Chapter Four
M aybe this was a bad idea.
The thought popped into Anthony’s head as he sat with his friends at Brews and Chews Bar and Grill, listening to the loud music and the hum of conversations around him. Anthony had been looking forward to hitting the bar with the boys tonight, but his mood tanked the minute he crossed the threshold and spotted the large sprig of mistletoe hanging over the door. Pike’s rant yesterday about getting older and their shrinking group of single friends hadn’t been far from his mind. Now, the matchmaking plant of the holiday season was staring him in the face, reminding him that of all his friends, he was the only one who hadn’t ever come close to a long-term relationship.
His relationship status wasn’t from lack of interest, but he had no interest in bullshit games. Anthony tried dating apps, but every woman he’d gone out with had lied about something on her profile. Usually, he could spot the lie after a date or two, but the last woman he’d dated over the summer almost had him fooled. It wasn’t until he’d surprised her with a weekend getaway and she’d realized they were going camping over Couch Summit that she admitted her idea of camping was a twenty thousand dollar camper with all the bells and whistles.
He’d flipped the truck around in the next turnout and taken her home. At a young age, he learned that lies were like poison; no matter how small, they led to more significant issues and, ultimately, ended in chaos. If a woman couldn’t be honest about her interests, what else would she lie about?
Brews and Chews Bar and Grill was packed to the gills like every other Saturday night, with a live band playing a rowdy rendition of Hard Workin’ Man . Men and women were already on the dance floor, circling each other like they were practicing a mating dance. A table of women smiled at their group as they passed by, but the only one who acknowledged them was Pike.
“Looking lovely tonight, ladies.”
A couple of them giggled, and Anthony shook his head, knowing Pike would eventually make his way over there and try to drag Anthony along. While he wasn’t opposed to connecting with someone, he wasn’t looking for a one-night stand or a casual fling, the usual goal of people meeting in bars.
They’d scored a table by the hallway that led to the back exit to the patio and spontaneous bursts of cold air rushed down his spine every time someone stepped outside to smoke. Pike was at the bar with Nick, getting drinks while Anthony listened to Declan talk about his recent trip to visit his parents in Arizona.
“Dad’s doing great. I was worried that the change in scenery might mess him up but heading south for the winter agrees with him. My mom says his doctor is surprised; he’d expected his dementia to progress faster than it has. She is convinced it’s all the supplements she’s been feeding him and that they’ve cut out processed food, but who knows?”
“Some things can’t be explained,” Clark said. “Merry thinks the power of positive thinking can overcome anything.”
“Is that a Winters thing?” Declan asked, grinning conspiratorially. “Holly is the same way.”
Clark and Declan had been indoctrinated into their friend group via their relationships with Nick’s sisters. Anthony liked the two men regardless of how they came to be there. Clark was the Winters Family Tree Farm’s foreman, and Declan had been pursuing his art and selling items online. It was thanks to Declan that Pike and Anthony were able to open up Adventures in Mistletoe at all. If he hadn’t closed down his family’s hardware store when his dad retired and sold the building, they would still be waiting for a space to open up in town.
However, he was tired of hearing about their women and opted to change the subject. “Where’s your brother tonight, Clark?”
“At the tattoo shop until eleven. He might swing by after, but he wasn’t sure if he’d have company later.”
Declan chuckled. “Did Merry ask him to do the bachelor auction yet?”
And they were back to talking about women. Worse, one of the many events he needed to talk to Pike about. He’d started going through everything Merry asked them to contribute and participate in during lulls in the day, and they would be over a grand in the hole if Pike had his way. Some of the buy links to intricate ornaments his partner had sent him were almost fifty bucks a piece! On top of that, parading men on stage like cattle for the town to bid? It was a wasted day when he could take people out on the mountain for money instead of spending an awkward evening with the highest bidder.
“She did ask him, and Sam told her no, but then Holly got after him.” Clark grinned when Declan shot him a dark look. “Hey, don’t get pissed at me. I can’t help that my brother has a soft spot for your girl.”
