Dylan Hughes owns a small bakery. He's doing what he loves and business is good, but he's lonely. After a bad relationship, he's been keeping to himself, and things are worse during the Christmas season. Then there is his unrequited crush on Aaron Tyler. Aaron is a successful event planner. He and Dylan met more than two years earlier and, after tasting Dylan's baking, Aaron proposed a collaboration. They've worked together ever since. Not willing to risk their friendship, Dylan has kept his feelings under wraps. But a secret admirer begins to send Dylan thoughtful gifts twelve days before Christmas. The cute, clever gifts keep on coming and he's flattered, but they couldn't have come at a worse time. Aaron has finally asked him out. What happens when the secret admirer’s identity is revealed on Christmas Day? Will Dylan's blossoming relationship with Aaron survive?

Twelve Gifts

I hope you’re not lactose intolerant,


Because these flavored milks are delicious…


He was sniffing cautiously at the milk inside the mug before he grinned joyfully at the scent of peaches wafting out from the container. He finished the liquid and squeezed out the rest of it from inside the cow-shaped plastic bottle. He even tasted a little from each of the other seven bottles. They all had different flavors: banana, strawberry, mango, kiwi, blueberry, apple, and honeydew. He brought all the bottles into the kitchen and stored them in the refrigerator. He would finish them over the next few days and clean the bottles. He wanted to keep them as mementos.


That was Aaron’s response when Dylan informed him about the latest gift from his secret admirer.


“Yeah, I wish that I could meet my secret admirer though.”


“Isn’t that the purpose of a secret admirer? You know, to remain hidden?”


Chapter 7