Sweet Treasures Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Also Available From Debra Ullrick

  About the Author

  SWEET TREASURES

  By

  Debra Ullrick

  www.debraullrick.com

  Sweet Treasures

  1st Edition Sweet Impressions Publishing

  Copyright © 2017 by Debra Ullrick

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the permission of Sweet Impressions Publishing.

  All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Scripture quotations also taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. niv®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

  All of the characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

  A note from the Author:

  I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by emailing me at:

  [email protected]

  Chapter One

  “Merry Christmas!” Anna Moretti handed the two young girls candy canes at the door of Sweet Treasures. “Thank you for coming in.” She smiled up at their parents.

  “Merry Christmas to you, too,” the young mother said with a broad smile. Her focus flitted from her children, to her husband, and back to Anna. “We loved your cookies and hot chocolate. They’re the best we have ever had. When we get back home, we are going tell all of our friends about this place.”

  “Oh, thank you. That’s so sweet of you to say.” Anna’s smile broadened right into her heart. “I’m so glad you enjoyed them.”

  With a wave, the family of four left Sweet Treasures. People from all around came to her shop because of her numerous original cookie ideas and recipes and the vast assortment of flavored hot chocolates. Flavored coffees and expressos were a part of her shop as well, but the place was best known for its treats and hot chocolate drinks.

  Exhausted from another long day, Anna closed the shop door and leaned back against it. Everywhere she looked were Christmas decorations. In the corner stood a huge Christmas tree covered with red bows, white garland, and ornaments from all over the globe, gifts from her customers. On the top a large red star twinkled, and the variegated lights on the tree blinked to the tune of We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

  Snowflake lights hung down from the ceiling throughout the large room. A strand of various lengths of round, bright red glass ornaments dangled above the long counter with all the handmade Christmas decorated candies, cookies, and cupcakes.

  At each table set a red and white striped candle surrounded by fresh pine boughs with bright tiny glass ornaments and candy canes woven throughout. Snowmen, snowglobes, and decorated jars with her unique hot chocolate recipes set on the numerous display counters and shelves around the shop.

  Her business was thriving and she loved every minute of it. Only one thing was missing in her life. A man to share it all with. While she loved Christmas and it was her favorite time of the year, at the same time it saddened her that she had to spend another Christmas alone. Seven years before, all of her family had moved to California. Anna chose to not move with them because her business was here in Colorado.

  Her family begged her to move her business there, but she had developed a fabulous clientele and rapport with her customers and she didn’t want to give that up. But that wasn’t her main reason. Her employees, her homeless friend Donald, and others like them needed her, and she refused to let them down.

  Plus, as much as she loved her family, it was hard being around them, especially during the holidays. Seeing all her nieces and nephews and her sisters happily married was difficult. Not because she didn’t love them, but because she had spent years getting her business up and running while her sisters had chosen to marry and have children. Now years later, with her business almost running itself, she wished she had a husband and children to share the holidays with. For some reason, this year was turning out to be exceptionally hard in that regard. After all, she wasn’t getting any younger. Next year, in January, she would celebrate her thirtieth birthday.

  Her attention drifted to the top of the Christmas tree and the Star of Bethlehem, a representation of the one that led the wise men to baby Jesus. Almost every Christmas over the last several years Anna had prayed the same prayer. This year wasn’t any different. She closed her eyes. Lord, thank You for everything You have blessed me with. I am truly grateful for all that I have. A great family. Great friends. An amazing church. A thriving business. Excellent health. Thank You for all of it. Lord, this year, all I want for Christmas is someone to love. My soulmate, if you will. That is, if You have one for me. If not, please take the desire out of my heart. I ask this in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

  A tap on the door caused Anna to jump, and her eyes bolted open.

  Pushing herself away from the front door, she whirled around to find a man peering between the white snowy Christmas stencils on the glass, motioning that he would like to come inside.

  Anna wanted to laugh at his timing, but she knew it was just a coincidence that a handsome man wearing a long black business coat, a gray scarf, and matching leather gloves had shown up just as she had finished praying for her soulmate.

  With a yank, she opened the door, ushering in the gentlemen and the bitter cold air. “Sorry about that,” she said with an embarrassed chuckle as she closed the door behind them.

  “Hey, no problem. I was hoping you were still open. I heard this is the best place in town to get a great cup of hot chocolate.” He rubbed his gloved hands together and then blew into them.

  “Well, I think so. But then again, I’m probably a tad prejudiced because I own this shop.” She smiled up at him.

  He returned her smile. And wow what a smile his was. A four o’clock shadow framed his lips which made his teeth appear dazzling white. Her gaze slid upward right into the most amazing blue eyes ever. They were framed by dark thick eyelashes and eyebrows. His brown, semi wavy hair was a shade darker than her own.

