Page 44 of The Mistletoe Kisser

Sammy and Eva both grinned up at him.

The Quiet Hour was a committee of adults and kids that organized early admission to town events for families with sensory issues. Aurora and her brother Evan had come up with the idea after befriending new Mooners Rubin and Claudia, who were both on the autism spectrum.

“It’s a great cause,” Sammy agreed.

“I thought it was a decent idea,” Ryan admitted. “My sister has autism. She loved Christmas lights when she was a kid, but had a hard time with the crowds.”

“Have sex with him now,” Eva coughed into her hand.

“This is my friend Eva,” Sammy said glaring daggers at the woman who was sizing Ryan up like he was the hero in one of her novels. “She’d stay and introduce herself but she has to go away right now.”

“Oh, no. I have all the time in the world,” Eva said, grinning evilly. “It’ssonice to meet you, Ryan.”

“Don’t you need to deliver your husband’s coffee?” Sammy stared pointedly at the cup in Eva’s hand.

Ryan frowned. “You don’t by chance have a daughter who hangs out in liquor stores? She’s about this tall,” Ryan said, holding up a hand.

“Ah, you met my niece Aurora. She belongs to my sister, Gia.”

“Strong family resemblance,” Ryan said, eyeing Eva’s pajama pants.

“There is, isn’t there? Now, tell me, when you seduce a woman, are you a flowers-and-wine kind of guy or do you get more creative?”

Sammy clamped a hand over her friend’s mouth. “Please excuse my inappropriate friend. Eva is a romance novelist, and she’s definitely leaving.”

“I don’t do flowers and wine,” Ryan said, looking amused. “I find it more helpful to solve a problem. Like get her car detailed or do something for her that she hasn’t had time to do. Pick up dry cleaning. Make dinner. Shred old documents.”

Eva pried Sammy’s hand off her mouth. “Hmm, useful romance. Interesting,” she mused. “I may want to pick your brain about that more, Ryan.”

“Too bad he’s leaving town,” Sammy said, doing a terrible job at feigning disappointment as she steered Eva toward the door.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me,” the redhead said, grinning mischievously, “I’ve got a coffee to drop off for my real-life hero and a surly fictional one waiting for me on the page.”

“Happy writing,” Sammy said, propelling her out the door.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” Eva called from the sidewalk. “Donovan and I wouldlovea wreath with a navy bow and gold balls.”

Sammy was going to need a workshop of elves to help her with the damn wreaths. “Navy. Gold balls. Got it,” she said weakly.

“It was lovely meeting you, Ryan. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other again,” she said before disappearing down the sidewalk.

“You have interesting friends,” Ryan observed. “Did you find Rainbow?”

She winced. “Here and gone unfortunately. But I do have a lead on where she’ll be at lunch.”

Ryan sighed. “Dammit.”

Sammy patted his shoulder. “It’s a small town. We’re bound to run into her sooner or later.”

“I’m starting to think there is no Rainbow. Like this entire town is in on some cosmic joke and I’m the only one who hasn’t heard the punchline yet.”

“Relax,” Sammy said. “There’s no conspiracy or convoluted inside joke. Why don’t you call the bank on the way to the next stop and see if there’s anyone else there you could meet with. You might luck out and get on someone’s calendar today.”

“Fine,” he said grudgingly as he held the door open for her.

She started the vehicle and turned on his seat warmer while he paced on the sidewalk, phone pressed to his ear. Judging by the pantomime of drop-kicking his phone into the street, she guessed it wasn’t going well.

“Good news?” she joked when he got in.