Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Thirty-three

P ike leaned back in his chair on Saturday night at the Mistletoe Community Center, wishing that Holly, Merry, and Delilah would hurry up and get the show on the road. Anthony and Pike had carpooled to the bachelor auction meeting, but Pike had plans to pick Ryler up from her rental and take her out for a surprise. Maybe not a real date, since they weren’t supposed to be doing that, but the next best thing.

Pike just hoped she liked it, because he had never got around to asking if it was her thing.

“Listen up!” Holly shouted.

Most of the men quieted down except for a few whisperers who received withering looks from Holly. Once the room was dead silent, Merry nodded toward her sister, addressing the crowd with a strained smile. “Thank you. Next week after the Parade of Lights, you’ll come straight here and get ready backstage. Please dress appropriately in a coat and tie. We’ll call your name alphabetically, and when you cross the stage, smile, dance, show off, whatever you want to do.” Merry pointed to the elevated stage behind her before continuing, “You’ll see onstage we have a backdrop and a camera set up because we want to get everyone’s picture for the program, plus a brief bio. Delilah, Holly, and I are going to call your names and gather that information while you’re waiting for your picture. Once you are finished with your picture and bio, you are welcome to take off and enjoy the rest of your evening. I want to thank you again for being here. Your participation is going to make a world of difference for our school extracurriculars this year.” The room erupted in applause, and Merry’s smile became a genuine one. “Let’s get started. Trip! ”

“Pike!” Holly hollered.

Pike climbed to his feet and grinned. “If she doesn’t call you next, I’m ditching your ass,” he said to Anthony.

“Funny, you came in my truck. I guess you’re walking back.”

“Pshaw, I got so much swagger, you know all this is getting picked up,” Pike joked, exaggerating his walk all the way to Holly. When he stood in front of her, he grinned. “I am ready and waiting!”

“Name, age, occupation, height, hobbies, and your idea of the perfect date.”

“What, no bank code?” Pike said.

Holly hit him with her clipboard. “Just give me the deets and get out of here. You’ve got places to be, don’t you?”

“How do you know about that?” Pike asked.

“A little birdy told me. We’ve become friends, you know.” Holly leaned forward, scowling at Pike. “I really would hate for anyone to hurt her, because I might be tempted to seek retaliation.”

“Whoa, there is no need for vengeance! Both Ryler and I are open and honest about what we want.”

“Good, then. Pike—” She wrote it down. “Thirty-one. Business owner. Snowboarding. Bullshitting. Downing mixed drinks. Playing with his dog—”

“Hey, I don’t like your interpretation of me. After snowboarding, I like hiking, camping, dancing, and playing pool. My perfect date”—Pike grinned—“getting snowed in together. We’d snuggle up on the couch, watching movies and eating dinner by a fire.”

“Well, isn’t that a romance novel answer,” Holly said, giving him another playful whack with her clipboard. “Thanks for being here, Pike. Enjoy the rest of your ni— What in the world?”

Pike turned and saw Anthony holding Delilah away from Brodie, carrying her off her feet. Pike shook his head, wondering at the strange ways love worked. Anthony had been a reasonable, single man two weeks ago, and today, he was a jealous caveman.

Having felt the sting of that foul emotion before, Pike refused to be overwhelmed with it. If a woman didn’t want to be with him, he wouldn’t fight over her like a wolf guarding a piece of meat. She could flirt and dance with whomever she liked.

Pike texted Ryler when he returned to his seat. I just finished and Anthony should be done soon. Where can I pick you up ?

I’m at Brews and Chews with Kit, Alia, and Neil having dinner. Care to join us?

I’d actually like to spend time with just you tonight.

Then I’ll leave here when I’m done and meet you somewhere.

Come to my place and we’ll leave from there.

Can’t wait ??

Pike grinned, impatiently tapping his foot as he waited for Anthony to finish his interview. When he came back over, Pike clucked his tongue.

“Really? Making a spectacle of yourself again?”

“He tried to kiss her,” Anthony growled.

“And you didn’t lay him out? I say that shows restraint.” Pike cracked his knuckles. “Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I told him that your girl was off-limits. We might need to catch him by his truck.”

Anthony chuckled. “I’m glad to have you on my side again.”

Pike’s chest squeezed. “No more secrets and lies, and we’ll be golden.”

“Does that mean you’re going to tell me why you’re in an all-fired hurry to get out of here tonight?”

“Oh wait, I wasn’t clear, you can’t keep any more secrets, but I can.”

Anthony playfully pushed Pike’s shoulder. “Get the fuck out of here.”

“You’re not going to stay and watch your girl?” Pike teased.

“I think everyone got the message to stay away,” Anthony said, heading for the exit. As they pushed through the door and the cold air stung Pike’s face, he shivered. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to take her to an ice-skating pond. Freezing to death didn’t exactly lead to romance.

Practically everything he had in his dating rolodex took place outside, and it was cold as hell tonight.

“I need a date-night idea. It’s too cold to go ice-skating.”

“Wait a second, back up!” Anthony said, pulling up short. “Who do you have a date with?”

“Um … I can’t tell you that.”

Anthony hit the unlock button on his truck fob. “You preach to me about secrets, and then you keep a secret girlfriend from me?”

“She is not my girlfriend.”

“Oh yeah? So, this is a new development.” Anthony sucked in his breath. “It’s not the podcaster you’ve been showing around, is it? ”

Technically, yes, since Ryler is the voice of Excursions but—

“Nope, not Alia.”

“No, the other one. Ryler!”

Pike grinned sheepishly.

“Dude! I thought the whole point of inviting them here was for publicity. We don’t want bad publicity!”

“Relax, we have an understanding, and that’s all I’m going to say because this was supposed to be between her and I.”

“You’re having a secret relationship with the podcaster’s assistant? Oh yeah, this is going to end well.”

“Back to the matter at hand, where do I take her? And don’t say Brews and Chews.”

“What about the Wolf’s Den?” Anthony said before he climbed into the driver’s seat.

“No, we don’t need to listen to bad karaoke.”

“It’s warm, it’s inside, and I bet you’d have fun.”

Pike shook his head. “I’ll consider it. You got anything else in that big brain of yours?”

“You could take her through Holly’s neighborhood first. Grab some tacos, eat them in the car as you check out the Christmas lights, and end the night with drinks and an off-key rendition of ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me.’”

As far as ideas go, it wasn’t the worst one he’d heard, although he was a tad concerned. He wasn’t joking when he’d told Ryler that the Wolf’s Den was a rougher crowd, and bringing a beautiful, curvy girl like her in there would be asking for trouble.

Then again, if someone messed with her, Pike imagined his Kitten could handle herself.

His Kitten? When had he added the possessive “his” to her nickname?

About the same time thoughts of her took over every free moment of the day?

Pike shook his head, refusing to acknowledge the little voice’s antics. He and Ryler were enjoying each other’s company. If he had an off-color thought, that was completely natural when he liked someone. No need to read too much into it.