The Christmas Cookie Chronicles: Carrie Read Online Free PDF

Texas. Jesse Calloway was a bad boy incarcerated for ten years. But the love of his high school sweetheart, Flynn MacGregor, tamed his wild ways.”
    Jesse’s scowl deepened. “That’s not how the story goes.”
    Mark made a cutting motion with his hand across his neck. “We talked about this, Jesse. Casting you as the tamed outlaw is the angle we’re pursuing. It’s all about that marketing hook. Redeemed by love. That’s the story.”
    “I was wrongly imprisoned for a crime I didn’t commit,” Jesse said. “Are you gonna mention that?”
    Her brother-in-law’s life had been hard indeed. Carrie felt sorry for Jesse and wondered why he was doing this interview.
    “We’ll mention that in the wrap-up, but for the thrust of the story we’re going with the outlaw tamed,” Mark said.
    “I don’t think I want to do this after all,” Jesse grumbled.
    “If you don’t complete the interview, Mr. Calloway,” the woman in the red glasses said in her rapid-fire East-Coast staccato, “you won’t get the thousand dollars.”
    Ah, that explained why Jesse was doing this. He was getting paid for his story. More money for his growing family.
    The front door opened, and the bodyguard ushered Flynn in while blocking the chattering hoard outside the store. Her sister’s normally curly brown hair had been pulled into a French braid. She looked beautiful, a glowing mother-to-be awaiting the birth of her first child.
    Carrie sidled around the rack of tires for a better look, ducking behind a cardboard Santa and its tray of holiday-sale wrenches.
    No one noticed her, so she edged even closer.
    “I’m so sorry I’m late,” Flynn said.
    “No problem. We’re just glad you could make it. What’s the story of the town’s most famous lovebirds if only one of the birds ends up on camera,” said the uber-thin woman. She held out her hand to Flynn. “I’m Iris Tobin, the director of Fact or Fantasy .”
    “Nice to meet you.” Flynn smiled.
    “When’s the little one due?” Iris asked.
    “Christmas Eve.”
    “Oh, seriously? That’s so adorable. We must include pictures of the baby in a little epilogue when this episode airs early next year.”
    “We’ll see.” Flynn pursed her lips.
    Her sister was a people-pleaser, but she was also cautious. Carrie admired her for not immediately agreeing to Iris’s request to film the baby.
    “Do you know what you’re having?” Iris asked.
    Flynn shook her head. “We wanted to be surprised.”
    The makeup artist bustled around Flynn, touching up her face.
    A few minutes later, they started filming again. Mark was very much in control as he coaxed Flynn and Jesse into the story of their romance.
    It was a touching tale, one that epitomized the town legend. As long as Mark stuck to couples like Flynn and Jesse, the sweetheart legend would bear itself out, and Twilight’s reputation would be safe. But this show challenged popular myths. Sooner or later, someone was bound to unearth her connection to Mark and bust the sweetheart myth wide open. So far everyone had been keeping quiet about their relationship, but of course it was to the town’s best interest for their failed love affair to be kept under wraps.
    Carrie anxiously gnawed her thumbnail. It was unnerving to think that the town’s fate weighed on her shoulders. But he had promised not to reveal their past relationship. Would he keep his promise? Once upon a time, his word had been golden. But now? Who knew? He’d changed so much.
    She leaned forward, her gaze trained on Mark. He was impressive. Even in his polished persona, he exuded a raw magnetism that was impossible to deny. Honestly, she was taken aback by how handsome he’d become. He’d been good-looking before, but now he was breathtaking. Damn him.
    Mesmerized by her former husband’s accomplished performance, she didn’t notice at first that the cardboard Santa had started swaying. When she realized what was happening, she put out a hand to steady the