Page 40 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

What confounded him was Wren taking off like her pants were on fire, even though he knew damn good and well she’d had as good a time as him. Unless . . .

Nope, there was no way she’d been faking it. He’d tasted her orgasm the first time and felt her body clamp down on his the second, so he knew she’d come not once, but twice.

Most women would stick around for round two with a skilled, considerate man, but not her. She’d shot him a good-night text, and that was it.

Sam might not know much about relationships, but even he recognized that as a bad sign.

He climbed out of his Jeep, his little duck collection reflected in the windshield, and locked it before making his way toward the front porch. Holly’s home was a one-story with permanent Christmas lights placed along the trim and a giant animatronic Jack Skellington stationed in the middle of her lawn, wearing a Sandy Claws hat and suit. Other characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas were placed around the lawn, and Sam knew there were several scenes on the roof because he’d spotted them from a distance. Every house on Evergreen Circle signed a contract agreeing to put up elaborate displays during the holidays, which brought tourists from all over Idaho and even out of state to see them.

Sam stepped up onto the porch next to a bathtub with a giant sack inside, Santa’s legs sticking out of the open top. Lock, Shock, and Barrel, Oogie Boogie’s henchmen from the movie, were positioned around the tub with sinister grins on their faces.

The door swung open, and Holly leaned out, frowning at him. “Why are you standing out here like a creeper?”

“I was about to ring the bell. Were you watching me through the peephole?”

Holly swept her red hair back over her shoulder and rolled her dark eyes. “I got an alert that someone walked by the garage and came to greet you.” Holly stepped out onto the porch and gave him a hard, tight hug. “I miss your drop-bys.”

Sam squeezed her back. “I’m sure your boyfriend doesn’t.”

Holly rolled her eyes. “Declan still thinks you have a secret design on me.”

“I’ve told him that you’re too cheerful for me. What’s it going to take to convince him?”

“Stop giving her long, lingering hugs?” Declan’s voice echoed behind them. Sam swung around and saw the Ring camera on their doorframe lit up red, and he laughed, squatting down to get closer.

“Declan, are you spying on us? Jealousy is an ugly emotion.”

Holly kicked his butt, and he almost went face-first into the wall. “Hey.”

“Stop tormenting my man, and he’ll stop thinking that you want to get in my pants.”

“I’m not interested in her pants! Her head will do.”

Declan had barely gotten out a “What the fuck—” before Sam realized what he said and clarified, “For her brain! Jeez!”

“Honey,” Holly said sweetly, “will you just grab the burrito fixings and come home? It’s cold out here, and I’m hungry.”

“Uh-oh, what’s the slang for cold and hungry? Cungry?” Sam asked.

Holly groaned, pushing past him into the house. “You are such a dummy.” She stuck her face in front of the camera, speaking to Declan, “I love you, see you soon, bye!” Holly gave Sam a dark look, and he held up his hands innocently.

“What? I’m just saying, we could start our own language.”

“Sure, and we can braid each other’s hair and freeze our underwear, after you come inside the house.”

“What if I’m not wearing underwear?”

Holly checked the camera and then glared at Sam. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”

“I knew he was gone. Don’t want to make Declan any more insecure than he already is.” Sam chuckled at her huffiness. “Thanks for letting me come hang out.”

“Anytime.” Holly held the door for him with a smile. “Want some coffee?”

“I’d love some.” Sam shut the door after crossing the threshold, trailing behind Holly down the hall. “I have to say, while I love the décor outside, isn’t The Nightmare Before Christmas more of a Halloween movie?”

“It’s both,” Holly grumbled.

“I don’t know, Hol. Something about a black and orange snake sliding out of a package to eat a Christmas tree doesn’t quite fit with the whole merry and bright theme the rest of the street is going for. How would Charlie Brown feel?”