Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Thirty-one

R yler stood against the wall of the living room, watching all the women laugh and mingle, including Alia, who had connected with Merry Winters over their opinions of Instagram algorithms and hadn’t stopped talking for over an hour. Ryler had gotten bored with their conversation and walked around for a while, smiling and nodding at people she passed, but no one stopped her to talk.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a gorgeous plus-size woman hanging back, sipping from a wine glass. Ryler recognized her from that day on the side of the road with Anthony and Pike and thought about joining her, but what would she say?

Hi, nice to meet you officially. I was Pike’s rebound after you rejected him. More wine?

Although Ryler knew that nothing was going on with Delilah and Pike, would it be weird to go talk to her now that there was something going on between Ryler and Pike?

Ryler’s phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, checking the text from Neil.

We need to talk.

“Not right now, we don’t,” she muttered. Of all the people in the world who Neil could hook up with, why would he choose her cousin? And furthermore, what was he going to do about the baby?

Ryler saw the new text from Pike below Neil’s and clicked on it. He’d sent it a half an hour ago.

I miss your smell.

Ryler frowned at the message. As far as segues go, it wasn’t the most ingenious opening, so she fired back .

That’s all you’ve got?

The nerve of the guy to act like the biggest dick in Dicktonia and then have the brass to text her some sweet, sentimental bullshit?

Ryler waited several minutes to see if he would text again, and he did. I’m a little drunk and afraid of saying the wrong thing.

As long as you’re honest, it can’t be wrong, right?

The bubbles pulsated across her screen. So, if I say I miss your naked body, that isn’t going to piss you off more?

It should, but what she almost responded with was, Same. It had only been a day, but she was already burning, missing Pike and every feeling he brought out of her with a touch, a kiss, the thrust of his cock inside her.

Damn, when had she become a lust-crazed woman?

Ryler put her phone into her pocket without responding and made her way over to Delilah, coming up alongside her. “You’re Delilah, right?”

Delilah jumped, spilling a little wine onto the tablecloth. “Shit.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” Great, she was already making an ass of herself. “I’m Ryler Colby. I’m the personal assistant to Alia Cole.” Ryler held out her hand, and Delilah took it.

“Nice to meet you,” Delilah said, giving her a once-over. “Your outfit is so cute.”

“Thank you. I’m a huge thrifter, so the jeans I snagged for six bucks, and the sweater was five. Still had tags on it.”

“That’s awesome,” Delilah said, giving her a rueful smile. “Unfortunately, most clothes I find thrifting look like something my grandma would wear.”

“Not where I shop. You ever want to take a trip, I’ll show you some hidden gems with fantastic finds.” Ryler pointed to Delilah’s wine. “Can I get a glass of that?”

Delilah poured her a glass and passed it to her. “So, I apologize, but who is Alia Cole?”

“Ah, Instagram travel blogger Alia Cole? She’s the gorgeous blonde over there. She’s my cousin and boss.” The lie still rolled off her tongue with ease, but it seemed shallow now. With Alia facing a world-changing decision with Ryler’s producer slash best friend, what was the point of keeping up the charade? She might as well tell everyone, Oh yeah, it’s my podcast. Alia’s been posing as me for years so I didn’t have to put myself out there .

“Is that weird?” Delilah asked, and Ryler blinked at her, forgetting what they’d been talking about for a second.

“Sorry, is what weird?”

“Working for family,” Delilah clarified.

“Oh, sometimes.” Ryler swallowed a gulp of wine, the lie that she didn’t know exactly who Delilah was hovering over her head. Finally, she swallowed and leaned closer to the other woman, lowering her voice. “Full disclosure?”

“Um, sure.”

“I was in the car with Pike on Sunday. When he saw you with … what’s his name? Anthony?”

“Oh, yeah. That was—”

“None of my business,” Ryler said, trying to put the other woman at ease. “We were on our way to meet Alia when he saw you.”

“I didn’t get out of the car until you were gone,” Delilah said, cocking her head to the side. “How did you know it was me?”

“I heard your name and put two and two together.” Ryler took another drink, searching for something to say to make this less awkward and instead blurted, “He was on a pretty good tirade on Sunday.”

Delilah blushed. “Just to be clear, I’m not in the habit of causing issues between friends. I try to avoid drama.”

“Are you kidding?” Ryler laughed. “You were not the issue. He had nothing negative to say about you at all. Anthony, on the other hand, was getting a lot of heat.”

“Well, I hope they make up soon,” Delilah said. “I tried to talk to Pike about what happened. They’ve been friends a long time and shouldn’t give up on each other so easily.” Delilah smiled. “Sounds like you’ve been spending a lot of time with Pike.”

