Jim Reynolds, newly divorced, is headed to Sutter’s Bay just before Christmas. Wanting a new start after the broken marriage, Jim has accepted a new attorney position at a law firm after the holidays. He’s leaving behind Los Angeles, but also his new baby daughter, Hope. He’ll miss her first Christmas.<br><br>Edward Cross came back to Sutter’s Bay a few years back after a relationship grew abusive. A fire at the salon where he worked sends him to Mabry’s restaurant with a chance to begin again. There he runs into Jim, who just happens to be a former lover from LA.<br><br>Both men are seeking another chance at life, and maybe with each other. Can they reconnect over the Christmas holidays?

A Sutter's Bay Christmas

He lucked out later—or maybe not, depending on how Edward looked at things—because by the time Jim came through the registers, Thelma had told Edward to take a short break, so Jim went through Shelley’s line instead.


Part of Edward felt disappointed because he wondered if Jim would remember him. But the other part of him felt relief, because what if Jim didn’t? That would have made Edward feel even moredisappointed.


So, from the shadows of the employees-only area, Edward watched Jim leave with his bags of food, Christmas decorations, and what looked like a baby’s toy. Which meant…yeah, exactly. He wouldn’t care about Edward anyway.


Squelching down further disappointment, Edward retied his “Holiday Apron” and went back to work. 3


“So let me get this straight, no pun intended, but you knew this yummy-ummy man from LA?” Jude sipped his chocolate peppermint martini. He shook his head at Edward. “No, move the lamp closer to here.” He pointed.


Chapter 4