Page 123 of Mistletoe Mischief

Ryler put her fork down, forgetting about the rest of her meal as she went to claim her prize. When Pike met her at the bottom of the stairs, he grinned. “I think people are going to get the impression you might like me, Ryler Colby.”

“Or that I really wanted to donate to charity.” Ryler went to the table and paid for Pike. “Are you upset that someone else didn’t win?”

“Why are you asking stupid questions,” he asked, leaning over to place a soft kiss on the skin of her neck. “I’m going home with the most beautiful woman in the room. That dress is sure something, Ryler, and I can’t wait to see it on the floor of my bedroom.”

Ryler looked up into his roguish expression, his eye and cheek still slightly bruised from the fight, and she grinned. “First, I believe you owe me another excursion. That is what I paid for, isn’t it? Your time and expertise.”

Pike pressed his mouth against her ear and whispered, “How about we skip the excursion, and you let me spend all night showing you some of my other talents?”

“You’re sounding a little like a male hooker, sir,” Ryler teased.

“Whoa now, I was going to teach you some dance moves. What were you thinking about, dirty girl?”

Ryler laughed. “Naked dance moves.”

Pike kissed her temple. “Your wish is my command.”

Chapter Thirty-nine

Ryler walked up to Delilah with a white coffee cup in her hand and stopped alongside her. “Hmmm, this better not be boring, or I’m going to chuck a snowball at Pike’s head.”

Delilah laughed. “I guess if it is, they won’t have another one next year.”

“Oof, don’t put that out into the universe. I actually want them to do well.”

Delilah shot Ryler a curious glance. “I do, too, but I’m surprised you feel that way. I thought you and Pike hated each other.”

“‘Hate’ is such a strong word,” Ryler said, taking a sip of her coffee. “I prefer to think of it as mild dislike with a friendly dose of animosity.”

Delilah shook her head. “Whatever you say.”

“Everyone, get ready to cheer on your favorite holiday trio. The first team to complete the final task wins! On your mark. Get set.” A loud bang sounded in the distance, and Ryler kept her eyes peeled on the crest of the hill, watching for a flurry of motion.

“If he comes in last, I’m never letting him live it down,” Ryler said.

“Look!” Delilah pointed to a redhead on a blue sled, zipping down the hill. She bumped Ryler with her hip. “I guess you can’t torment him now, huh?”

“Don’t think that doesn’t piss me off,” Ryler said with no real heat. What she really wanted to do was scream at the top of her lungs and cheer Pike’s name, but they’d already sent the gossip mills spinning with their exit at the auction. No way was she causing any more drama.

Holly came back with Declan and Sam in tow, asking, “How are they doing?”

“Pike just handed off the bag of goods to Nick, who has to put on skis.”

“Who came up with this idiocy?” Sam asked.

Ryler glared at the pretty boy and bent over, forming a ball of icy snow in her hands. The snowball caught him on the side of the head, and he frowned at Ryler. “Did you just nail me with a snowball, girl I barely know?”

“Why would I hit a stranger with a snowball? That would be really odd.”

“Go Nick!” Delilah yelled.

Holly’s employee, Erica, returned with a corndog in one hand and a churro in the other, all smiles until Sam tried to take a bite.

“Hey now, get your own! You ain’t pretty enough to share my food with.”

Ryler was ready to scream at all of them to shut up as she watched Nick ski down the road, stopping every ten feet or so and picking something up. Someone in an orange parka was gaining on him.

“You can see them?” Erica asked.