Christmas Cover-Up [Harlequin Intrigue Series #1025]

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 must be Ruth Ann's Cakes.""That's me," she said as she shook his hand. "I'm Rue Harris, and I make custom cakes for any occasion.""Weddings?""Are you getting married?""Not me," he said with the shudder of a confirmed bachelor. "The cake would be for my little sister."He peeled off the Santa jacket. Underneath he wore a sleeveless T-shirt and a giant pillow stuck into fuzzy red trousers that were held up by suspenders. She noticed a suit and shirt tossed over the back of the sofa. Surely, he didn't intend to change clothes right in front of her.He asked, "What else should I know about you, Rue Harris? Have you been naughty or nice?"In usual circumstances, she would have made a hasty retreat before the Santa Claus striptease went any farther, but she was here to mingle and he'd already mentioned a weddingMiles, Cassie is the author of 'Christmas Cover-Up [Harlequin Intrigue Series #1025]', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373692927 and ISBN 0373692927.