Page 99 of Mistletoe Mischief

“How do you ever get laid, Fish?”

Pike startled at Noel’s appearance, as if she’d come from thin air. When she leaned over to kiss Nick, her husband asked, “Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Picking up Ricki for book club now that her bartending shift is over.” Noel checked her phone. “She gets done with her bartending shift at six.”

“Since when are you in a book club?” Anthony asked.

“As of today,” Noel said, hanging on to the back of Nick’s chair. “I figured with you boys out plotting and scheming, I’d join the girls and see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

Pike scoffed. “Trouble at a book club? Book clubs are for sipping wine and gossiping.”

“How do you know?” Sam asked, smirking.

“My mom used to host one every Tuesday,” Pike said, grinning. “I snuck out of my room and listened in once. I was traumatized.”

“Sounds like fun,” Noel said, giving Ricki a hug when she joined her. “See you later, boys. Behave.”

“Never,” Pike crowed, and the other men echoed him, except Anthony. Pike noticed him staring at his phone, but before he could bring Anthony back into the conversation, Pike looked up and saw Brodie and Trip walk through the door.

“Ah hell,” Pike said.

“What?” Nick asked.

“Trip, Brodie, and the goon squad just walked in.”

Brodie made a beeline for Anthony, and Pike was so tempted to burst into song to throw the guy off. A little Taylor Swift maybe? “Bad Blood”? “Trouble”?

The group of burly men dressed in varying colors of flannel shirts stopped like a wall of plaid next to their table.

“Russo,” Brodie said, smirking at Anthony, “I heard you and Pike are in charge of the winter games?”

“Yeah? What about it?” Anthony asked.

Brodie put his hand on the table, leaning over between Sam and Declan. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to enjoy kicking your ass.”

“Ha,” Pike said, pointing at the group of men. “You couldn’t kick a can if it was right in front of you.”

“You want to wager on that?” Trip asked.

“Absolutely,” Anthony said firmly, much to Pike’s surprise.

“If we win,” Brodie said, thumbing at his group, “you’re going to buy each of us a snowmobile.”

“And if we win,” Anthony said, leaning back in his chair casually, “we want your boat.”

“Deal,” Brodie said, holding out his hand, which Anthony took. Pike realized he was holding his breath and didn’t release it until the group of men walked away, laughing.

“That was a little too cocky,” Nick said.

Despite his reservations about making such a large bet, Pike scoffed, “I’m not worried about those clowns.” Pike stood up, grabbing Anthony by his arm. “It is time!”

The group of men stood up, whooping and hollering. Sam started chanting, “I don’t know but I’ve been told.” The group repeated after him, and he continued, “Mistletoe men are mighty bold.” He continued to pause, giving them a chance to follow along as they walked out of Brews and Chews. “We play for keeps and get the girl. Except for me, ’cause romance makes me hurl.”

The rest of them booed Sam while Pike sent Ryler a text, his buzz making the words fuzzy on the edges. I miss your smell.

“So, we’re going to walk all the way to Evergreen?” Clark said skeptically.

“Actually, Delilah is hosting,” Declan said, pointing to the left of the parking lot. “Holly was afraid people wouldn’t be able to get in with all the cars waiting to see the lights display.”