And there it was. Why else would she have opened her big mouth about other people’s drama unless she had a vested interest? “Yeah, he’s taking me and the rest of the crew around Mistletoe so we can do research … for Alia, I mean.”

“And how do you like Mistletoe so far?” Delilah asked, her smile broadening. At least she wasn’t trying to run away from the nosy outsider.

“It’s beautiful,” Ryler gushed. “I’ve heard all about your holiday festivities, and I’m excited to hang around and join in.”

“Where are you from?” Delilah asked .

“Boise originally, but I’ve got a condo in Northern California I stay in when I’m not off somewhere exploring.”

“Well, if there’s one thing Mistletoe goes all out for, it’s Christmas,” Delilah said.

“Not a fan?” Ryler asked before taking a sip of her wine.

“It’s not about being a fan. I’m just not as diehard as my best friend, Holly.”

“Which is an amazing Christmas movie, by the way.”

“Pardon?” Delilah asked.

“ Die Hard . Great holiday film for the whole family. Also, Holly is awesome.”

“Yes, she is.” Delilah laughed. “Don’t say that too loud about Die Hard , or you’ll start a rumble. That is a hot-button topic.”

“Gotcha,” Ryler laughed. “I love your shirt, by the way.”

Delilah was wearing an electric blue off-the-shoulder sheath that made her eyes brighter. Between the eyes, the hair, and the chesticles that put Ryler’s full C cups to shame, she could see why Pike had his eye on her.

“Thank you. It made me feel pretty.” She shared a small smile with Ryler.

“You’re gorgeous.”

“I appreciate that. You’re not trying to butter me up and sell me something, are you?”

Ryler laughed. “No, I just call it like I see it. And I’m trying this new thing where I don’t hold back. Everything I think, I’m saying it.”

Delilah tapped her fingers on her wine glass and smirked. “That could be dangerous.”

“Maybe.” In actuality, it could be dangerous, but Ryler was sick of all the secrets. She wanted to live life without holding back and wondering what might have been, starting with her relationship with Pike. “I’ve spent a lot of time keeping everything close to the breast, afraid of offending someone or embarrassing others. I’ve finally decided I don’t give a shit. If someone doesn’t like me, warts and all, I’m fine on my own.”

“Damn, girl. I need that energy in my life.” Delilah waved her glass around the room, still grinning. “I got persuaded to play hostess at the last minute when I really wanted to escape into my room.”

“Hey, if you want to do that, I’ll totally cover for you.” Ryler feigned confusion. “Oh, you’re looking for Delilah? I think she’s in the kitchen. Not there? You know what, I think she had to pee. ”

“You’re good,” Delilah said, taking a sip from her glass.

“That’s why Alia keeps me around. I’m the best.”

Delilah suddenly looked around the room, frowning. “Do you hear that?”

Ryler paused, trying to hear anything strange over the buzz of conversations. “What am I hearing?”

“It sounds like singing.”

Ryler frowned, standing perfectly still.

Suddenly, there was a pounding at the door.

“Delilah!”

Delilah covered her mouth, eyes wide. Ryler couldn’t tell for sure, but she’d bet her last dollar it was Anthony pounding on the door. The entire house of women quieted, gathering in the dining room doorway to watch.

“I think that’s for you,” Ryler said.

Delilah set her cup down and crossed the room, Ryler following behind. When Delilah opened the door, Ryler saw the group of men standing in the yard with Anthony front and center, looking sheepish, and Pike by his side. When Ryler met Pike’s eyes, he grinned wickedly, setting her panties ablaze.

Damn him.

“What are you doing here?” Delilah asked.

“We have come courtin’,” Pike said.

“No, we’ve not,” Sam said.

Delilah grabbed her coat off the hook and stepped out onto the porch, wrapping her arms around herself. “Again, why are you all gathered on my lawn?”

“I’m getting to that,” Anthony said, clearing his throat. “Nick?”

Nick held his phone up, and the first notes of “Hey There Delilah” sounded, and suddenly Anthony was singing at the top of his lungs, the men behind him humming along.

“Oh, it’s what you do to me!” Anthony belted. He wasn’t bad, but he was slightly off beat and obviously a little drunk. Holly stepped out onto the porch between Delilah and Ryler, her mouth agape.

“Oh my God,” Holly said.

The crowd of women thickened on the porch as more of them came out to watch the spectacle.

Anthony threw his hands out to his side as he sang, “And you’re to blame! ”

The men chorused, “Oooooooh,” and Ryler bit her lip to keep from laughing at Pike, who was waggling his eyebrows at her as he crooned. Delilah’s neighbors had all stepped out into their yards to watch, some of them laughing. Others shaking their heads.

The song ended, and Delilah didn’t move as Anthony took a few steps toward her, grinning. Ryler gave them space, keeping her eyes on Pike as he backslapped and congratulated his friends. Seeing him among them again made her think back to that Instagram stalking she’d done and how his relationship with his friends was the first thing that fascinated her about him.

