Romancing Rudy Raindear (Sexy Secret Santas) by Mary Leo Read Free Book Online Page A

children. And as Santa soared up higher, the clouds separated and the stars shown like a million Christmas lights across the sky.
    Then as everyone watched, Santa returned, making a perfect landing on Prancer Street. The children jumped out of the sleigh each carrying a toy. After every child had had a ride, Santa, along with his security team, took off once again. As he soared up higher and higher, his voice rained down on the town, “On Dancer, on Prancer, on Donner and Blitzen . . . Merry Christmas to all!”
    Then, in the blink of an eye, the magical sleigh and reindeer disappeared into the starry night.
    After a moment, Rudy’s attention returned to Jenny. “Did all of that really happen, or did I just imagine it?”
    Jenny smiled, grabbed two hot chocolate-filled mugs from the table, tossed in some marshmallows, handed a mug to Rudy and said, “Let me tell you a story about me and Mrs. Claus.”
     
    The End
     
    Mrs. Raindear’s Favorite Anise Cookie
     
    Preheat oven to 375
    Makes a lot of cookies!
     
    9 eggs
    1 cup cooking oil
    1 cup sugar
    ¼ cup milk
    2 teaspoons vanilla
    ½ teaspoon anise oil
    7 ½ cups sifted flour
    9 teaspoons baking powder
    ¼ teaspoon salt
     
    Icing
    1 cup powder sugar
    ¼ cup melted butter
    Add enough *Anisette to whip smooth
    Silver or colored sprinkles if desired
     
    Beat eggs until thick - lemon colored
    Add oil gradually, then sugar, milk, vanilla, and anise oil
    Beat 5 minutes longer
    Add in sifted dry ingredients gradually
    Turn dough out on floured board and knead until smooth
    Cut off enough dough to roll into a ½ inch thick rope about 9 inches long
    Cut this rope into three equal parts and place on prepared cookie sheet
    Continue this process until all the dough has been used
    Bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 for 10 minutes or until delicately brown
    Cool on wire rack. When cool, top with a thin coating of icing, add sprinkles while icing is wet.
    *Anisette is an Italian liquor which can be purchased at any liquor store
     
     

 
    Santa’s Favorite Gingerbread Cookies
     
    Preheat oven to 350
    Makes several cookies
     
    ¼ cup butter
    ½ cup brown sugar/ or ½ cup palm sugar
    ½ cup molasses (preferably dark)
    3 ½ cups sifted flour
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
    ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    1 teaspoon ginger
    ½ teaspoon salt
     
    Beat butter, sugar and molasses until creamy in a large bowl. Sift dry ingredients together and add in thirds to the wet ingredients, adding up to ¼ cup water as you beat in the flour.
    Roll the dough out to about ¼ to ½ inch thick on a greased cookie sheet. This works best so you won’t have to move the dough once you cut out your cookie. Tip: grease the inside of your cookie cutter. When Stan Raindear first made this cookie, he would form the boys and girls by hand, later he used a heavy paper pattern, greased one side of the pattern and cut around the outline with a sharp knife. He then removed the scraps of dough, kneaded them together and made more gingerbread boys and girls until all the cookie dough was used up.
    Bake for 8 minutes or longer according to thickness. The cookie should spring back from your touch when they are done. Cool on a wire rack.
    Decorate using your imagination.
    These cookies will get harder the longer they are exposed to air. To speed this process up, return them to the oven after they are cooled for a few minutes longer. Be careful not to burn them.
    Ho ho ho!
     

 
     
    About the Author:
     
    Mary Leo looks at the world with a touch of irony and humor, which comes across in her writing. She grew up on the mean streets of South Chicago in the tangle of a big Italian family trying to make their way out of poverty and corruption. Because of this colorful beginning, she brings a touch of edginess to her characters that makes them come alive. Whenever you pick up a book written by Mary Leo, not only will you laugh and sometimes cry, you’ll experience the love of strong family ties.
    Mary gives