Page 87 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“I just got back. I left in high school and went away to college on the East Coast.” Aimee pointed between Anthony and Delilah, “I’m just here visiting my parents during the holidays. “If you ever want to give me a private tour of the changes around here, I could give you my number.”

“I hope that you enjoy your stay,” Anthony said, reaching across for Delilah’s hand. “But we’re a little busy right now.”

Aimee’s eyes widened. “Are you two together?”

“You didn’t catch that from the hand holding?” Anthony’s sarcasm came through like molasses, thick and unmistakable.

Aimee’s lips tightened and she nodded at Delilah. “You are a very lucky girl.”

“I know.” Delilah gave the woman a pleasant smile.

“See ya,” Anthony said, giving her a little wave with his free hand.

Aimee walked away and Delilah pulled her hand away and went back to her menu, making a clicking noise with her tongue. “Well, I think it’s safe to say that she likes you.”

Anthony snorted, aware that her mild tone was anything but. If a man had come in and flirted like that with her, Anthony would have been livid.

“She’s just a flirt,” he said, leaning forward on the table so she would look up at him from the menu. When she finally did, he added, “And not anyone I would be interested in even if I wasn’t with you.”

“Really?” she drawled, closing her menu and setting it aside. “Tall, leggy blondes aren’t your thing?”

Anthony shook his head. “I’m not interested in any woman who’s going to take five hours to get ready and pick matching outfits for us just to go on a hike.”

“Why do you assume she’s like that?” Delilah asked.

“Did you see her nails?” Anthony said, making a clawing motion. “Those things look expensive and deadly. I don’t want her anywhere near me.”

“I wonder why she approached us like that?” Delilah asked.

“Who knows?” Anthony picked up both menus and stacked them on the end of the table, shooting her a saucy smirk. “I don’t really care, and I’m not interested in talking about her.”

Delilah picked up her napkin and started fraying the edges. “I guess I should be flattered that you are ignoring a girl like that for me.”

“Hey,” Anthony said, getting up and sitting next to her in the booth. “She doesn’t even compare to you.” Anthony cupped her face and gave her a soft, sweet peck. “She’s Chardonnay. You’re a bottle of ninety proof.”

“I make you sick and give you a headache?” she joked softly.

“No,” he said, kissing her a little harder this time, “you taste better than anything else on the shelf.”

“I feel like that’s a weird compliment,” Delilah said breathlessly, a smile teasing over her lips, “but I’m going to accept it because it’s you.”

The waitress appeared at the table, giving them a brief, knowing look before tapping her pen onto her pad. “Are you ready to order?”

“Yeah, I want a breakfast sandwich, hash browns, and black coffee,” Anthony said, sliding his arm around the back of the booth.

The waitress scribbled it down and asked, “How about you, Delilah?”

“I would like a short stack, fresh fruit, and a coffee with room for cream.” Delilah picked up the menus and handed them to her. “Thanks, Pam.”

“You got it!”

Once the waitress disappeared, Anthony leaned into her, running his finger over her cheek “Are you going to cancel your snowboarding lesson with Brodie?” Anthony asked.

“I had forgotten about it, actually, but I probably should.” Delilah scooted closer with a flirtatious smile. “I wouldn’t want him to get the wrong impression. Does your offer for snowboarding lessons still stand?”

Anthony stroked his chin, eyes narrowed playfully. “That depends on if you’re going to use the skills I teach you for good or evil.”

“How would I use them for evil?” she laughed.