Page 24 of Mistletoe Mischief

Ryler saw the little white car that would cost Alia fifteen dollars to hail and shook her head. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll just finish my food, and we can bounce.”

“Ryler,” Alia exhaled. “I am giving you an out. I know I have been a crabby Patty all day and you are sick of my ass. I will go back to the house, take a Tums and a bath, and go to bed. If I don’t wake up rejuvenated and cheerful, you can push me out a window tomorrow.”

“Man, that is a tempting offer,” Ryler joked. “You’re sure you feel safe?”

“With the Uber driver named Tessa?” Alia asked, smirking. “Yeah. I’m still gonna be watching the tree line, though, for bears and cannibals.”

“Alright, I won’t be long.” Ryler handed her the key. “Text me when you get inside and lock the door.”

“The whole point is to stay long, you weirdo.” Alia grinned when her phone beeped. “And she’s here.”

“Damn, she’s quick.”

“I actually ordered her when I was in the bathroom.” Her smile widened, eyes sparkling mischievously. “You seemed to be in your element among the mountain folk, and I didn’t want to disturb.”

Ryler shook her head with a laugh. “Be safe.”

“You, too.”

Alia got up and headed for the door, leaving Ryler alone at the table, her gaze flicking to Pike’s flannel-clad back and shoulders. He was turned in the stool, speaking to the man next to him, and Ryler realized how crazy this was. What was she hoping to accomplish by staying behind and watching him?

Ryler got up from the table, heading to the bathroom. She passed through the door with the Cowgirls sign and locked it behind her. She stared at herself in the mirror, a small part of her wishing she’d at least put on a little makeup today. She took her ponytail out, fluffing her hair around her shoulders. The natural waves hid the kink the band had made in her strands. Her simple cropped tee stretched across her breasts and dipped into a V, giving a hint of cleavage.

Oh my God, have you lost your mind? You can’t hook up with this guy!

Ryler shook her head, reaching for the door. The little voice was right. She had booked five excursions, and it was a small town. Besides, what if she hit on him and he rejected her? Or worse, he hooked up with her but spent the remainder of the trip drooling over her cousin.

Ryler opened the door and stepped out, running smack into a wall of muscle that smelled like whiskey and cedar. Ryler bounced off him, catching herself on the wall. A soft, strong hand cupped her elbow and she looked up into heavy-lidded blue eyes.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you,” Pike said.

“Yeah, I kind of charged out of there, huh?”

“I had tunnel vision myself,” he said, reaching for her other arm to help her upright. “You good?”

“Thanks.” Ryler noticed that the string she’d seen hanging from his collar earlier was an undone bowtie, and she smiled. She’d noticed the bow tie in some of his pics, but thought it was due to special events. The fact that it was part of his style was adorkably hot.

He returned her smile with a nod. “Sure. Have a good night.”

Pike continued down the hallway to a door at the back of the building. “You, too.”

Something small fell out of his pocket, and Ryler trailed behind him, picking it up from the ground. It was a bushel of mistletoe.

Ryler followed him out the door, realizing she’d left her coat inside. The minute she stepped into the dimly lit courtyard, the icy breeze pricked along her skin. She spotted Pike along the edge of the fence, a lone figure in the dark.

“Hey,” she called out. He turned around to face her, smiling quizzically.

“Hey again.”

“You dropped this,” she said, crossing the patio and holding the greenery out to him.

Pike looked down at it and laughed. “You keep it. Maybe it will bring you better luck than it did me.”

“Oh, what? Were you walking around trying to get a bunch of girls to kiss you, and they said no?”

Ryler noticed his strained smile and wished she hadn’t been so flippant. “Just one girl, but it didn’t work out.”

Ouch. “I’m sorry.”