  With a grin, he blew on his hands once more. “So what do you recommend? I heard the chocolate covered cherry hot chocolate was the best.”

  “It’s my favorite,” she said as she ripped her gaze from his and took a step toward the counter.

  He stepped alongside her, and the two of them walked toward the counter side-by-side.

  “Well, I’ll have that then.” There was that gorgeous smile again. The one that could melt frozen butter in a manner of seconds.

  Anna forced herself to stop focusing on his handsome smile and face and instead turned her focus on to business. That task, however, became increasingly difficult when he took off the gloves and she noticed he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Moreover, there was no indention on that finger either.

  Stop it, Anna. Just stop it already, she reprimanded herself as she walked around the back of the display counter. Before facing him, she looked over at her best friend and employee. “Cailyn, would you please fix a cup of the chocolate covered cherry, please?”

  Cailyn looked up from the work station she was cleaning. Her gaze went to the gentlemen first and then to Anna. Her eyebrows ver
y nearly spiked, and she sent Anna a double thumbs up.

  Cailyn! Anna frowned and did the cut-it-out-sign against her throat. Thankfully the gentleman was too occupied with his gloves to see the exchange.

  Her friend wrinkled her pixie nose and grinned. “I’ll be happy to get that for you, Anna.” Her emphasizing Anna’s name hadn’t gone unnoticed. How much more obvious could she be?

  Anna knew what her friend was up to, and even though she didn’t fault Cailyn for it because the same thing had crossed her mind a time or two also, Anna had to put a stop to it before Cailyn embarrassed her completely. She sent her a warning look. It was a look Cailyn knew very well because she was always trying to hook her friend up with every single male that crossed through the door.

  Cailyn smiled, ignoring her completely.

  Anna sighed, knowing ahead of time that would be Cailyn’s response. It always was, but it didn’t stop Anna from trying.

  “Is it for here, or to go?” Cailyn asked from across the room.

  Putting on her best smile, Anna turned toward the gentleman.

  The man glanced around before looking back at Anna. “Uh, for here, if that’s okay?”

  From her peripheral vision, Anna noted the time on the wall clock. Ten minutes to eight. Normally they closed at seven, but she would stay open until midnight in order to have the chance to talk to this stranger. With all the tables clean and empty, Anna didn’t want him to think this was the norm. Why that mattered to her exactly, she had no clue but it did nonetheless. “We normally close at seven. But tonight, every time we tried to close, someone else came in, and we didn’t have the heart to turn them away.”

  “Oh, I see. “ His gaze roamed around the room, landing back on her. “Well, I can get mine to go then. I don’t want to keep you from closing.”

  Keep me, please. I don’t mind. Really. “No, don’t you worry about that. You’re fine.” More than fine. Her thoughts were having a terrible time staying in check. “This happens a lot during the holiday season, so we’re used to it. Aren’t we, Cailyn?” She turned and sent her friend a wink, hoping she’d get the hint. It was the truth, but Cailyn was ornery enough to say no just to see Anna blush.

  Cailyn waved her hand. “Oh sure. There are times when the boss here…” Cailyn nudged her head Anna’s direction to make sure he knew that Anna owned the place, but the joke was on Cailyn because he already knew. “And I don’t get out of here until right before midnight. We do have to close before midnight though or else our coaches turn back into pumpkins and our glass slippers back into tennis shoes.”

  Anna’s mouth fell open. Cailyn was really pushing it this time, so Anna sent another warning look her friend’s way.

  In return, Cailyn put on her best imitation of an innocent smile. But there was nothing innocent about Cailyn’s smile or comment.

  All Anna could do was wonder what the man must think of this whole thing.

  Finding a nice place to crawl into until he left sounded pretty good about now, but the professional business woman in her kicked in. With a smile firmly in place, she turned and acted as though nothing was amiss. “May I get you anything else?” Like me, perhaps? Ack! Good one, Anna. So much for being professional she thought with a mental roll of her eyes. She needed to stop this. After all, he was a customer and she, believe it or not, was a professional business woman. At least she was until he had walked into her shop, and at this rate he would walk right back out again without her even knowing his name. Name. Name. Name. Find a way to get his name.

  His attention shifted to the counter with all the cookies. “What kind of cookie is that one? The third one over on the top row.”

  Leaning over, she peered through the glass to see which one he was pointing to. Excellent choice. The three layered cookie was her favorite and her biggest seller. “Oh, that’s a spumoni cookie,” she said, straightening.

  “Spumoni, huh?” His eyes came over to hers. “I’m Italian, and I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a spumoni cookie.”

  Anna’s smile spread to a grin. “There isn’t. Not as far as I know anyway, and I’m Italian too.”

  His smile widened.

  Before she got completely lost in that amazing smile, she tore her attention away from him and put it back onto a safe place - the spumoni cookies. Well, it wasn’t really a safe place because if she stared at the treat long enough, she would have to eat one and she’d already had two earlier that day. If she didn’t watch what she ate, an extra cookie or two would surely land on her hips.

