Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Two

T he sand under Ryler Colby’s feet disappeared as the ocean drew away, readying for another wave to build up and crash against the shore. It was a beautiful morning in Bali, with the sun hovering over the oceanic horizon, a brilliant beacon of light amid the light peach, lavender, and yellow sunrise that rose from the water and bled into the dark blue sky, which still sparkled with a few stars.

It was paradise, and yet Ryler was restless to move on.

Removing her phone from the pocket of her yoga pants, she snapped an Instagram-worthy photo of the sunrise before putting it away. She stepped back out of the reach of the incoming waves and made her way along the sandy trail to the bungalow she’d been staying in for the better part of a week. The lush greenery hid the rental from view until she crested the hill, the trees giving way to the spectacular view of the beach below.

Maybe it was the Hallmark movies she’d been binging since the plane ride from Aruba, but with Thanksgiving only a few days away, Ryler couldn’t help thinking there should be a slight nip in the air at least. Instead, she was sweating already, and it was only six thirty in the morning.

Which was why seeing @PikenAround’s comment on her post fifteen minutes before the contest ended last night seemed like kismet. She’d been curled up in bed unable to sleep, when her alarm went off at midnight, reminding her to choose a winner. She’d happened to see Pike’s comment, since he was the last one to enter, and curious about the town’s name, had googled pictures. It was the perfect winter retreat and a break from all the sunshine and sand. She’d reached out to him and immediately started booking their travel. She hadn’t told the rest of the crew yet, as they’d been out last night having fun. While she didn’t imagine any trouble from Kit or Neil, her cousin, Alia, would be another story.

Ryler unlocked the front door and stepped inside the quiet home. Alia would sleep until the afternoon if Ryler let her, but they needed to be out the door and at the airport by one p.m. Everyone was used to a spontaneous schedule, so Ryler wasn’t worried about it.

Ryler’s room was the only one upstairs, while the other three bedrooms were downstairs. She’d skipped the team-building over tequila in favor of dinner and dessert in bed, wrapped up in a streaming romance between a wine maker and a distributer. The cozy movie was set among hills of gorgeous fall foliage, and a pang settled in her stomach as Ryler remembered the smell of her parents’ kitchen at the holidays. The sweet aroma of apples and cinnamon wafted around her as her mother hummed Christmas carols and her dad stood on the back porch with her uncles, drinking beer as the turkey fried.

Ryler opened the fridge with a shake of her head. It had been a long time since she’d thought of those memories. Why was she suddenly so nostalgic?

She pulled out some fresh fruit, washing and peeling the items before cutting up an array into a bowl. Ryler carried her snack into her bedroom and onto the balcony, where she took a seat on the simple metal chair. She settled the bowl into her lap and poked the colorful fruit salad with her fork absently as she opened up Instagram. She saw the message from @PikenAround and looked at the picture he’d attached of him and a few friends sitting in a blue-green pool of water with green grass and spring flowers surrounding them. In the distance was a craggy, snowcapped peak.

Ryler shot back a message. Now that is the kind of hot springs I’d be down for.

Someone knocked on her door, and Ryler glanced up from her cell and called out, “Come on in.”

Neil poked his head in, tsking. “You’re really just letting anyone into your bedroom without asking who it is?”

“I was hoping for Dylan Wang, but I guess you’ll do.”

“Ain’t you sweet,” he said, coming inside with a paper bag in his hand and closing the door behind him. Neil was her best friend and producer. Although they’d dated for a hot minute in college, they’d realized early on they were better off as friends. When they had graduated six years ago, Ryler took her communications major and launched Excursions , her travel podcast, with Neil by her side. They’d started small, driving around the country in a secondhand camper, visiting obscure and commercial locations, posting pictures of landscapes, local cuisine, and events. It had been a simpler time, and sometimes she missed it.

“I went out to get breakfast,” Neil said, setting the bag on the corner table by the window and launching himself across her bed, his dark skin and shirt standing out against the white comforter. “And how are you this fine morning?”

“I’m great. I went for a walk.” She waved her hand to the plate of fruit on her nightstand. “Ate some fruit. Booked our next destination.”

Neil grabbed the half-eaten fruit bowl off her side table and took a bite. “Where to?”

“There’s this little town in Idaho called Mistletoe. It’s in the mountains, and they have all these Christmas traditions!” Ryler leaned over, handing him her phone. “Check them out. I got us this beautiful four-bedroom log cabin in the woods that will be perfect for privacy.”

Neil nodded. “Looks awesome. Alia is going to hate everything about it.” Neil got up from the bed and cocked a hip, pouting his full bottom lip and mimicking in a high voice, “Why would you cover all this up?”

