Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Thirty-four

A re you trying to get me killed?”

Ryler stopped walking at Pike’s greeting, cocking her head to the side. “Um, no?”

“Then why are you wearing that?” His eyes swept over her from the toes of her boots to the top of her head, and Ryler self-consciously tugged her jacket closed. She’d put on the black in-case-of-an-emergency dress she always packed with the sole purpose of making Pike lose his cool in a good way.

Apparently, she’d missed the mark.

Ryler looked down at the tight black dress that dipped into a low V in the front, showing off a generous amount of cleavage and then addressed Pike waspishly. “I thought I looked good in it.”

“You do! Too good. I’m going to get my teeth knocked out for just walking into a room with you.”

Ryler laughed. “Okay, you don’t have to lay it on so thick.”

“Sorry,” Pike said, taking her hands and pulling her in for a kiss. Ryler melted into him, inhaling the woodsy scent of his cologne. He wore his heavy winter jacket, but she could see the collar of his shirt peeking over the top. He’d dressed up, too.

For a non-date night, they’d put in a lot of effort. Ryler had even put on a full face of makeup and curled her hair. Alia and Neil had believed it was because of their celebratory dinner, but when she’d ducked out to go hang with Holly, Kit had given her a rather knowing look, and she wondered how much her cameraman had picked up on .

Pike’s hands moved under her jacket, cupping her butt through the dress, and she laughed. “Hey now, it took me hours to look this good, so we are not just going to waste it staying in.”

“Believe me, it wouldn’t be a waste,” Pike said.

Ryler’s knees weakened at his rough voice, and she placed her hands on his chest, giving him a light push backward because if she didn’t put some space between them, they were never getting out of here.

“We have plenty of time for that after. Right now, I’m starving and can’t wait to see what you have planned for us.”

“Well, I hope you’re not disappointed, but I grabbed some tacos from my favorite place because for our first stop, we don’t even have to get out of the car.”

“I’m intrigued,” she said, watching him open the passenger door and hold it open for her. Sure enough, there was a white bag in the middle console that had a happy taco cartoon on the side and two drinks in the holders. Ryler slipped into the seat, and he closed it after her.

Pike climbed into the driver’s seat and handed her the bag. “Help yourself while I get us going. I didn’t know if you prefer beef or chicken, so I got both.”

“I like both.” Ryler pulled out the first taco she grabbed and a napkin, a little afraid of eating something so messy in her dress. The fixings inside were liable to fall out and drop right down her neckline into her bra.

She fashioned a makeshift bib with her napkin to cover up her chest, then unfolded the taco wrapper carefully in her lap.

“What you got going on over there?”

Ryler smiled, leaning over the wrapper so as not to spill anything on her dress. “I don’t want to end up with anything down the front of my dress.”

Pike opened his mouth but then snapped it shut, smothered laughter sputtering from between his lips.

“What?” she asked.

“I was going to say something, but on reflection, don’t think it was very sexy after all.”

“Oh my God, were you going to tell me that I was just saving it for later?”

“No! I was going to say I’ll find it later.”

Ryler laughed. “You’re a sick man. ”

“That’s why I wasn’t going to say it,” he said, making a left. There was a line of brake lights in the distance, and Pike slowed down, getting in behind the last car.

“What is this?” Ryler asked.

“The best Christmas lights display in Idaho.”

“Really? Is this Holly’s street? I’ve been wanting to check it out but haven’t had the chance.”

“Yep, she’s the first house on the right. It shouldn’t take long to cruise through, but I thought we could eat dinner as we check out the lights before moving on to our next stop.”

“And what would that be?” she asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

“Fun,” she said. “I love surprises.”

Pike adjusted the radio until jolly Christmas music filled the inside of the car. Ryler passed him the bag of tacos as she nibbled delicately at the one in hand. They moved up faster than she expected and when the street finally came into view, Ryler sucked in her breath.

“Wow!”

“Right? People from all over the state come through to see this. Even some out-of-staters.”

“It’s gorgeous, but dang! Do they do the same setup every year?”

“Nope, they change it up. A few years ago, that house”—Pike pointed to the house across from Holly’s—“did a display dedicated to their cat.”

“That’s Christmassy, I suppose.” Ryler laughed. She stared at Holly’s home as they drove past at a crawl, admiring the extravagance. It was made up to look like a giant gingerbread house with a forest of lollipops stuck into the front lawn. Several lit-up gingerbread men and women danced between the colorful candy stalks.

Each house had an elaborate theme, as if trying to outdo the one next to it. “Is there a competition for the best design?”

“Oh yes, the same for the window displays in town. We take our holiday festivities seriously. This year, Mistletoe is hosting their first winter games, and Anthony and I are in charge of it.”

“That must be a big job. When is it?”

“The weekend before Christmas.”

“Wow. I guess it’s a good thing the two of you made up, huh? Otherwise, you might not have been able to pull it off. ”

“I would have pulled it off, with or without Anthony.”

“So cocky,” Ryler said, finishing her taco and cleaning up the wrapper and napkin.

“You’re only having one?” he asked.

“I told you that we were celebrating Neil and Alia’s happy news. I had dinner with all of them, but I am grateful you let me try your favorite taco place.” Ryler reached for his hand and covered it with hers, squeezing it. “And for bringing me here. It is truly beautiful.”

When she started to pull her hand away, he caught it, threading his fingers with hers. “I’m glad you like it. Which one is your favorite?”

“I think Holly’s is adorable, but this one,” she said, pointing to the Hogwarts-themed home, “would put Universal to shame.”

“I’ve never been to Universal or Disneyland. Or World, for that matter.”

“I think you would enjoy it,” Ryler said as they rounded the circle and the last house’s display left her puzzled. “Are those raisins?”

“Yeah, I think they’re from California, and they kept talking about some California Raisin Christmas special.”

“That’s an obscure theme to pick,” Ryler said.

“Hey, at least they participated. A lot of these streets are dying out because people don’t want to invest the time or money into them,” Pike said, making a left out of the circle.

“Well, where to now?”

“To the Wolf’s Den,” he said.

Ryler frowned. “Isn’t that the biker bar you said was too rough for Alia and me?”

“Yeah, but you’re going with me. They have karaoke and a pool table. It will be grand,” Pike said, mimicking an Irish accent.

Ryler chuckled. “If you say so, then I believe you.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I have to spell it out for you? I trust you.” They were honest words, but by the way he stilled beside her, you’d think she had professed her love for him. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Just the way you said it made me happy, is all.”

“Well, I live to please, but just so we’re clear,” Ryler said, leaning across the middle console, “if there is any danger, I will not hesitate to trip you and save myself. ”

“So, shoving people out of the way to save yourself is a family trait you and your cousin share?” Pike said dryly.

“Uh-huh.”

“And you’re telling me when shit hits the fan, I better run faster than you?”

“Absolutely. Survival of the fastest and the most devious.”

Pike laughed. “Now that’s a movie I’d like to see.”

I’m already living it, Ryler thought, realizing that in two weeks the credits would roll on this little romance of theirs, and her time with Pike would be another adventure she could look back on.

Why did that thought make her so bereft?