Page 35 of Mistletoe Mischief

“A couple of times. Last year, Excursions traveled to Oregon, and we visited a lumber mill. They had me try scaling a tree, which was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.”

“I remember that podcast.” He laughed. “Alia found a squirrel family living in one of the trees she scaled and refused to let them cut it down. It turned into a huge fight, and finally, they compromised by hiring a wildlife rescue crew to come out and relocate the squirrels.”

Ryler smiled at him over her shoulder. “It may have only been one family saved, but the owner got good publicity from working with the rescue. I hope he kept his promise to check trees before felling them, but people have to make money, right?”

The way Ryler talked about it had a familiar ring, and he was pretty sure Alia had said the money thing during the podcast. Could Excursions be partially scripted and Ryler helped write it? Pike wasn’t sure why the thought disappointed him, but he’d always thought Alia sounded so genuine, like she spoke from the heart.

“Right,” he murmured.

When they hefted the tree through the tent opening, Pike saw Alia sitting with Merry, having an animated conversation in the corner. Pike got a real good look at those ridiculous heeled boots on Alia’s feet with her leg crossed over one knee, and he frowned. Why would an experienced hiker like Alia wear something like that to a tree farm?

Maybe she didn’t realize it was cut-your-own-tree.

“Looks like Alia and your friend are hitting it off,” Ryler said.

“Yeah, Merry’s good people. Her family owns the farm.”

“Awesome. I’ll have to schedule a tour with her. It would be good for the podcast.”

“Alia doesn’t plan her own interviews?” Pike asked, confused.

Ryler shrugged. “She’s only one woman, which is why she has me.”

Pike couldn’t imagine giving up that kind of control at Adventures in Mistletoe. It was hard enough compromising with Anthony on all of the holiday events, but if he didn’t trust Pike to handle the clients alone? He’d lose his mind being micromanaged.

“Oh, good, you two are back,” Alia said, climbing to her feet. Her shiny blond hair fell around her shoulders in waves, held off her face by a thick headband that covered her ears. Her smile created delicate lines by her eyes that did nothing to detract from her beauty.

It was funny that Pike had spent years looking at her photos and thought when he met her, he’d be tongue-tied around her, but it was almost like seeing a work of art in a museum. He could admire it without wanting to covet it.

“Hello, my arm is going to fall off,” Ryler barked. Pike realized she was glaring at him and probably thought he was staring at Alia for all the wrong reasons.

It still didn’t give her the right to snap at him.

“Go to that table, and we’ll get a net around it,” Pike shot back darkly.

“Whoa, everything okay over here?” Nick asked, coming up alongside Ryler. “I can take that for you, miss. I’m old hat at this job.”

Ryler smiled up at Nick sweetly. “And here I thought chivalry was dead in Mistletoe.”

“Only for some of us,” Nick said, giving Pike a quizzical look.

“Please, she cut down the tree all on her own. She’s not dainty and delicate.”

Ryler gasped. “Wait, are you fat-shaming me now?”

Every female within hearing distance swung their way, and Pike shrank under the full weight of their disapproval. “What the hell? No!”

“Pike,” Merry whispered, frowning at him. “What has gotten into you?”

Before he could articulate a response, Nick motioned with his head toward the netting table. “I think I’m going to take Pike over here before he shoves his foot farther down his gullet.”

Pike followed Nick with the tree but caught Ryler’s wicked grin as they passed. The little minx had set him up again.

“I’ll get you for that later, Kitten,” he whispered.

“Meow,” she said, making a clawing gesture before hissing, her nose scrunching up.

Pike turned away before she saw him laugh. The damn woman caught him off guard, and a part of him loved that she kept him on his toes.