He waved a hand over his length, and Ryler grimaced. He was right. Alia opted for tropical destinations every time, but Ryler was burnt out. The only reason she’d picked Bali was because an old friend from college had invited her to visit. It was nice to catch up, but damn, she was ready for a change.

“I know, but she will get over it. Mistletoe will be the perfect place to wrap up the podcast before the holidays. Give us a couple weeks to pick our New Year’s destination.”

Neil scrolled through the pics she’d downloaded on her phone, nodding his head. “You know I’m down for anything, even the potato state.”

“Kit will love the backdrop for photos,” Ryler said.

He handed her back the phone, his dark gaze holding hers. “If she throws too big a fit, maybe that’s a sign to come out of hiding. Before the truth comes out and bites you in the ass. ”

Ryler got up to grab a water bottle from the minifridge in the corner of the room, Neil’s words circling her like a rope, tightening around her chest until she struggled to catch her breath. The thought of announcing to the world that she was the voice behind Excursions left her ready to give up the podcast altogether, and it was her life. She couldn’t even focus on a relationship because she was never in one place long enough to let herself fall.

But telling the world that beautiful, perfect Alia Cole had never been the voice of Excursions , and that it was actually mousy Ryler behind the mic, using her cousin’s name and face to hide behind? She’d rather just stop posting, but they couldn’t do that either. They had sponsors and advertising that paid their bills.

Ryler twisted off her water cap with a huff. “If I came clean now, it would still take a big chunk out of my behind.” Ryler slapped her butt to emphasize her point. “Starting with the sponsors and advertisers, who would pull their money and support.”

Neil scoffed. “You put too much stock in appearances. Your listeners love you. They get wrapped up in your passion for these places. True fans don’t care what you look like. They were obsessed with the show before we ever posted on Instagram.”

“They do not want to look at a midsize woman with wavy hair she can’t control and freckles dotting all over her cheeks and nose.”

“Really? I thought I just saw a tutorial on TikTok on how to give yourself freckles? I think they’re in.”

“I’m an average woman, nothing remarkable. Definitely not Instagram worthy.”

“Okay, that is what you see.” Neil got up off the bed and crossed the room to hug her. “I see my gorgeous, successful friend who shines when she walks into any room. Who can set someone at ease with a smile.” He chucked her under the chin, dark eyes meeting hers. “You are perfect, Ryls. I wish you could see it.”

Ryler didn’t have it in her to argue. She never wanted to be in the spotlight. She loved her podcast and sharing the places she explored with the world, but she didn’t want to put herself on display for strangers to pick apart. She’d seen it happen a thousand times to celebrities who kept their identity a secret for years and then the big unmasking occurred. Suddenly, everyone had an opinion on what they should have looked like. While Ryler was confident in who she was, enduring society’s insults wasn’t something she wanted to open herself up to .

Ryler gave Neil a hard squeeze and released him, heading back to sit crisscross at the head of her bed. “While I appreciate your support, I’m happy with this arrangement. I get to do what I love without all the stress of public appearances.”

“Fine, I’ll shut up about it.” Neil sat down on the edge and stared at her with solemn brown eyes. “I just worry.”

“That’s what I keep you around for,” she teased.

“You also keep me around to intimidate interested males.”

Ryler groaned and fell sideways on the bed. “I thought you went drinking with the others.”

“I did.”

“Then why aren’t you miserable and hungover instead of lecturing me about my life?”

“I stuck to beer and water. I basically played babysitter, keeping the others from doing something stupid.”

“Should I make you a shirt that reads Papa Bear ?” she asked, running her finger over the front of her chest to demonstrate.

“I’ll never wear it, but knock yourself out. Back to you though … When is the last time you talked to Ollie?”

“Yesterday,” she said, fudging the truth a bit. Ryler had called and left a message … a few weeks ago.

“And is he going to make plans to spend the holidays with you in snowy paradise?”

“We haven’t discussed it.” In all honesty, Ollie and Ryler hadn’t had a conversation longer than two minutes for a few weeks now. Ryler knew that was a sign to pull the plug, but she didn’t want her friends to start chucking single men at her like basketballs to a hoop.

Neil grunted. “You need to stop dating these boring accountant types. They are never going to give you the life and love you deserve, or the fire.”

“Ollie has heat,” Ryler protested.

“Seriously, that kiss he gave you when he met you at the airport gate three weeks ago? Tepid at best!”

“Anyway!” Ryler laughed, sitting up and reaching for her phone. She tapped on Instagram again, when she saw there was a message and read Pike’s response. I’m telling you, Excursions made the right choice picking Mistletoe. We will take care of you, trust me .

