Chocolate-Box Double Hearts

Excerpt from Chapter One: A Chocolate-Box Christmas

Maise Anderson stood at the entrance to the women's shelter in her new hometown, her gaze fastened on the front door. The weather was a typical mid-December afternoon in California, but she was accustomed to cooler temperatures.

However, this wasn't about winter. This was about chocolate.

Under normal circumstances, she would have admired the magnificent landscape surrounding the town of Bloomingfield—the imposing snow-capped mountains, the towering ponderosa pines—but she couldn't, because all she focused on was reaching for the metal door handle and turning it.

With a nervous inhale, she gave herself a stern reminder.

You can accomplish this simple assignment. Candy is a sweet holiday treat. Besides, everyone loves chocolate.

Maybe. Maybe not.

She hadn't eaten chocolate in over two years because of a nasty bout of food poisoning.

Nonetheless, she hadn't gotten sick because of the chocolate, she rationalized, as she recalled that particular dining assignment. Most likely, she'd gotten sick because of her entrée.

She flicked a glance toward the leaden sky, grimacing when a brisk wind blew misty rain across her face. A chill rose up her neck and she shivered.

She tucked her small umbrella under her arm and pressed her lips together.

Outwardly, she passed for the ideal food critic. Her shoulder-length chestnut hair was pulled into a classic chignon, her beige leather pumps sported a sensible heel, and her camel-colored blazer was tasteful and practical. She'd opted for tailored navy-blue slacks, topped with an emerald-green turtleneck sweater, holiday looking but conservative. She'd kept her makeup to a minimum—muted pink lipstick, a light rosy blush, and mascara to highlight her green eyes.

Confidence and expertise on the outside. Foreboding and anxiety on the inside.

She blew out a whoosh of air, straightened her shoulders, and pushed open the door to the shelter. "Here we go," she said under her breath. "I can withstand anything for an hour."

A Chocolate-Box Christmas is the first book in the Chocolate-Box Series. Want to read more?

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091BGN8G1/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_N87HDK68AJMDEB06FG12