Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter One

T he turquoise of the water drew me in, calling to me like a siren, and I was unable to resist taking that final step. I was so surprised by the warmth of the water, I stumbled back and landed on my butt in the sand. The people on the beach probably thought I was an idiot.”

Pike Sutton chuckled at the image his favorite travel podcaster, Alia Cole, created about her first visit to Aruba. Pike had never been anywhere farther than the states surrounding Idaho, so listening to Alia’s accounts of fascinating and beautiful places worldwide was his favorite thing to do on his way to work. Someday when Adventures in Mistletoe took off, he planned to travel, to explore some of the places Alia talked about on her podcast. But until then, the guided outdoor sports business he’d opened with his best friend, Anthony Russo, was his main focus.

“When I got my bearings again, I stepped into the clear, sparkling water. It was warm and inviting, but I’ll admit, I could only handle it for a short time. When it’s hot outside, I want my water to be colder than the temperature around me.”

I’m the exact same way.

“Although, if I’m in a colder climate, I want a scalding bath or sauna and a cup of hot cocoa to warm me up.”

Not a man? He couldn’t imagine a woman like Alia was single unless it was by choice. What man in his right mind would meet an adventurous, funny, stunning woman and not shoot his shot? She probably had daily DMs from men like Zac Efron.

Pike knew it was pathetic to fantasize about a celebrity as if they were really who they pretended to be, but Alia’s sense of humor, goofiness, and ability to laugh at herself had drawn him to her. He’d even checked out the podcast’s Instagram and discovered that not only was Alia the entire personality package but a knockout as well.

Although he’d read every post, Pike had only commented on a few, lest he give off Joe Goldberg vibes. When she’d responded to every comment with a small detail about the photo she hadn’t included in the podcast, he fully admitted that his stomach somersaulted like some lovestruck hero in a romance novel. As if she had saved those special details for him.

Pike had no illusions that Alia and he were meant for each other. He was an average guy with a great sense of style, a fastidious grooming routine, and a big personality. He used to hate his red hair and even tried to dye it black in his teen years, but he’d slowly learned to accept it. It was thick and shiny, and his beard was trimmed and full, which pulled attention away from the freckles he tried to hide. Alia had been seen with some of the most beautiful people in Hollywood; if they ever got a chance to meet, Pike knew she’d never fall for a man who’d been called “Lucky Charms” all through elementary school.

Not to mention the awkward middle school years when he’d been as round as he was tall, but those times were behind him. He spent hours in the gym every week, keeping everything hard and tight. There was no way he’d give others any more ammunition for mockery.

Besides, while fantasies were always fun, Pike was pursuing something real with Delilah Gill. She was best friends with his friend Nick Winters’ youngest sister, Holly, and according to gossip, Delilah had been infatuated with Pike for years. He’d known her since she was twelve, but maturity looked good on her now that she was in her late twenties. He’d finally gotten the chance to dance with Delilah and spend a little time with her, only to have her leave early without a goodbye. He’d thought about getting her number from Holly and cold-contacting her, but Pike didn’t want to overplay his hand. Although she’d been sweet and fun to talk to, she could be weighing her options, which was her prerogative. Pike had waited nearly fourteen years to make a move, so if she wanted to make him work for it, he’d do it. It was a minor setback, but considering his disastrous relationship history and the fact that he was over thirty in a small town where the dating pool was turning into a puddle, he needed to act fast .

Pike parked a few blocks down from Adventures in Mistletoe. It was Anthony’s turn to head out with clients while Pike helmed the store, but he hated being stuck inside on days like this. It was bright and beautiful outside with a slight bite in the air, the first hint that the weather was going to turn. Fresh powder meant better experiences for the clients who enjoyed skiing and snowboarding.

He rubbed his tired eyes and leaned back against the seat with a sigh. His coffee had come out with a heap of grounds in it, and he had no idea what happened. Pike wanted to stop in at Kiss My Donut, but he was afraid if he did, Anthony would be late to meet the clients, which would reflect badly on them both. Coffee would have to be forgone unless he could convince someone to bring him some. Maybe Holly or Nick would drop by with a cup.

While Pike would love to sit in the car listening to the rest of the podcast, he needed to get inside and talk to Anthony about the Mistletoe Christmas festivities. Merry Griffin was heading up the planning committee and had handpicked Adventures in Mistletoe to organize the first ever Mistletoe Winter Games. This was huge for the business, and he was anxious to have everything sorted before the deadline on Friday.

“The best part of the trip was what happened later that night …” Alia’s voice cut off as Pike pulled the keys out of the ignition.

“To be continued,” he murmured, pulling up the podcast’s Instagram. Pike scrolled through the posts as he exited the car and stepped onto the sidewalk, making his way to the front door. The top post on his feed caught his eye, and he paused outside the glass double doors.

“Where Should I Go Next?” Contest

Post a location in the comments and include three exciting attractions that make your destination stand out!