Ryler checked out the picture of @PikenAround’s hot spring one more time. She knew from his profile pic that he was the guy with red hair and the beard standing up in the pool. Ryler couldn’t help admiring the wide shoulders and sculpted chest, arms, and stomach. The guy probably lived at the gym.

“So, what does the winner of your contest get?” Neil asked, interrupting her ogling. “The one who suggested Mistletoe as a destination?”

“I thought picking their destination suggestion was enough,” Ryler said, clicking on @PikenAround’s profile picture. He was smiling for the camera with a backdrop of trees, hands in the pockets of his dark blue coat. His neat red beard was vibrant against the dark of his jacket. He had a nice smile and eyes, although he was too far away to tell the actual color.

“Oh, come on. He or she should get something extra. Who is this person?”

Ryler followed the link for Adventures in Mistletoe and scrolled through the different services. “He owns an outdoor sports tour company. Snowboarding lessons. Snowmobiling.”

“Hey, that could be fun. We could hire his company’s services while we’re out there. When is the last time we hit the slopes?” he asked.

“Years, and I already did.” She turned her phone around to show him the confirmation emails. “We have four activities booked, but I have a feeling we could do more.” Ryler groaned. “I don’t know about snowboarding. I’m totally out of practice.”

“Stop acting like you’re old,” Neil said, snapping his fingers. “I’ll make some sponsorship calls, and we can get everything we need shipped and waiting for us at the house when we arrive.” Neil pulled out his phone, pausing with his fingers on the keys. “You said the house was a four-bedroom, right?”

“Yes, why?”

“Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t sharing a room with Kit. He has one string cheese and he can clear a building with his noxious gas.”

“Gross!” Ryler laughed, although she knew firsthand about Kit’s dairy intolerance. Being stuck in a car with someone over the course of five years, you get real familiar with what they can eat on the road.

“By the way,” Neil said, sobering, “I smoothed things over, but Alia insulted the man with the corner food cart and a waitress at the bar we were at last night. ”

Ryler grimaced. Although she loved Alia like a sister, Ryler knew she could be abrasive and tactless. Alia called it honesty, but no one else took it that way.

“Thanks for taking care of it.”

“You don’t have to thank me. Excursions is as much my baby as it is yours, and I’d never want people to think badly of us.”

“I know,” Ryler said, thankful that Neil was always there to support her. He was the only other constant in her life besides Alia and Excursions . He was her family.

“We fly out at three today,” Ryler said, setting her phone down, “and I figured that would give you guys a couple days with your families before you fly out Friday to join us.”

“When are you two going to arrive?” he asked.

“We will land with enough time to run back to the town house, pack, and get a good night’s sleep.”

Neil frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want to come home with me? My mother loves you, and you know there’s plenty of food.” He cleared his throat, adding casually, “Alia could even come with you.”

While Ryler enjoyed visiting with Neil and his family, she avoided major holidays with people, preferring to keep things low-key. Less likely to experience a rush of memories. However, she didn’t like to tell Neil that kind of thing and have him pity her.

“Oh boy, that will be fun,” she deadpanned. “Refereeing the two of you during Thanksgiving dinner?”

“Now, hang on, if Thanksgiving with my family has taught me anything, it is how to keep the peace for even the most contentious relationships.”

Ryler patted Neil’s arm. “I appreciate it, but you know I like to dig in ahead of everyone else. Get a feel for the place.”

“Fine,” Neil said, stretching. “Do you want me to stick around to break the news to Alia, or are you good if I head out for a run?”

“I’m not scared of my cousin,” Ryler said.

“Shit, I am. She throws a tantrum like a three-year-old who wants more juice.”

Ryler smothered her laugh. “You’re mean.”

“Maybe, but I’m just saying. She’s gotten a little spoiled over the last few years. ”

Ryler knew Neil had issues with Alia. He hadn’t been shy about telling her daily. Hiring Alia to be the face of Excursions gave Ryler the freedom to relax and continue to be herself without dealing with the politics. Dealing with Alia’s dramatics was a small price to pay.

Especially after everything Alia and her family had done for Ryler.

“Maybe you’re jealous because you want to be in front of the camera in a speedo?”

Neil hopped up from the bed with a grunt, the corner of his mouth curled up. “I’m a board shorts man, but no. I just want you to be happy.”

“Enough.” Ryler laughed, holding her hands out for him to take and help her off the bed. “Should we wake up the others and tell them the good news?”

“If you do, your cover girl might be an ogre for the trip home.”

“Point taken. Better if we surprise her.”