Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Fifteen

T ell us more about these Californians you invited to come out with us,” Sam said, leaning back in his chair. His blond hair was tousled effortlessly, and Pike found himself envious of Sam’s Nordic good looks. Sam was the kind of guy who commanded a room when he walked into it, causing every woman to sit up and take notice.

Pike pulled out his phone and opened Instagram, clicking on the Excursions page. He passed it to Sam. “This is Alia, the host of the podcast, and she’s bringing along her assistant, her producer, and her photographer.”

“Damn, she is fine,” Sam said, handing the phone off to Clark, who didn’t even glance at it. “Single?”

“I didn’t ask,” Pike said.

Merry grinned at Clark, taking the phone. “You didn’t want to check her out?”

“Why would I need to do that when the most beautiful woman in the world is sitting right next to me?” Clark said, kissing her.

“That’s my sister, dude,” Nick groaned.

“So?” Clark said, grinning at Nick. “She’s my wife.”

“Is the rest of her crew cute, too?” Sam asked.

“There is only one other woman, her assistant. The producer and photographer are men,” Pike said.

“And?” Sam asked.

“And what?”

“Tell me about the assistant,” Sam said, waving his hand impatiently. “What’s she like? ”

“Would that be the assistant you helped with the tree yesterday?” Nick asked.

“Ryler,” Holly said, leaning into her boyfriend Declan’s side. “She is super cute.”

“Single?” Sam asked.

Pike’s spine stiffened at Sam’s line of questioning.

“I’m not sure, but I think so,” Holly said.

“Hmmm, I’ve never dated a California girl before,” Sam said.

Pike clenched his jaw. “I don’t think she’s your type.”

“Oh yeah? What’s my type?” Sam asked.

Pike didn’t have a good answer, but Holly jumped in to add, “I feel like she might be too introverted for you.”

While he wouldn’t have called Ryler introverted, Pike appreciated Holly’s attempt to dissuade Sam’s interest. Although, maybe Ryler would be excited at Sam’s interest. Every other woman in town, including his ex-girlfriend, fawned all over the elder Griffin.

“I like the quiet ones. They can be the freakiest.”

Pike’s vision blurred around the edges, and his fists clenched. Pike didn’t want Sam talking about Ryler like she was just one of his groupies, someone to use up and throw away. “She’s more than just a piece of meat, you know.”

“Whoa, what’s wrong with you?” Sam asked.

“Nothing, I’m just saying, she isn’t some lust bunny you can use and then forget about.”

“Lust bunny?” Sam laughed.

“Uh, Sam, I think you’re upsetting Fish,” Noel said, taking Pike’s phone and looking at the screen. She handed it to Nick, who simply held it out to Pike, just like every other attached man at the table.

Pike slipped it back into his pocket, trying to keep smiling as all the attention turned to him. “No, I’m fine.”

“If you’re interested in the assistant, pal, no worries,” Sam said casually.

“I’m not interested in anyone. The only thing I want is for the podcast to share Adventures in Mistletoe favorably with the world.”

“You heard him,” Sam said. “He isn’t upset, and he isn’t coveting the assistant either.”

Noel shot Pike a look of concern, but he ignored it, focusing on finishing his beer so he could order something stronger. Pike didn’t want to think of Sam or anyone else getting close enough to talk to Ryler, let alone sleep with her. It didn’t matter that they weren’t interested in each other or planning on hooking up, it was about Pike feeling responsible for her. She and the rest of the Excursions crew had come in on his suggestion, and he wanted to make sure that they were all treated with the utmost respect.

Even Ryler, who could press every last button he had.

Pike downed the rest of his beer and got to his feet. “I’m going to get another round. Anyone want something?”

“I’ll come with you,” Nick said, climbing to his feet.

The two of them walked over to the bar and leaned against it. Pike signaled Ricki, who gave him a nod and held her finger up to signal she’d be over in a minute.

“So, are you going to be honest with me or tell me another whopper?” Nick asked.

“What are you talking about?” Pike asked.

“Ryler. I know you’re attracted to her, but I’m not sure why you’re denying it.”

“I’m attracted to a lot of people, but that doesn’t mean I want to hook up with them.”

“Fair enough,” Nick said, bumping Pike with his shoulder. “I do feel like Ryler is different though and you actually do want to hook up with her.”

“Have you talked to Anthony?” Pike asked abruptly.

“Just a few texts, why?”

“I got this feeling that something is going on with him and Delilah,” Pike admitted.

“I don’t think so, but even if there was, she turned you down, right?”

“Yeah, but I asked him point-blank about her several times, before I even made a move on her, and he swore he wasn’t interested.”

“Maybe he changed his mind,” Nick said.

“Which would be fine if he’d manned up and talked to me about it before anything happened.”

Nick shrugged. “I don’t know, man.”

“You’re right, it’s probably just my paranoia.” Pike laughed.

Ricki approached them before Nick could respond.

“Evening, boys. Another round of beers?”

“Actually, I’d like a whiskey on the rocks,” Pike said .

