Page 108 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Does that mean you’re going to tell me why you’re in an all-fired hurry to get out of here tonight?”

“Oh wait, I wasn’t clear, you can’t keep any more secrets, but I can.”

Anthony playfully pushed Pike’s shoulder. “Get the fuck out of here.”

“You’re not going to stay and watch your girl?” Pike teased.

“I think everyone got the message to stay away,” Anthony said, heading for the exit. As they pushed through the door and the cold air stung Pike’s face, he shivered. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to take her to an ice-skating pond. Freezing to death didn’t exactly lead to romance.

Practically everything he had in his dating rolodex took place outside, and it was cold as hell tonight.

“I need a date-night idea. It’s too cold to go ice-skating.”

“Wait a second, back up!” Anthony said, pulling up short. “Who do you have a date with?”

“Um … I can’t tell you that.”

Anthony hit the unlock button on his truck fob. “You preach to me about secrets, and then you keep a secret girlfriend from me?”

“She is not my girlfriend.”

“Oh yeah? So, this is a new development.” Anthony sucked in his breath. “It’s not the podcaster you’ve been showing around, is it?”

Technically, yes, since Ryler is the voice of Excursions but—

“Nope, not Alia.”

“No, the other one. Ryler!”

Pike grinned sheepishly.

“Dude! I thought the whole point of inviting them here was for publicity. We don’t want bad publicity!”

“Relax, we have an understanding, and that’s all I’m going to say because this was supposed to be between her and I.”

“You’re having a secret relationship with the podcaster’s assistant? Oh yeah, this is going to end well.”

“Back to the matter at hand, where do I take her? And don’t say Brews and Chews.”

“What about the Wolf’s Den?” Anthony said before he climbed into the driver’s seat.

“No, we don’t need to listen to bad karaoke.”

“It’s warm, it’s inside, and I bet you’d have fun.”

Pike shook his head. “I’ll consider it. You got anything else in that big brain of yours?”

“You could take her through Holly’s neighborhood first. Grab some tacos, eat them in the car as you check out the Christmas lights, and end the night with drinks and an off-key rendition of ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me.’”

As far as ideas go, it wasn’t the worst one he’d heard, although he was a tad concerned. He wasn’t joking when he’d told Ryler that the Wolf’s Den was a rougher crowd, and bringing a beautiful, curvy girl like her in there would be asking for trouble.

Then again, if someone messed with her, Pike imagined his Kitten could handle herself.

His Kitten? When had he added the possessive “his” to her nickname?

About the same time thoughts of her took over every free moment of the day?

Pike shook his head, refusing to acknowledge the little voice’s antics. He and Ryler were enjoying each other’s company. If he had an off-color thought, that was completely natural when he liked someone. No need to read too much into it.