Contest closes Monday, November 25 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

Pike checked the time on his cell phone. Shit, that was in fifteen minutes! If he entered now, would she even consider him?

If you don’t enter, she won’t have the chance to consider Mistletoe! Better to try than not!

Pike’s thumbs tapped at lightning speed, pushing back the negative voice that scoffed at him. She is never going to choose Mistletoe, Idaho .

You should come to Mistletoe, Idaho, as your next destination. Gorgeous landscapes, perfect for outdoor sports like snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing, surround the small town. Adventures in Mistletoe would be happy to give you guided tours around the area. The town hosts various holiday activities, including lights displays, parades, concerts, and an epic Winter Games. I would also encourage you to try one of our natural hot springs. They have magical powers!

Pike tapped the send button and opened the door to Adventures in Mistletoe. He stepped over the threshold, almost bumping into Delilah. She was wrapped in a puffer jacket, her dark hair up and off her face. Maybe it was the flush in her cheeks or the way those black cat-eye frames drew attention to her blue eyes, but she was looking mighty delectable. Pike knew what was under that coat and imagined what it would be like to spend date nights curled up on the couch to stay warm, talking about their days and what they should do for dinner. Although he knew Delilah as an acquaintance, he looked forward to learning all her likes and dislikes, to forging a bond.

He just had to get her number first!

“Hey! Is it weird if I say I’ve been looking for you?” he asked.

“Hi. No, I mean, depends,” she said, giving him a small smile. “I don’t owe you money, do I?”

“Funny,” he said, taking a few steps toward her, “but no, I wanted to check in and see how you were feeling.”

“Feeling …” Delilah hesitated, her forehead furrowed for a split second before she gasped, “Oh, after the other night. You know, drank too much. Needed to sleep it off.”

Pike noticed she hadn’t stopped moving since he walked in, fidgeting with her hands and hair, and he smiled at the tell. It was cute that he made her nervous, but he wanted to put her at ease. “Great, then, if you’re fully recovered, maybe we could have coffee sometime?”

“Um—”

“I’m going to take off,” Anthony said abruptly, coming around the counter. It didn’t surprise Pike that the bigger man was in a hurry, since it took a good twenty minutes to reach the ski resort lodge, but his brusque exit probably had something to do with Pike not acknowledging him. He hadn’t meant to be an ass, but was so surprised and delighted to see Delilah, he had tunnel vision .

“Alright, man.” Pike almost stopped him to talk, but he wanted to be alone with Delilah. He patted Anthony on the back as he walked by. They could talk about the games later.

Pike returned his attention to Delilah, pulling his cell phone from his back pocket. He opened his mouth to ask Delilah if he could get her number, but—

“By the way,” Anthony said from behind him, “thanks for bringing my blanket back, Delilah.”

His blanket? What the fuck?

Delilah’s mouth dropped open, her big blue eyes staring over his shoulder. Pike spun around to ask Anthony what he was talking about, but he was already out the door. Finally, he turned to face Delilah again and noticed her flushed face. Suspicion scratched at the back of his mind. Had something happened over the weekend after she left the bar?

And if so, why hadn’t Anthony said anything?

“Why did you have his blanket?” Pike asked, keeping his voice even.

Delilah’s mouth snapped closed, and he realized that he sounded like a jealous boyfriend.

Idiot.

“Sorry,” he said with a laugh. “You don’t have to answer that. You don’t owe me any explanation.”

“No, you’re fine,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “When I got a little sick the other night, I threw up on myself. It was really embarrassing. Anthony gave Holly the blanket to help me clean up, and I washed it at home. That’s why I had it.”

Pike wanted to crawl into a hole. If Anthony was interested in Delilah, he would have told him. His straight shooter best friend was the last person on Earth to lie and sneak around behind Pike’s back.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Pike hated to make excuses for bad behavior, but as a guy who’d lost most of his girlfriends to other more successful, attractive men, he might have a complex. But to start off acting like a jealous asshat before they’d even had a date? Bad form.

“Man, that sucks. I haven’t been that sick in years, but it took me a long time to figure out my limits.” Pike cleared his throat, shooting her a sheepish grin. “So, you and Anthony aren’t secretly hooking up then?”

Delilah snorted. “No, definitely not. ”

“Good, then, could I snag your phone number before I miss my chance again?”

“When did you miss your chance before?” she asked, a slight edge to her voice he couldn’t decipher. He’d heard it before when they danced on Saturday night, as if his interest irritated her.

“On Saturday, before you disappeared.”

“Right,” she said, her face relaxing into a smile. “Yeah, sure, you can have my number.”

Pike held out his phone for her to take, his skin humming with excitement as she typed in her information. This was his moment, a story they could tell their grandkids about. Your granddad thought I was too young, and he almost waited too long, but he came in a clutch, and I fell for him all over again.

At least, he hoped some variation of that took place because Pike was pinning a lot of his future romantic hopes on Delilah.