“And you?” she addressed Nick.

“I’ll have another beer.”

“You got it.” Ricki turned her back on them to grab a whiskey bottle off the shelf and a glass from under the counter.

Nick tapped Pike’s arm, drawing his attention away from his drink being made and toward the door. “Looks like your guests have arrived,” he said.

Alia was in the lead with her hair falling in loose waves around the shoulders of her cropped, cream sweater. Her jeans sat low on her hips, showing off her belly button ring.

Neil came in next in jeans and a button-down Hawaiian shirt under his jacket; he stood over a foot taller than Kit, the photographer, who wore a blue collared sweater and jeans. Ryler brought up the rear in an off-the-shoulder black sweater and wide leg khaki cargo pants. Her hair was swept back in a high ponytail, showing off the bare sun-kissed skin of her neck and shoulders.

Ryler spotted him and waved, saying something to her group, who started heading toward the bar. Alia reached them first, smiling.

“Pike, good to see you. And Nick, right?”

Nick nodded. “That’s me. Nice to see you again.”

“Nick, this is Neil, Excursions ’ producer, and our cameraman, Kit. This is Nick. His family owns the Christmas tree farm outside of town.”

Nick stood up and took their hands. “Nice to meet you both. What do you all want to drink?”

“Can I just get a Shirley Temple?” Alia asked.

“I’ll take a Corona with a lime,” Neil said.

“A Moscow mule,” Kit said.

“Pike, do you got that? I’ll take these guys over and start introducing them.”

“I’ll help him,” Ryler said.

The trio followed Nick to the table, and Ricki set the beer and whiskey down on the bar, announcing the total.

“Hang on, Ricki, I’ve got four more drinks for you. A Shirley Temple, Moscow mule, Corona with a lime, and—”

Pike looked at Ryler expectantly, and Ryler said, “Sex on the beach.”

“I’m on it.”

Ryler set her small black purse on the bar and started to pull out her wallet, but Pike shook his head. “This round is on me. You can get the next one.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem,” he said, turning around to put his back to the bar. “So, the big guy with the dark hair next to Holly is her boyfriend, Declan. They host a TikTok together where he teaches her how to cook.”

Ryler laughed. “That’s cute. I’ll have to ask them what their handle is.”

“The blond guy is Sam. He’s sitting next to his brother, Clark, who is married to Merry. Clark is the foreman on the Winters’ tree farm, and Sam is a tattoo artist.”

“Huh, is he any good?” she asked.

“Why, you looking to get a tat?”

Ryler shook her head. “No, but I like to look at them. It takes a lot of talent to draw on human skin.”

“I suppose it does,” Pike said grudgingly, handing Ricki his card when she set the rest of the drinks on the counter.

“I’ll get you a tray when I come back with this,” she said, holding up his card.

“I could start delivering them,” Ryler said, picking up the Shirley Temple and Moscow mule. “Be right back.”

Pike watched her walk away, his gaze drifting down to where her pants hugged her curvy ass. God, she was sexy without even trying. She set down the drinks in front of Kit and Alia, and Pike’s jaw clenched when Sam held out his hand to her, saying something that made Ryler throw back her head and laugh.

Ryler came back to him, shaking her head with a smile on her face. “Whew, that Sam is a trip, huh?”

“He’s something, alright,” Pike grumbled. “What did he say to you?”

“Asked me if I had any tattoos he couldn’t see. I told him no, and he said, do you want one? All low and seductive-like. He must be a real winner with the ladies.”

“I’ve heard he gets around,” Pike said, knocking back his whiskey in one swallow.

“What about you?” Ryler asked, grabbing her drink and the Corona. “Do you get around?”

Pike scoffed. “I date. I don’t have a different girl to warm my bed every day of the week. ”

“So just one for the weekends?” she joked.

“No,” he said, picking up Nick’s beer and signaling Ricki for another whiskey. “I mean, I don’t have any women to warm my bed.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” Ryler said.

Pike shot her a suspicious look. “What have you heard?”

Her wide-eyed, innocent expression matched her tone. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

They reached the table, and Pike set Nick’s beer in front of him. “Alright, which one of you big mouths has been feeding this woman dirt on me?”

“I told you, no one said anything.” Ryler laughed, handing Neil his Corona. “I just figured that you’re a relatively good-looking guy. If Sam has a girl for every day of the week, it makes sense you’d have a couple waiting in the wings.”

“Whoa, what now?” Sam said, turning toward them. “How did my sex life get brought into this?”

“I asked how you scored with the ladies,” Ryler said, winking at Sam.

“Ah, trying to scope out the competition, huh? For you, darlin’, I’ll clear the way as long as you’re in town.”

“Smooth talker,” she teased.

“I’m going to get my drink,” Pike muttered, turning his back on their flirtation. When he reached the bar, Ricki was just setting another whiskey down for him.

“The look on your face says this should have been a double,” she said.

Pike inhaled the golden liquor, ignoring the burn in his throat. “Keep ’em coming.”