Page 7 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Maybe you’re jealous because you want to be in front of the camera in a speedo?”

Neil hopped up from the bed with a grunt, the corner of his mouth curled up. “I’m a board shorts man, but no. I just want you to be happy.”

“Enough.” Ryler laughed, holding her hands out for him to take and help her off the bed. “Should we wake up the others and tell them the good news?”

“If you do, your cover girl might be an ogre for the trip home.”

“Point taken. Better if we surprise her.”

Chapter Three

This is absolutely amazing, guys,” Noel Winters said after reading the message from Alia’s assistant. She handed Pike’s phone back to him with a grin. “Congratulations, Fish!”

Pike couldn’t even glare at his friend for using that stupid nickname. He was walking on sunshine. Excursions had signed up for four different experiences with Adventures in Mistletoe over the next few weeks, which meant that they were going to be featured on the podcast and Instagram. He’d spent most of his downtime in the store today looking at ornaments for their tree, hoping he could convince Anthony to do something awesome for the Festival of Trees. While they didn’t have time to decorate, at least they could order the stuff and have one available for people to see. They were about to get a shit ton of exposure, and they needed to be out there, soaking up all of it.

“Thanks.” He took his phone back and slipped it into the pocket of his jeans.

“I’m still amazed that she picked Mistletoe,” Nick said, shaking his head. “With Sun Valley a stone’s throw away? Aren’t her parents big-time Hollywood actors? You’d think that would have probably been more her speed.”

“Hey now, let’s not jinx ourselves!” Pike said, pointing at Nick. “Yes, her dad is the CEO of Cole Studios, and her mom was a big rom-com queen in the late nineties, but she is coming here, and this is where she is going to stay.”

“Whoa, now, let’s not get too intense,” Anthony joked. “We don’t want to scare her away.”

“Speaking of scaring women away,” Noel said, smirking, “Nick said you’ve finally noticed Delilah Gill. What brought that on?”

Pike groaned softly. When he’d invited his three friends over to celebrate and brainstorm over pizza and beer, the last thing he expected was to be questioned on romantic pursuits.

“I guess the timing kind of fell into place.” Pike reached out and slugged Anthony in the arm.

“Ow! Asshole!” Anthony glared at him.

“That’s for fucking with me earlier with the blanket thing. Why did you make it seem like you were hiding something?”

Anthony’s cheeks darkened, and Pike could have sworn he was blushing. “I was just thanking her. I can’t help it if you took it weird.”

“Whatever, it was a jacked-up thing to do.” Pike straightened his tie, grinning. “At least she didn’t let your bullshit affect her feelings toward me.”

“So, this is happening?” Nick asked.

“I got her number, at least. Now I just got to figure out where to take her.”

Noel and Nick exchanged a glance, and Pike frowned. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” they chorused.

“Bull, that was a look,” Pike said, his focus shifting between the two of them. “Do not start doing that married mind meld thing! What don’t you want to say?”

Noel glanced at Nick, who shrugged. She leaned forward and steepled her fingers, her hesitation making him crazy.

“I wonder if you are pursuing Delilah for the right reasons,” Noel said slowly, as if she were picking every word carefully.

Pike scowled. “What are the right and wrong reasons?”

“Are you finally noticing Delilah because you really like her and want to get to know who she is?” Noel asked, holding her hands out like a scale and dropping her left hand lower. “Or are you kind of at a loss for who to date, and she fills a void?”

Pike sat back, his mouth hanging open. “Wow, that’s what you think of me? That I use people because I’m bored?”

“We don’t think it’s intentional,” Nick said quickly.