His notification sound went off, and she handed it back to him with wide eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to look, but you have an Instagram notification.”

Pike snatched the phone back, his hands shaking as he opened the app. Alia would be announcing Excursion ’s next destination any minute, and he couldn’t wait to see it. Even though he knew the chances were slim, it was still exciting to imagine her picking Mistletoe and maybe even booking a snowmobiling outing with them. The publicity alone would be enough to shoot their company to the moon, so long as she had a good time. If she did come, he would make sure it was absolutely perfect.

I need to stop dreaming so big.

Too often he hoped for the incredible and ended up crushed when it didn’t work out.

When he saw the @ExcursionsPC handle in his notifications, he started jumping up and down. “Oh fuck! Holy shit!”

“Are you okay?” Delilah asked, eyes widening when he whooped loudly. He’d clicked on the post, and there it was!

Thanks to @PikenAround for the excellent recommendation, @ExcursionsPC will be trading out the bikinis and suntan lotion for beanies and snow boots! We’re headed to Mistletoe, Idaho, for the holidays !

“Fuck yeah, I am good! She picked us! She’s coming here!” Every word was an out of breath shout, but he was too excited to dial it back.

“Who?” Delilah asked.

“Alia flipping Cole!” She stared at him blankly and he followed it up with, “From Excursions , the travel podcast! This is huge!” Pike stopped jumping and took several deep breaths as he scrolled through his contacts. “I gotta call Anthony! He is going to flip out!”

“Alright, I’ve got to go, too,” Delilah said, taking a step around him with a pat on his arm, “but congratulations.”

“Thanks,” he said, barely looking up from his phone as he scrolled for Anthony’s name, bringing it to his ear, “I’ll call you!”

Delilah waved as she headed out the door, but Pike was too excited to think about anything but sharing the news with his best friend. The first time his call went to voicemail, but he tried again, frustration clawing up his throat as he hollered, “Come on, motherfucker, pick up your phone!”

On the third try, Anthony picked up with an impatient, “What?”

“Is that any way to talk to the man who just got us our biggest business break?”

“What are you talking about?” Anthony asked.

“I entered an Instagram contest and suggested for Alia Cole from the Excursions podcast to come to Mistletoe for the holidays, and she fucking picked us! She is coming here, man!”

Silence stretched on the other line. Finally, Anthony whispered, “Are you serious?!”

“As a damn heart attack!”

“Holy shit!” Anthony laughed and whooped, and Pike started jumping again, ignoring the stares from passersby.

“We are celebrating tonight, my dude!” Pike hollered. “Come by my place after work, and we’ll finalize the list of events for the winter games. I’ll grab the beer and pizza!”

“I can’t believe this,” Anthony said.

“Me neither, but I will never doubt the power of positive thinking ever again!”

Anthony chuckled. “Nice job, man. We’ll talk soon.”

“Later,” Pike said, ending the call and clicking on the Instagram post and reading it one more time.

So far today, he’d snagged a cute girl’s number and was about to meet his favorite podcaster. Things were definitely coming up Pike .

A message popped up in the upper right-hand corner of the app, and Pike clicked on it, shocked to see a DM from Alia at the top.

Dear Mr. Sutton,

I am Ms. Cole’s assistant. Thank you for bringing Mistletoe to our attention. While I was born and raised in Idaho until I was twelve, I admit that I had never heard of your little town. We are excited to explore and experience all the holiday fun it has to offer. You mentioned Adventures in Mistletoe, and after exploring some of the services you have listed on your website, we’d love to book the four excursions package for four people. I am arranging our travel now and should be in town and ready to explore on Friday, November 29. We will be staying in town until Christmas.

I would also like to know more about these hot springs! I googled pictures, and while the settings are amazing, that water doesn’t look habitable.

Sincerely,

Ryler Colby

Excursions Podcast

Ryler, huh? Strange name. Although Pike was hoping it would be Alia reaching out, it was nice to talk to another Idahoan who would at least be familiar with the area.

Pike checked his calendar and responded to Alia’s assistant, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

Dear Ryler,

Please, call me Pike. It’s not surprising that you haven’t heard of Mistletoe, as we’re a relatively small town tucked back in the mountains above Fairfield. Most people pass through for a few hours and move on.

I’ve confirmed your adventures. Please let me know if the dates attached work for you and if I can be of any other assistance to you. I’m happy to give your group a tour when you arrive and tell you all the secrets about the area. By the way, you’re definitely going to want to try Lord of the Fries while you’re here. Best food in town.

I realize that sometimes the shallow pools look orange, but I’ll be taking you to one like this. (I’m attaching a photo.)

Sincerely,

Pike

He scrolled through his phone for a picture, and although it had him and his friend group shirtless, Pike sent it. Hopefully the guy didn’t think anything of it.

The bell above the door rang, and Pike put down his phone, his smile genuine as he greeted them. Pike was riding such a high, there was nothing in the world that could bring him down.