Page 47 of Mistletoe Mischief

Holly giggled. “Well, I guess that’s one word to describe him.” Holly reached out suddenly and touched Ryler’s arm. “I don’t want to give you a poor impression of him due to his dating history. Like I said, his last relationship ended because the woman was looking for someone who was a little more financially stable and ready to settle down. Pike wanted to start a business, and at the time was working road construction. She wanted to get married. Be a stay-at-home mom.”

“No offense to your friend but that sounds a little …”

“Shallow?” Holly asked.

“Oh, I am so sorry, there I go again sticking my foot in my mouth,” Ryler said, quickly clarifying, “I just mean dumping a guy because someone else has a better job. You should be with someone because they match your energy and make you happy, not for what they can provide for you financially.”

“I understand what you’re saying, and we’re all good. I don’t like to mince words either.” Holly held up another ornament, this one a snowman, but Ryler shook her head. Holly put the ornament back and continued, “I think it’s human nature to crave stability and someone that matches what you’re looking for in life. Some might call that shallow but, in the end, they just weren’t meant to be.”

“And he hasn’t dated anyone since?” Ryler asked.

“Well, he tried,” Holly said, leaning around the tree to get closer. “He asked out a friend of mine this week who’s had a thing for him since we were kids, but for whatever reason, she turned him down.”

Ryler’s stomach bottomed out. When they’d met that first night, Pike had said, Just one girl, but it didn’t work out.

Holly shook her head. “He must have been pretty upset, because he didn’t even come back inside where we had been hanging out.”

No, he went to the bar, and I threw myself at him.

Ryler felt like a heel. When he’d said that he’d used the mistletoe on someone, she hadn’t thought it was that serious at the time, but it sounded like he really liked her. He’d been rejected, sad, and vulnerable, and she’d tried to take advantage of him.

“Did I say something wrong?” Holly asked.

“No, of course not.” Ryler smiled. “I was just feeling bad he didn’t get a date.”

Holly laughed. “Oh, I’m sure Pike will bounce back fast.”

I’ll say, Ryler thought, remembering their kiss and what could have happened if she hadn’t told him her name. Was that how he dealt with heartache? Get over someone by hooking up with someone else?

A thought crossed Ryler’s mind that she really didn’t like. When she’d left the bar, it had been filling up. Had he found someone else to scratch the itch?

“I don’t suppose we can keep this conversation between us, can we?” Ryler asked cautiously.

Holly smiled warmly and held out her pinky for Ryler to take, which she did with a chuckle.

“Your secret is safe with me.”

Chapter Thirteen

At half past noon on Saturday, Pike opened the door for his parents, his smile fading when he saw the small ball of fur in their arms.

“What the hell is that?” he asked, staring at the puffball with abject horror.

“This is your Christmas present from your sister,” his mom said.

“Absolutely-the-fuck-not!” Pike roared.

“Watch your mouth and your tone.” Tracy Sutton held out the red Pomeranian expectantly. “Here, take her.”

“Uh-uh.”

“Pike …” she warned.

“Moooom,” he drawled back.

“Pike, take the dog from your mother so we can come in. It’s freezing out here,” Dale Sutton barked, his blue eyes narrowed at his son.

Pike took the animal grudgingly, holding it at arm’s length. The little body was warm and trembling in his hands, and he hoped to God it didn’t decide to pee on him.