Page 28 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“It doesn’t matter; crosswalks are there for a reason!”

“I’ll remember that next time,” Delilah said, escaping with Leia inside Adventures in Mistletoe. The last thing she wanted was Officer Wren to find said crosswalk and come to her side of the street just to lecture her more.

Anthony looked up when she shut the door, smiling. “Hey, you.”

“Hi.” She held up the blanket with one hand. “All clean.”

“Thanks,” he said, coming around the counter. When he spotted Leia, he stopped, squatting down. “Were you the one barking like crazy the other night?”

Leia wiggled and pulled, trying to get closer, and Delilah took a few steps forward so he could pet her. Leia put her paw on his knee, leaning into his hand.

“You’re a cute little fluff, aren’t you?” Anthony said.

“She thinks so,” Delilah said, holding his blanket out to him. He took it as he climbed to his feet and set it on the counter.

Anthony smiled at Delilah, even as he addressed the two of them like Leia understood him. “Are you two just delivering the blanket, or do you have something fun planned?”

Dang, why is he so flipping cute? “We’re going to stop next door and say hi to Holly, and then we’ll most likely go home. What about you?”

“I am taking a couple up the mountain on four-wheelers today.”

“That sounds like … something.”

He chuckled. “I know you don’t like outdoor activities.”

“Especially not in the cold,” Delilah said, shuddering just thinking about it.

“That’s why we bundle up and keep blankets in the car for emergencies.”

“Like when girls need to strip down and wear one home?” Delilah laughed.

Anthony winked at her. “What other emergencies are there?”

Delilah suddenly sobered. “Thank you for not telling anyone what happened. I was embarrassed.”

“You didn’t have any reason to be. It could have happened to anyone.”

“Yeah, but it didn’t.” Delilah sighed. “When I was younger, people laughed at me all the time. I was the best punchline around. I don’t want to go back to that.”

Delilah didn’t know why she’d told him that and avoided looking at his face because if she caught him watching her with anything resembling pity, she would expire on the spot.

“Nobody thinks of you as a punchline.” Anthony took a step closer, his hand settling under her chin, and she let him lift her gaze to meet his. “From the minute you walked through those doors on Saturday night, you had everyone’s attention in the room because you were mesmerizing.”

Including yours?

She didn’t dare to ask, though.

“I’ve been curious about it,” he said, dropping his hand from her face. The warmth of his touch lingered for several moments as she tried to concentrate on what he was asking, but those moss-green eyes were incredibly distracting.

“What?”

“Why did you get all done up on Saturday night? Were you looking to take someone home?”

God, he was so close. Those full lips hovering, and she wondered what he’d taste like today.

“I—yes. I wanted … that.” Real smooth, Delilah.

“Anyone?”