed for the day.
Olive has struggled with her appearance and how its made her feel for years. She knows she had a problem in the past with her weight, and so she has done her best to avoid temptations to knock her off her good health kick. But when Hank opens up a candy store directly across from her yoga studio, the temptation of what (and who) is inside could be too much.
I loved the banter between Hank and Olive, and Hank's refusal to just walk away from Olive. He's a man who knows what he wants and he's going to try everything in his aresenal to make Olive see that too.
Though this story is short, it's full of humor, romance, and a bit of holiday spirit to bring it all together, leaving me wistful and happy, but also wanting more than just the taste I got.
Celia Aaron is the self-publishing pseudonym of a published romance and erotica author. She loves to write stories with hot heroes and heroines that are twisty and often dark. Thanks for reading.
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