Page 78 of Mistletoe Mischief

“At least my sister can’t do too much damage from two states away.”

“Where does she live?” Ryler asked.

“Arizona.”

“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked.

Pike nodded. “I’ll take the sirloin, medium, with a baked potato and a dinner salad with ranch.”

“And you, miss?”

“I’ll have the lemon-crusted chicken with fries and a dinner salad with ranch.”

“Perfect, I’ll take those menus and be back with your food when it is ready.”

They handed their menus to the waiter, and Ryler caught Pike watching her. “What?”

“I was just thinking about the night we met.”

Ryler blushed, remembering their kiss. “Oh God, what about it?”

“You following me out to the courtyard to make a move.”

Ryler spluttered. “That is not what happened!”

“Right, you were just returning the mistletoe I dropped.” Pike leaned forward, balancing his chin on his hand. “You know, I saw some in the front lobby if you need another excuse.”

“If I need another excuse?” she scoffed. “Pike, honey, if you’ve been thinking about kissing me, then at least have the stones to admit it.”

“I’ve been thinking about kissing you again.” Ryler started at his admission, and he chuckled. “You asked for it.”

“I suppose I did,” she murmured, reaching for the bread basket in the center of the table and taking a roll. He’d told her that they needed to keep things professional, and yet, here he was admitting that he’d been thinking about kissing her.

“I guess the question hanging in the air is, have you been thinking about kissing me, too?”

Ryler took a bite of her roll, chewing slowly to give her time to make a choice. If she admitted that she hadn’t stopped thinking about it since the first time, she’d be opening herself up to the possibility of him putting on the breaks again.

Then again, if she lied and he thought that was the end of it, would she regret it? Would they spend the night lying awkwardly in the room, totally aware of how close they were and what they could do to each other if they only took the chance?

“I have, quite a bit, actually. It’s becoming a real problem, and I feel like the only solution is to get it out of our systems.”

“You think that will work, huh?” he asked, smiling.

“I feel like it’s a chance I’m willing to take. What about you, Pike?” She set her roll on her plate and reached across the table, trailing her finger over the back of his hand. “Feel like taking a chance on me?”

Chapter Twenty-three

Although Pike was starving, it was hard to sit there for the next thirty minutes and finish his meal. He couldn’t stop thinking about getting Ryler alone and kissing every inch of her body, starting with her lips and ending at her pussy. When the waiter finally came back with the check, Pike pulled his wallet out and set his card down, ignoring Ryler’s protests.

“You don’t have to pay for my dinner,” she said, picking up her purse off the floor. Technically, you are my guide.”

“Not tonight I’m not,” he said. “Tonight, I am a man taking out a beautiful woman.”

Ryler blushed. “We don’t have to make this anything more than what it is.”

“And what is this exactly?” Pike asked.

“It’s two people who are attracted to each other and have an irresistible itch that they need scratched.”