Page 59 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Why is that?” she asked.

“Because when my ex dumped me, she chased after him, looking for a rebound.”

Ryler winced. “Did he go for it?”

“Surprisingly, no. He actually avoided her.”

“Sounds like he’s not such a man-whore then.”

“Maybe not. I guess I can’t really hold a grudge against the guy just because he’s got the height and the looks. That air of trouble all the women go mad for.”

“Honestly, super tall guys are overrated.”

Pike laughed. “Get the fuck out of here.”

“No, I’m serious. It was one of the biggest turnoffs about dating Neil in college. My calves and arms were always sore from trying to reach his lips—”

Pike held up his hand. “I’m good with the visual.”

Ryler grinned. “I’m just saying, not every woman wants a six-foot-tall Thor to come home to.”

Pike’s gaze lingered on her face, and she caught her breath when he reached out, his fingers trailing against her cheek. “If not Thor, who is it you think about?”

Ryler caught her bottom lip between her teeth, knowing this was a bad idea, but his lips were so close, those blue eyes hooded and glittering in the dim patio lighting. “It varies, but since coming to Mistletoe, I’ve developed a thing for bearded men.” Ryler reached up, pinching the side of his blue bow tie between her thumb and forefinger. “Especially if they have a tendency to wear bow ties.”

“That is a very specific type,” Pike murmured, his mouth inching toward hers, and she closed her eyes, tilting her head as she waited for the press of his lips on hers.

“Ryler?” Alia called, breaking the spell, and Ryler jumped back from Pike. She spotted her cousin just outside the door, scanning the crowd.

“Over here,” she called.

“I better let you two talk,” Pike said, pushing off the fence.

“To be continued?” she murmured.

Pike grinned. “Just let me know when and where.”

He passed Alia and stopped for a second, saying something to her that Ryler couldn’t hear, but her cousin smiled. As Alia approached, Ryler could tell her cousin was pale. She stepped off the fence to meet her, touching her arm.

“Hey, are you still feeling sick?”

“Yeah, but I wanted to check on you. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just a little overwhelmed in there. Lots of people,” Ryler said.

“Come on, you talk to thousands of listeners every week and socialize with strangers daily.”

“Must have been something else, then,” Ryler said, linking her arm through her cousin’s. “Do you want me to run you home?”

“No, I’ll be okay. I don’t want to give people a negative impression of Excursions.”

“You know your personal well-being is more important than the podcast, right?” Ryler said abruptly.

Alia started, her eyes wide. “What brought that on?”

“I just want to make sure you know that.”

“I do,” Alia said, wrapping Ryler in a hug. “I love you.”