Page 82 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

Delilah’s stomach flipped and an eruption of feminine “aws” echoed on the porch.

Anthony blinked, as if realizing for the first time that they had a rather large audience.

“I didn’t know you were having a party.”

“It’s book club.”

He climbed up on the first step, swaying. “What book are you reading?” he asked, smiling at her.

“Stay focused, man! I am freezing my balls off!” Declan said.

“Right, sorry.” He cleared his throat. “Delilah Gill. I like you and want to take you out on a date. ’Cause I like you.”

“You already said that,” she whispered.

Even on the step below, he still towered over her and leaned in. “I thought it bore repeating. I like the hell out of you, and I will shout it to the world any time you doubt me.”

“Would you kiss him already?” Holly hissed.

“I swear, if you don’t, I will!” another woman called from inside the house.

“Will you date me, Delilah?”

Delilah laughed. “You are very drunk.”

“That is a statement of fact but not what I’m looking for.”

“And you’ll get an answer when you’re sober.”

“Booo,” the men on her front yard hollered.

“Sloshed or not, that was pretty epic,” Ryler said, leaning against the railing. “Although the redhead was pitchy.”

Pike glowered at her. “Witch, I have the voice of an angel.”

“A fallen angel.”

Suddenly, Pike bent over and gathered up a handful of snow, letting it fly. It missed Ryler and hit Holly on the side of her face. Delilah’s mouth dropped open as Holly dived off the porch.

“You’re a dead man, Pike!”

“I wasn’t aiming at you!” he protested, hiding behind one man after another. “Declan, control your woman!”

“I don’t know, man. I kinda wanna see what she does when she gets you.”

Wives and girlfriends passed Delilah to join in the fray, while the bystanders whooped and cheered. Snow exploded against the side of her house and the window and women dived back inside, slamming the door closed.

“We’re going to get the cops called on us if we don’t simmer down,” Wren said, making a motion to quiet down with her hands.

“Officer Wren, is that you?” Sam called. “I didn’t think you knew what fun was.”

“Smug son of a bitch,” she muttered, hopping off the porch. Her blond hair was up in a high ponytail that swung as she bent over to get a handful of snow. “You’ve been asking for this for weeks.”

“Well come on, hot stuff! Catch me if you can!”

“Delilah?” Anthony said, the deep rumble drawing her attention away from the chaos around them.

“Yeah?”