“Butwe’renot here for pizza, right?” I’m entirely too full from the pot roast and vegetables Adrianne made for dinner to even consider anything else.
She reaches up and flicks the jingle bell at the end of one of my antlers. “Nope. We’re here for trivia.”
“Trivia?”
“Christmas trivia. And my team has a championship to defend.”
“I see.” None of this seems out of character for the town or Ginny, and I’m not even sure why.
“Don’t worry. You can just sit and watch. That is a great way to get a feel for the town.”
I give her an offended look. “Are you insinuating that you don’t think I would be good at Christmas trivia?”
She narrows her eyes as she studies me. “Yes, Everett, that’s exactly what I’m insinuating.”
“You’llwishI were on your team.”
She moves in a little closer. “Are you insinuating that you aregoodat Christmas trivia?”
“Let’s find out.”
“You heard the part about how I have a championship to defend, right? If you cost me the crown—and yes, there is a crown—I may not forgive you. Which would result in me eating all the roasted potatoes before you get any next time you’re here.”
Oh, she noticed how much I like her mom’s roasted potatoes, huh? I like that she’s paying attention to me.
I nod and flick the jingle bell at the end of her Santa hat. “Noted.”
Before she can say anything else, we are surrounded by people who are all talking at once. Somehow, Ginny seems able to follow all the conversations without missing a detail.
I find myself settling in with an elbow on the table and simply watching. I swear I could sit back and watch Harriet Ginger Riley do absolutely anything and be perfectly happy.
And completely turned on.
Her smile, her laugh, the way she teases and makes everyone smile around her, her quick wit, and the way she throws herself even into Christmas trivia make me achingly hard.
“Well, I’m so sorry for all of your losses, but we’ve got the brilliant, gorgeous librarian onourteam this year,” David Bennett says, coming up behind Mia and wrapping his arms around her.
Ginny laughs. “Oh, I don’t think so.” She reaches out and takes Mia’s hand, pulling her closer to Ginny. “The same teams as last year.”
David doesn’t let go of Mia, and this results in a tug-of-war over the woman who simply laughs and blushes.
“I think I havetechniquesto talk her into being on my team that you don’t have, Ginny. And I’m not too proud to use them,” David says.
Ginny looks directly at Mia. “The Bennett boys are their own team. No defecting over dick.”
Mia snorts. Then she looks over her shoulder at David. “I don’t make the rules, I just follow them. You’re really into rules, right?”
David gives a growl, then puts his mouth against her ear. No one can hear what he says to her, but her cheeks turn bright red.
“I can do that,” she says.
“If he’s telling you ways for you make it up to him later, I don’t wanna hear it,” Harlow says, squeezing in next to us. Then she grins at her sister. “Just kidding. I totally wanna hear all of it.”
Jefferson is right behind Harlow, of course. “Be good, or she’ll want to hear all the ways I getyouto do what I want.”
Harlow laughs. “First, you never get me to do what you want unless I want to anyway.”
Jefferson just rolls his eyes but doesn’t deny the truth of the statement.
