The Mistletoe Kisser - Lucy Score Page 0,38
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 would love a 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.
Ryan tossed his phone over his shoulder into the back seat. “Great news,” he said, the words dripping with sarcasm. “Apparently Rainbow Berkowicz is the only bank employee who can help me. No one else is authorized to talk about it.”
Which meant she was most definitely still stuck with him. They both sighed. He turned to glare at her. “I don’t know what you’re sighing about. You get a delightful companion for your morning and I’m the one hung out to dry.”
“I don’t think you know what ‘delightful’ means,” she pointed out. “Besides, it’s not a contest to see who is most inconvenienced.”
“Well, if it were, I’d win since I flew across the fucking country.”
“Yeah, yeah. Christmas in Blue Moon. Worst day ever. Buckle up, grump.”
He dragged on his seatbelt and clutched his coffee. “What’s the next stop? More baby goats to examine? Perhaps a problematic pony?”
“Nice try. Next up is llamas.”
He blinked. “Llamas?”
“Llamas.”
Blue Moon Community Facebook Gossip Group
Marsha McCafferty: Old Man Carson’s nephew is the Liam Neeson of accountants! He just saved me from an IRS scam! If you see him around town, give him a hug, buy him a drink, and ask him for accounting advice!
12
“Llamas are stupid animals. Why do they even exist?” Ryan groused, shoving Sammy into the passenger seat.
“They’re actually domesticated South American pack animals that can carry up to thirty percent of their own body weight. And I am perfectly capable of driving,” Sammy chirped. He found her enthusiasm while she bled from a wound on her arm irritating.
“Stop being so cheerful. You’re injured. You were violently attacked,” he insisted, opening the glove box and digging out a wad of fast food napkins. He pressed them to her forearm, where only moments ago, one of the disgusting beasts in the backyard of the green cottage had sunk its huge teeth into her.
“Bet you’re glad now that I made you get new clothes,” she mused. He glanced down. They were both covered in green, frothy liquid. It smelled like fresh-cut grass and bile.
Ryan’s New Plan
1. Track down Rainbow.
2. Solve Carson’s problem.
3. Shower for at least an hour.
4. Nap.
5. Book plane ticket home.
6. Never get within twenty feet of a stupid llama again.
He applied more pressure. “You sure know how to show a guy a good time, Sparkle.”
She snorted. “You’ve never spent a morning getting spit on by bad-tempered llamas before? You are missing out, my friend.”
“I