Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Eight

R yler stepped out of the rental car with a smile as she scanned the Winters’ Christmas Tree Farm. There were quite a few cars in the gravel parking lot, and Ryler could see people popping out between the rows of trees in the distance. Despite Wednesday night’s disappointing interlude with Pike, she’d had a great time yesterday with Alia, eating junk food all day and watching seasonal rom-coms. Although Alia had scoffed at the predictable storylines and cheesy romantic moments, it was the first time they’d had a girls’ day in a while.

Now that Thanksgiving was over, Ryler was ready to light this Christmas season up!

“Do you smell that?” Ryler asked, breathing deep.

“I smell dirt.” Alia pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and sniffed. “Maybe a hint of pine.”

Ryler closed her eyes and took another long breath before she murmured, “I smell Christmas.”

“Of course you do,” Alia deadpanned.

“Let’s go!” Ryler pulled her purple knit cap over her ears and headed down the marked trail to the trees. She could see a large, white tent at the bottom of the trail and figured that was where they needed to go.

“Hey, Ryler,” Alia called, and when she turned around, Alia had her phone up. “Smile, babes.”

Ryler smiled, throwing her hands up in the air. Alia laughed. “Perfect. We should post it to the Excursions Insta.”

Ryler shook her head. “No, I’ll take one of you when we find the perfect tree. ”

Alia frowned. “The podcast feed doesn’t just have to be me. We could include pictures of Neil, Kit, and you.”

Ryler stopped, waiting for Alia to catch up before she asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Me? Nothing. I’m doing what I promised and trying to be full of holiday cheer.”

“I get that, but you’re also someone who loves the camera. Why you trying to give up the spotlight?”

Alia snorted. “You make me sound like such a witch.”

Ryler pulled up short and reached for her cousin’s hand. “Hey, I didn’t mean it that way at all. I was kidding.”

Alia blinked her lashes rapidly as if she were trying not to cry. “Ugh, don’t mind me. I’ve just been in my feels lately.”

“Do you want to talk about it? Is it about a guy?”

“No,” Alia said, her gaze shifting away. “None worth mentioning, at least.” Alia squeezed her hand and gave it a tug. “Come on, let’s get our tree.”

Ryler let Alia drag her along, curious about her shifting moods. Was it the holidays making her cousin act so out of character? Maybe she was asking too much. While Ryler had warm memories of her parents during Christmas, Alia didn’t.

“It really is pretty here,” Alia admitted.

When they reached the white canopy, Ryler poked her head inside. It was bustling with people getting their trees flocked and shoved into cocoons of netting, and Ryler kept her eye out in case a familiar redhead popped up.

Alia gave her a little shove from behind. “Are we going in or what?”

“Yes, I was just trying to figure out who to talk to.”

“Isn’t that the dude from Instagram?” Alia asked, resting her arm on Ryler’s shoulder, her finger stretched out past Ryler’s nose. She followed Alia’s finger, and sure enough, Pike was standing next to a taller man with brown hair, a saw in his hand. Pike wore a gray beanie and a navy work jacket, looking like a sexy hipster lumberjack or whatever the equivalent was. Ryler’s mouth suddenly went dry as she imagined him peeling off his jacket and shirt to chop wood bare-chested.

Mmm, that beanie’s working for him. He can keep that on, too.

Ryler shook herself, gritting her teeth against the lustful thoughts. “Yep, that’s him. ”

“So, why aren’t we asking him for help? He’s the whole reason we’re here, right?”

“Hmmm, debatable,” Ryler grumbled, backing out of the tent, which meant pushing Alia with her butt.

“Hey!” Alia griped, stumbling back.

“Oops, sorry.”

When her cousin got her bearings, she crossed her arms over her chest. “What did you do?”

“What?” Ryler feigned shock. “I did nothing!”

Alia watched her with narrowed eyes. “Then why are you being all squirrely?”

“Because I don’t want to bother the man? He’s busy.” Ryler studied the landscape, the sky, but after several moments of avoidance, she couldn’t stop herself from meeting her cousin’s suspicious gaze. “Fine, something happened between me and him at the bar on Wednesday after you Ubered out.”

“Really?” Alia went back to the tent opening and poked her head in. Ryler imagined Alia’s blue eyes traveling all over Pike, probably imagining what he looked like naked.

Ryler clenched her jaw. “Stop being obvious.”

Alia came out grinning. “You gonna tell me what happened, or should I guess?”

“I flirted. He seemed interested.” Ryler’s cheeks burned as she continued vaguely, “Things got hot fast until I told him my name.”

“Why did your name cool things off?”

Ryler grimaced. “Because he recognized it from the email I sent as your assistant. He was afraid hooking up with me would ruin his chance to get to show you around Mistletoe.”

“Except the person he should be trying to impress is you,” Alia said, tapping her perfect French-tipped nail to her bottom lip. “Good kisser?”

Ryler couldn’t lie. “Phenomenal.”

Alia’s eyebrows rose. “A man with a good mouth should never be wasted. Maybe you should tell him the truth.”

First Neil and now Alia, telling her to out herself. Were they secretly conspiring against her and only pretending to hate each other?

“I think not,” Ryler said.

“Hello.” A cheerful blonde stepped out of the tent, shifting her dazzling smile between them. “Can I help you ladies? ”

Alia seemed to be staring at her adorable pregnant belly, which pushed out the front of her gray sweater dress. Ryler stepped forward, shooting her cousin a warning look. Whatever Alia was thinking, Ryler hoped it wasn’t completely tactless, and if so, she’d better keep it to herself.