Anthony tuned out the band at the mention of Holly’s name, which turned his thoughts back to Delilah. While he’d been irritated with her and himself after their kiss last December, he appreciated her authenticity. She didn’t care about putting on a bunch of makeup to lure a man in under the illusion of perfection or conforming to the world’s idea of how women should dress and act to attract a man. Being partnered with her on the scavenger hunt had been natural, and he’d let his guard down, forgetting she wasn’t emotionally available when she’d kissed him. He’d wanted to do more than kissing and petting, dying to strip her down and bury himself in her soft heat.
Only the aftermath flashed through his brain; he’d stopped it before it went too far. Even if she hadn’t been hung up on Pike for half her life, she was best friends with Nick’s little sister. Mistletoe was small enough without dipping into their friend group, and by extension, making future events awkward and uncomfortable. All they’d done was kiss, and she wouldn’t even say hello when she saw him—this morning had been the most words she’d uttered to him in almost a year.
“I’m telling you, Sam will get punched in the soft spot if he doesn’t get a girlfriend soon,” Declan grumbled. “Between the shop, Sam, and Delilah, I gotta make an appointment to get Holly alone.”
“Ooof, word of advice from an old married man,” Clark said, grinning. “Never say anything negative about their best friend. It’s the fastest way to end up on the couch.”
Declan sighed. “I like Delilah, but I want to have coffee with my girlfriend without her showing up.” Declan rubbed his hands over his face. “Shit, I sound like an asshole.”
“You sound human,” Anthony said, joining in the conversation. “Believe me, I like my space, and if someone kept popping up and invading it without an invitation, I’d be over it, too.”
“What I need is for Delilah and your brother”—Declan punctuated the words with a scathing look shot Clark’s way—“to find people to occupy them.”
“It will take a miracle to get Sam to settle down,” Clark said.
“What about you, Anthony?” Declan asked.
“I’m not interested in Sam.” Anthony smirked. “Thanks, though.”
Clark laughed while Declan threw a straw wrapper at him. “I mean, are you dating anyone special?”
“Not at the moment.”
“Perfect. Wanna take Delilah out?”
Anthony froze. “No, man, I’m not going to take Delilah off your hands like I’m a fucking babysitter.”
“Whoa,” Clark said, holding his hands in a time-out. “Calm down there, sparky.”
“No, he’s right,” Declan said, holding his hand out for Anthony to shake. “I’m sorry, man. That was a douche thing to suggest.”
Anthony took it with a sheepish grin. “Nah, that came out harsher than I meant. I’m in a shit mood.”
Declan nodded. “I get that. Hell, I wanted to spend time with Holly tonight, but because Delilah needed to talk, she went straight over there after work. Here I am, drinking with you instead of spending the evening with my girlfriend.”
Pike and Nick came back to the table, Nick with several bottles of beer in his hands while Pike held a tray of shots.
“Who’s ready for a dirty pilgrim?” Pike asked, grinning.
“I hope that’s a drink, not something else,” Anthony said.
Pike huffed. “Mock me if you will, but you’ll love this.” He placed a shot in front of each of them before knocking back the last one. “Mmm, so good.” Pike set the shot glass down with a hard thump. “What are we talking about?”
“Declan’s trying to hire Anthony to occupy Delilah Gill’s time,” Clark said.
“Oh, yeah?” Pike glanced at Anthony. “And what did he say?”
“Turned me down flat.” Declan took a beer from the tray, ignoring the shot.
“Probably because she’s not his type,” Nick said, sitting across from Anthony.
“I never said she wasn’t my type,” Anthony said, his voice tight, frustration snaking through him. “I’m just not going to pursue a woman under false pretenses.”
“Which makes you an honorable man.” Nick held out the bottleneck of his beer, and Anthony clinked it with his.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll take the bullet,” Pike blurted.
“What?” Anthony and Nick chorused.