“Aren’t carolers supposed to sing Christmas songs?” Delilah asked Anthony.

“Not when they’re trying to win back their girl.”

An eruption of feminine “aws” echoed throughout the women on the porch, including Ryler, who couldn’t resist the romance of it all.

Anthony seemed to finally realize how large his audience was and blinked at them. “I didn’t know you were having a party.”

“It’s a book club,” Delilah said.

He climbed up on the first step, swaying with a smile. “What book are you reading?”

“Stay focused, man! I am freezing my balls off!” Declan said.

“Right, sorry.” Anthony cleared his throat. “Delilah Gill. I like you and want to take you out on a date. ’Cause I like you.”

“You already said that,” Delilah whispered.

Anthony leaned in, towering over Delilah. “I thought it bore repeating. I like the hell out of you, and I will shout it to the world any time you doubt me.”

“Would you kiss him already?” Holly hissed.

“I swear, if you don’t, I will!” Another woman called from the doorway of the house, and Ryler shot her a dirty look. Find your own man, hussy.

“Will you date me, Delilah?” Anthony asked.

Delilah laughed. “You are very drunk.”

“That is a statement of fact but not what I’m looking for.”

“And you’ll get an answer when you’re sober.”

“Boo,” the men on the lawn hollered.

“Sloshed or not, that was pretty epic,” Ryler said, leaning against the railing. “Although the redhead was pitchy. ”

Pike glowered at her. “Witch, I have the voice of an angel.”

“A fallen angel.”

Suddenly, Pike bent over and gathered up a handful of snow, letting it fly. It missed Ryler and hit Holly on the side of her face. Delilah’s mouth dropped open as Holly dived off the porch.

“You’re a dead man, Pike!”

“I wasn’t aiming at you!” he protested, hiding behind one man after another. “Declan, control your woman!”

“I don’t know, man. I kinda wanna see what she does when she gets you.”

Ryler jogged down the steps to join Holly in her pursuit of Pike, picking up a handful of snow. She ignored the stinging cold as she snuck up on Pike from the other side, using the rush of wives and girlfriends who had joined in the fun to hide in plain sight. There were whoops and cheers as snow exploded against the side of Delilah’s house and windows. The door slammed on a group of women who ran back inside, but Ryler was in this, stalking Pike as he pleaded with Holly, holding on to Nick’s shoulders to keep him between them.

Ryler pressed the snowball into the back of his neck, laughing as he danced forward with a yell, nearly knocking Nick off his feet. When he spun around and spotted her, he said, “You’re dead, woman.”

Ryler took off as soon as he bent over.

The female officer she’d been introduced to earlier, Officer Wren, hollered, “We’re going to get the cops called on us if we don’t simmer down.”

“Officer Wren, is that you?” Sam called. “I didn’t think you knew what fun was.”

“Smug son of a bitch.” Ryler watched the woman hop off the porch from her hiding spot behind the trash can. Officer Wren’s blond hair was up in a high ponytail that swung as she bent over for a handful of snow. “You’ve been asking for this for weeks.”

“Well come on, hot stuff! Catch me if you can!”

Ryler saw Pike coming and stepped back into the darkness of the side yard, hoping he wouldn’t see her, but a motion light clicked on, and Pike whirled, grinning at her.

“Gotcha,” he said, launching a snowball that caught her on the shoulder .

Ryler laughed. “Truce, I’m unarmed.”

“You yield to me, then,” Pike said, advancing on her until the side of Delilah’s house stopped her. He pressed into her, trailing his fingers along her cheek. “Hmmm?”

Ryler’s breath caught as she stared up at him, the intensity of his gaze too arresting to speak. “Yes,” she managed.

Pike took her hands, pinning them above her head. His mouth dipped, his lips settling against the shell of her ear. He kissed Ryler along the side of her neck, and her eyes fluttered closed.

Pike leaned back, his blue eyes boring into hers. “Should we take this discussion somewhere with more privacy?”

“I brought Alia with me,” Ryler murmured.

“You could drop her off and come back to me.”

“Delilah and Anthony fought, and he serenaded her. I feel like you need to sweeten the pot.”

“Oh, I’ll sweeten it alright. I bought you a packet of chocolate and a bottle of wine with the intention of groveling for your forgiveness, but got distracted by trying to help Anthony win back his girl.”

Ryler licked her lips. “Let me see what I can do.”

“Even if you can’t come now,” he said, releasing her hands and threading his fingers with hers, “I’d like to go back to our original arrangement. I want to spend as much time with you as possible before you go.”

“Still keeping it between us?” she whispered.

“Is that what you want?” he asked.

“I think it’s best.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”