“Hi, we were looking for a tree,” Ryler said.

The blonde laughed, her hand waving toward the rows of green trees. “We have no shortage of that. Do you know what kind you want?”

“Actually,” Alia said, shooting a sly look at Ryler. “We could use some big, strong manly help. Perhaps a strapping lad with red hair?”

Ryler would have to work on her alibi on the way back to the rental house, because she was going to murder her cousin.

“Pike? Sure, let me grab him for you,” the woman said, disappearing inside.

“I seriously hate you,” Ryler hissed.

“What?” Alia’s tone was high and sweet. “I want to meet this steamy kiss-giver. Make sure he is good enough for my cousin.”

“That’s unnecessary, as it was just a fluke, a moment of lust that shall not be repeated.”

Alia lifted the flap of the tent, grinning. “Well, don’t look now, but Mr. Fluke is coming this way.”

Ryler scurried to watch the activity over her cousin’s shoulder, wishing a crack in the earth would open up and swallow her whole. The blond woman reached Pike, speaking and pointing their way. When he looked over and met Ryler’s gaze, her face burned. His attention shifted to Alia, and his eyes widened. He started for them with a purposeful stride, and Ryler’s heart sank.

Of course he’s rushing over. He’s excited to meet his favorite podcaster.

Man, even her inner voice sounded bitchy.

“Hmmm, I think I see it now,” Alia whispered, glancing back at Ryler with a twinkle in her eyes. “Yeah, the shoulders. Wait, on second thought, as he gets closer, maybe it’s those eyes. They’re practically burning your clothes off.”

“Shut up, they are not. If anything, he’s excited to meet you. He’s a big fan.”

Pike reached them, his smile wide and friendly. “Hi, Miss Cole, it is a pleasure to meet you. I’m Pike Sutton, the one who suggested you come to Mistletoe. I’ll also be taking you out on several guided experiences, courtesy of Adventures in Mistletoe.”

Pike held out his hand, and Alia took it, returning his smile. “Pike, yes, Ryler speaks highly of you and your business.”

Pike glanced her way briefly and back at Alia, making the hackles on Ryler’s neck stand up. Was he going to just ignore her, then?

“I don’t want to come on too strong, but I’ve listened to every single podcast multiple times, even the newest one. You’ve got a real knack for telling stories.”

Ryler secretly beamed at the praise, even though it was directed at Alia.

“Aren’t you sweet?” Alia said, taking Ryler’s arm and pulling her forward. “Have you met my assistant, Ryler? I know you’ve exchanged emails …”

Pike cleared his throat, hesitating as his gaze held hers, but when she didn’t admit their acquaintance, he said, “No, not in person. Hi, Ryler.”

Ryler took his outstretched hand, squeezing it as hard as she could. “Hello, Pike.”

His eyes narrowed, and his grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt but to show her his strength, and she smirked, releasing his hand. “You can tell a lot about a man from his handshake.”

“Oh yeah? Care to elaborate on mine?”

“Like a wet noodle.”

Alia coughed, covering up a laugh, and to Ryler’s surprise, Pike chuckled. “I’ll have to work on that.”

Damn, that wasn’t the reaction she’d been looking for. Apparently, his need to make a good impression on Alia outweighed everything else.

Alia clapped her hands. “Any chance you’re available now to help us find a tree?”

“It would be my pleasure,” he said, and Ryler almost heaved at his fanboy drooling.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t wear the right shoes to go traipsing around on uneven ground,” Alia said, pointing to her high-heeled boots. “But Ryler knows what kind of tree I like.”

Death was too good for her cousin. Maiming would be better.

“Sure, I’d be happy to help your assistant,” Pike said pleasantly.

“Wunderbar. Is there somewhere I can sit and wait, maybe get a cup of hot cocoa?” Alia asked .

Pike pointed inside the tent to the pregnant blonde. “Just let my friend Merry know who you are and that I sent you. She’ll take care of you.”

“Thank you. Ta-ta, you two.”

Torture. Maim. Kill. In that order.

“I take it she knows something happened?” Pike’s tone was frosty to say the least, and Ryler glared at him.

“Don’t worry, if she thinks you’re hot, kissing me won’t cockblock you.”

“That is not what I care about—”

“Whatever,” Ryler said, stomping toward the first row of trees.

She’d made it five steps when he caught up to her and muttered, “Anyone ever called you a brat before?”

“Not since I was five.”

“Then you’re long overdue.”

Ryler snorted.

“What I was trying to say is that I don’t want to sleep with your boss.”

“Really?” Ryler spun around, crossing her arms over her chest. “You don’t find her attractive?”

Pike spluttered. “That’s—I didn’t say that!”

Ryler hiked her eyebrows. “So, you do find her attractive?”

“This is a trap,” Pike muttered.

Ryler snickered. “There’s no trap. You think Alia is attractive. You’re a heterosexual male, so that’s a given. Therefore, you don’t need to deny wanting to sleep with her.”

Pike threw up his hands, saw and all. “I can find someone attractive and not want to have sex with them.”

“Fine.”

“Fine?” Pike’s voice rose an octave, and she imagined he was ready to tear his hair out.

“I accept what you’re saying. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Pike stormed past her, cursing under his breath. “Exasperating woman.”

Ryler smiled behind Pike’s back. For some reason, annoying the man was almost as fun as kissing him.