Page 65 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

More women filed onto the porch, while others moved the curtains back and were watching from the window. Wren shook her head, and Sam couldn’t take his eyes off her as she leaned on the banister, her blond hair tied back in a ponytail.

Anthony threw his hands out to his side, nearly smacking Nick, who stepped back closer to Sam. Anthony didn’t notice as he sang, “And you’re to blame!”

The men chorused, “Oooooooh,” and Sam crossed his eyes, making Wren laugh. The neighbors were gathered in their yards, investigating the strange noises. Some of them laughing. Others turned and went back inside, obviously over the group’s drunken antics.

The song ended, and Delilah didn’t move as Anthony took a few steps toward her.

“Aren’t carolers supposed to sing Christmas songs?” Delilah asked.

“Not when they’re trying to win back their girl.”

The women on the porch released a collective “aw,” even Wren. He could tell by the way her mouth opened.

Anthony stopped. “I didn’t know you were having a party.”

“It’s a book club.”

Sam watched him climb the steps, swaying slightly, and thought someone should be behind him in case he lost his balance. But the guy finally made it, giving Delilah a goofy smile. “What book are you reading?”

Sam nearly groaned aloud. Get on with it!

“Stay focused, man! I am freezing my balls off!” Declan said as if he’d heard Sam’s frustration.

“Right, sorry.” He cleared his throat. “Delilah Gill. I like you and want to take you on a date. ’Cause I like you.”

Sam couldn’t hear her response, and although he was part of the collective, all he wanted to do was talk to Wren.

“I like the hell out of you,” Anthony said, raising his voice, “and I will shout it to the world any time you doubt me.”

Holly made an exasperated noise. “Would you kiss him already?”

“I swear, if you don’t, I will!” another woman called from inside the house.

“Will you date me, Delilah?” Anthony asked.

Delilah laughed. “You are very drunk.”

“That is a statement of fact but not what I’m looking for.”

“And you’ll get an answer when you’re sober.”

“Boo,” the men on her front yard hollered, including Sam. After all that romantic effort, walking four miles in the cold at night, piss drunk, that was all they got?

“Sloshed or not, that was pretty epic,” the unfamiliar brunette said, leaning against the railing on the other side of Delilah. “Although the redhead was pitchy.”

Pike glowered at her. “Witch, I have the voice of an angel.”

“A fallen angel.”

Suddenly, Pike bent over and gathered up a handful of snow, letting it fly. It missed the strange brunette and hit Holly on the side of her face. Delilah’s mouth dropped open as Holly dived off the porch.

“You’re a dead man, Pike!”

“I wasn’t aiming at you!” he protested, hiding behind one man after another. When he ended up behind Declan and Sam, his voice hit a high note as she gained on him. “Declan, control your woman!”

“I don’t know, man. I kinda wanna see what she does when she gets you.”

Wives and girlfriends joined in the fray, while the bystanders whooped and cheered. Snow exploded against the side of the house and the window, and women dived back inside, slamming the door closed. Sam started walking toward the porch, bending over to pick up a handful of snow. Wren shook her head and shouted, “We’re going to get the cops called on us if we don’t simmer down.” She made a quiet motion with her hands, and Sam tossed a snowball at her, hitting her in the chest.