“What? Tell me that woman isn’t my type,” Pike said, staring at something over Anthony’s shoulder. The entire table turned to look, and Anthony’s stomach bottomed out as he got a look at Delilah sans glasses in a shimmering blue halter dress that dipped into a low V partially covered by a hint of fabric that did nothing to hide her ample cleavage. The dress flared out at the waist into an A-line, swishing around her legs as she walked past with Holly leading the way. Both women had their hair down. Delilah’s dark curls bouncing against her back, and Holly’s red waves were pulled forward, hanging over the front of her tight black dress.
“Hol?” Declan called. “What are you doing here?”
Holly put her finger up to her lips. “Shhh, just pretend I’m not here. It’s guys’ night. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“How am I supposed to do that when you look like that!” Declan spluttered.
Holly blew him a kiss and kept walking. Delilah’s blue eyes glanced toward the table briefly, but they didn’t linger long enough to meet Anthony’s. He’d never seen her in a dress like that.
Declan swung his wide-eyed gaze around the table. “What the fuck just happened?”
“I don’t know, but Pikey likey.”
Anthony resisted the urge to punch Pike in his leering mouth. While he loved the man beside him, his blatant perusal of Delilah’s assets made his blood boil. “How can you go zero to douche in ten seconds flat?”
“I’m just appreciating what she’s putting out there.”
The table groaned in unison, except Anthony, who scowled at him. “It’s just a dress, man. She’s the same woman.”
“That dress, my friend, signals that she is looking for attention from the right man.”
Nick laughed. “Interesting theory.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Delilah in anything other than pants,” Pike said, his voice heavy with wonder.
Anthony’s gaze inadvertently strayed to Delilah, perched on a bar stool beside Holly. She held a glass of blue liquid and sipped from the straw, her eyes wandering over the room. He didn’t break eye contact when their eyes met, even when he raised his beer to take a drink. He noticed her cheeks flush before she spun away and said something to Holly.
Nick set his beer down and leaned toward Pike, lowering his voice. “You do realize if you fuck around and break Delilah’s heart, Holly will rip your nuts off and shove them up your ass?”
Pike pulled at the collar of his plaid shirt like it was choking him. “I’m not afraid of your sister, bro. Besides, my intentions are honorable … ish.”
“Of the two Winters’ sisters, Holly should scare you,” Declan said dryly. “And I can say that ’cause I love her.”
“Regardless of how scary Holly is, I am willing to face her wrath to possess such an exquisite creature. ”
Anthony’s jaw clenched. “She’ll be back in those graphic tees tomorrow.”
“It’s like I was telling you earlier, bro,” Pike said, adjusting his bow tie. “Our dating pool is getting thinner and it’s obvious we’ve all been sleeping on Delilah Gill. I’m getting in the water before someone else does.”
Pike took off before anyone could respond, heading straight for Delilah and Holly.
“What in the hell was in that shot?” Anthony asked.
Nick laughed. “Love potion?”
Declan picked up the last shot on the tray, licking his lips before he said, “I guess some men need a wake-up call to recognize what’s right in front of them.”
“She doesn’t look that different,” Anthony muttered.
“Why does it bother you?” Clark asked, studying him.
Because she was the same woman Pike had ignored for fourteen years. Once he realized that, he’d get bored, and Delilah would get hurt. Besides, he’d just referred to being with her as taking a bullet, and that didn’t sit well with Anthony.
Anthony spotted Pike trudging his way back to the table and plopping back in a chair.
“Struck out?” Declan chuckled.
“Didn’t even get close to her before the hordes descended.”
Anthony realized he was smiling over his friend’s failure and fixed his face before anyone noticed.
“Son of a bitch,” Nick said. “Look who’s at the front of the crowd?”
Every man at the table followed Nick’s line of vision, and Anthony spotted the large, dark-haired man leaning on the bar next to Delilah. When she tipped her head back and laughed, Anthony’s hand clamped around his beer bottle painfully.
“Hey, man,” Pike asked, pointing, “Isn’t that your brother?”