  Therefore, instead of staring at the cookie, she removed one of them from the shelf and held the treat up for his inspection. “I love spumoni ice cream, so I thought why not try and create a spumoni cookie?” She smiled. “You know, with pistachios, cherries, whipped cream.” While it wasn’t ice cream and it didn’t taste like ice cream, the cookie had all the things she loved about spumoni ice cream in them. Well, almost. The bottom layer was a soft brownie cookie, the middle layer was green with glacé cherries and pistachios, and the top layer was a special frosting she had created that tasted almost like real ice cream. Not quite, but almost.

  “Well, I have to give that one a try then.” Again with the smile. Maybe focusing on the cookie was a safer place, after all.

  Even though it was a hard thing to do and took everything inside of her to accomplish the feat, this time she managed to maintain a professional persona through that drop-dead gorgeous smile of his.

  “Here’s your hot chocolate,” Cailyn said, coming up alongside Anna. “I brought you one too, Anna, because I know it’s your favorite, and with no one else here, I thought the gentleman might like some company.” Cailyn managed to rattle that long sentence out without drawing a breath.

  Anna, however, stopped breathing, and her cheeks burned with mortification. Again, what must this man think? Honestly, Anna didn’t want to know.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Nicholas Vitale liked the petite lady’s spunk. The blonde woman Anna addressed as Cailyn voiced his thoughts exactly. His gaze went to the beautiful shop owner whose face was as red as the string of ornaments dangling from the ceiling right above her. It was a treat to see a woman blush. He rarely saw such things in his line of work. Women lawyers rarely blushed. In fact, many of them barked quite loudly, and a few even bit if you weren’t careful. In his experience they were tough as iron and almost nothing caught them off guard.

  “Well, what do you say?” Nicholas asked, intrigued by the opportunity. “Being new here in town, I would love the company.” Before she said no, he hurried on to say, “Besides, you can’t let that perfectly good cup of hot chocolate go to waste now, can you? And I really do hate to sit here all alone.” Was there anything else he needed to say to convince her he really did want to have her company? “It’s bad for my reputation.”

  “Your reputation, huh?” She wavered for a breath. “Well, I would like to help you out but…” Anna glanced over at Cailyn, “I really should help Cailyn finish cleaning up.”

  He was about to open his mouth to say something else when Cailyn beat him to it.

  “Oh, no need to. I’ve already done most of it. Go. Go on.” She shooed at Anna. “After all, like the man said, you can’t let this drink go to waste now can you?” Cailyn winked at him and smiled at Anna.

  Even with Anna’s head turned sideways, Nicholas didn’t miss the narrowing of her eyes toward Caitlyn, who in return, showed absolutely no penance whatsoever. Nicholas stifled his chuckle, and before Anna could respond, he piped up with, “There. It’s settled.” He picked up the tray with the two beverages on it, took the spumoni cookie in the paper sleeve from Anna’s hand, set it on the tray, and strode toward the table in the corner by the front window. A moment later, footsteps sounded behind him. Not just any footsteps either. Anna’s.

  Nicholas couldn’t help the smile curling his lips.

  If things continued, by the time he left Sweet Treasures, he would have a date for his uncle’s law firm masq
uerade Christmas party. This stop off might be just the stroke of luck he’d been looking for.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Bless her heart, though Cailyn meant well, her obvious attempts to fix Anna up were embarrassing the socks off of Anna. The poor gentleman probably didn’t want her company, but he was clearly too polite to decline.

  Reluctantly, Anna followed him to a small table near the window. His spicy citrus aftershave softly filled the air surrounding him.

  He set the tray down on the table and held the chair out for her, something she absolutely loved in a man.

  Chalk one up for his being a gentleman. Being an old fashioned gentleman like her father was one of the most important attributes on her list for a perspective spouse. Being a Christian was number one on that list.

  He scooted her chair in, removed his scarf and coat and draped them over the back of one of the remaining chairs at the table. Holding his striped green tie close to his chest, he lowered his tall frame onto the seat across from her.

  Anna set a cup of hot chocolate and the plate with the spumoni cookies on it in front of him and placed the other ones in front of herself, doing her level best not to look at him too closely.

  “By the way, names Nicholas.” He held out his hand.

  “Anna.” Still trying not to stare at him, she settled her hand into his and noticed how strong yet gentle his handshake was.

  He tipped his head. “Anna? A good Italian name.”

  “I was thinking the same thing about Nicholas.”

  “Your family is Italian then?” he asked,.

  Even though they had already established the fact that the two of them were both Italian during their spumoni cookie conversation, Anna replied with a hearty, “Yes. A very traditional Italian family which I love.”

  “My family is too.”

  Chalk up another good point for him.