Mike put his face close to the screen. “Christmas things? You have a red cocktail dress?”
Riley struggled to keep her patience. “No, I don’t have a red cocktail dress, but my black one is designer. I just bought it, and it’s great.”
Mike shook his head. “Nope. Won’t work. We need you in red. Red is the best for photographs. Red is Christmas. I told you I’ve set up for a photographer to be there, and we have to sell you as Miss Christmas, and that means you have to look the part.”
Frustrated, Riley picked up one of the red sequin tops. “I did not agree to this. I’m not a Vegas showgirl.”
When she looked down at Comet for support, he wagged his tail as he gazed up at her. Riley smiled at him.
“You’re a romance author that’s about to write her first Christmas novel,” Mike said. “You need to look the part. You need to sparkle, glitter, dazzle, all that stuff. You need to bring the romance.”
Riley picked up another top. “You’re trying to tell me wearing sequins is . . . romantic?”
“I’m trying to tell you it’s Christmas,” Mike said impatiently. “Besides, you have to wear it. A friend of mine is the designer. She gave me the clothes as a trade-off for the publicity you’ll get her. So you’re welcome, and I have to go.”
“Wait, Mike!” Riley shouted.
But it was too late. He’d already hung up.
“Unbelievable,” she said as she continued to pace. Everywhere she looked the Santas were staring at her. She ran around and turned all the Santa pillows upside down so she couldn’t see the grinning Santa faces, then felt foolish.
“What? Am I twelve?” she asked herself. “I need to go for walk.”
At the mention of the word walk, Comet ran over and sat almost on top of her feet. He barked.
“Oh boy, now I’ve done it,” Riley said. “I said walk.”
Comet barked again.
“Shh! Comet. Okay, fine. You win. We’ll go for a wa—”
When Comet looked like he was about to bark again, she stopped herself.
“See? I’m learning,” she said as she grabbed her coat.
He ran to the door and waited for her.
An icy gust of wind swirled around them as she and Comet stepped outside. That’s when she realized she’d forgotten to wear her hat. For a moment, she debated going back upstairs to get it but she wasn’t going to be outside for very long. She’d be fine.
Before she knew what was happening, Comet was leading her down to the lake. Not that she really needed any encouragement. She was mesmerized by the Christmas Lake Christmas tree lit up in all its glory. It was even more magical in the moonlight.
She stopped to get out her phone and take a picture, but the photo didn’t even come close to capturing the dreamlike image. She frowned and tried to take several more pictures.
“I see Comet has talked you into to another w-a-l-k,” Luke said, coming up behind her.
Startled, Riley jumped. Her hand flew to her heart. “You scared me.” She had been concentrating so hard that she hadn’t heard him approach.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to disturb your picture-taking,” Luke said. “Get any good ones?”
Riley frowned again as she scrolled through her photos. “No, not really. Nothing that captures how special it really is.” She looked back up at Luke. “What are you doing down here?”
Luke reached into his own coat and pulled out a red-and-white-striped stocking cap that had a big, red puff ball at the end. “You forgot your hat.”
When he held it out to her, she laughed and backed away. “Oh, that’s not my hat. That’s gotta be one of your mom’s.”
“I’ll tell you what this is,” Luke said as he looked into her eyes and walked toward her. Riley held her breath as Luke got so close to her that she could see his breath turn into a white cloud.
“It’s going on your head,” Luke added with a smile as he carefully put the hat on her and “We can’t have our star author catching a cold before her Christmas Camp.”
When their eyes met, her heart beat faster. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to kiss her. She leaned in.
And that’s when it happened . . .
Chapter Twenty-Three
A giant snowball hit Luke in the arm, sending snow flying everywhere. When they both spun around and saw Caylee about to fire another snowball at them, Luke instantly sprang into action.
“Get her!” He laughed, scooping up a bunch of snow and making an even bigger snowball to hurl at Caylee. She jumped to one side just in time to dodge the hit.
Riley was still standing there watching, laughing.
“Come on,” Luke said to her. “I could use a little help here.”
Riley hesitated. She’d never been in a snowball fight before, but when one of Caylee’s snowballs hit her on the leg, she followed Luke’s lead and started making her own snowballs to hurl at Caylee.
When her second snowball surprised her by hitting its mark, tagging Caylee on the arm, Riley jumped for joy. “I did it!”
Luke gave her an enthusiastic high five. “Nice job!”
“Thanks!” Riley laughed. “I learn from the best.”
Luke gave her a funny look. “What? You’ve never thrown a snowball before?”
Riley was saved from answering when Caylee ran up behind Luke.
“Watch out!” Riley shouted, trying to warn him.
But it was too late. Caylee had already stuffed some snow down the back of Luke’s coat.
He grabbed Caylee before she could escape. “Now, that’s just playing dirty,” he said as he lifted Caylee up and spun her around. “Looks like it’s time for a reindeer bath.”
Caylee was kicking and screaming. “You wouldn’t dare!” Caylee shouted while still laughing. “Luke, you put me down right now! I mean it! I’m not a kid anymore.”
“Really?” Luke
