Page 111 of The Mistletoe Kisser

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Surprise had Ryan bobbling the pillow and dropping it.

Ellery’s eyes widened as she took in the view. “Mazel tov, Sammy! I’ll let you two get back to it. Merry Christmas, guys. I’ve got to get Edgar home, and I need to swing by Moon Beam’s place. Rumor has it Subpar Ryan spent the night, and the Beautification Committee wants to confirm its first two-fer.”

“Mazel tov,” Sammy croaked. “Happy Solstice.”

Ryan grabbed the pillow and covered his nether region.

“Oh! One more thing,” Ellery said. “Eden asked me to let you know that she just had a few last-minute reservations at the inn. It sounds like Ryan’s family is in town. His mom said something about Ryan calling her and telling her he’d gotten fired and quit and fell in love with a girl. They’ll be by this afternoon to meet Sammy and assess you for a mid-life crisis.”

“You told your mom you were in love with me before you told me?” Sammy asked him.

“Technically, I still haven’t told you I’m in love with you because I’m waiting for the right moment. Preferably after we’ve known each other longer than a week,” he said dryly.

“It does seem awfully irresponsible of you to fall in love with me that fast,” she agreed.

“Are you trying to say you’re not in love with me?”

“OfcourseI’m in love with you,” she scoffed. “ButI’mthe romantic. It’s expected from me.”

“Well, it sounds like you two have a lot to work out here. So I’ll be on my way,” Ellery said, turning to leave. “Oh, gosh. I almost forgot. Sammy, your parents just arrived in town, too. Your mom skipped brunch with the Secretary of Agriculture, and your dad brought a copy ofDie Hard. They’re looking forward to seeing you tonight.”

“Is it too early to start drinking?” Sammy murmured.

“How soon does the liquor store open?” Ryan asked.

They stood there watching Ellery as she unfolded a ramp from the back seat and guided the sheep up into the vehicle.

She tooted the horn, an oddly cheerful funeral dirge, and drove off.

“Was that a hearse?” Ryan asked.

“Yep.”

“With reindeer antlers and a red nose on the grill?”

“Uh-huh.”

“And she planned this entire thing?”

“It would appear so.” Sammy sighed. “You changed your mind, didn’t you? You’re rescheduling your flight in your head right now.”

He threw the pillow over his shoulder and reached for her. His hands were hot, his grip firm. “It’s gonna take more than a handful of Machiavellian hippie manipulators to scare me off.”

“Good,” she breathed. “Because there’s more than a handful around here.”

“Sam?”

“Yeah?” she asked breathlessly.

Ryan pointed up. Hanging in the doorway was a sprig of mistletoe. “Let’s make it official.”

“How many of these did you hang up?” she asked.

“One in every room.”

She beamed up at him as she looped her arms around his neck. “I’m looking forward to that reasonable six-month timeline to tell you that I love you, Wrong Ryan.”

He slid his hands down to cup her butt. “Six months was more of a place to start negotiations. I don’t see anything wrong with moving up the timeline.”