Page 36 of Santa's Mistletoe Playbook

Curtis’ face lost its murderous look. “Because he wants to open some fancy hunt-it-catch-it-grill-it-in-the-woods restaurant, and there’s prize money and a shot at an appearance on television at stake.”

“But Jasmine?—”

“She’s a good baker—and she likes Neal. Probably just for how he looks.”

Beatrice pushed the phone against her chest.

Honestly… That’s probably why I liked Neal, too. Wasn’t it? I liked that some hot, muscular guy might be interested in me.

Geez, I don’t need this kind of interest.

“I have to drop out,” she whispered. “Once you’re registered in a team category, you can’t switch to solo. I don’t have another partner, and there’s no way in hell Neal would dump Jasmine for me. He made sure I’d have to drop out because he doesn’t think she can beat me.”

“She can’t beat you.” Curtis slid his arm around her shoulder. “I mean—they can’t beatus.”

“No! Oh, God, Curt, you’re the best.” Beatrice’s eyes overflowed as she clung to her friend, her mind having thecompletely poor timing to realize that Curtis had long, lean muscles, that he smelled amazing, and he was warm, always so warm, not just with his words, but in the way he felt against her. “But I can’t. You aren’t registered. There’s no way?—”

“That I could possibly make an exception? I can, my dears. I just need the name, please. Curtis what?”

Bea gasped and stared down at her phone. “I had you on m—” The mute button glared up at her, mocking and without the telltale blue glow that meant she’d silenced her end of the call.

“I believe you missed the hold button, Miss Miller, but it worked in your favor. I’m not a judge, and I have no influence on the matter, but I sincerely hope you and Mr. Curtis trounce that young charlatan.”

Aside from the fact that the man on the other end of the phone sounded like he’d fallen out of an old-timey novel, Bea decided he was the coolest person on Earth. Next to Curtis.

“Curtis West,” Curtis spoke over her shoulder. “Can’t Neal be disqualified? He filled out the form twice.”

“No, sir, he filled it outonce—but he was claimed twice on others’ forms, once by Beatrice Miller and once by this Jasmine woman. Technically, no one has done anything wrong. Morally… Hm. Technically, I am not supposed to allow a new entrant, only make corrections to existing entrants’ forms. However, morally—I know where the manual upload button is on the registration website, and I’m rooting for you and Miss Miller.”

Beatrice looked at Curtis, a smile starting to form. “Let’s kick his ass.”

Curtis took the phone from her hand. “Let’s fill out that form.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Bea sat on the sagging black couch. For the first time since he’d met her, she actuallylookedsmall. Normally, her personality filled the kitchen, a tornado of sweetness and dark wit, not unlike the cocoa nib truffles she was famous for. She also looked guilty. That wasnotokay. Bea would steal your streaming service password or your last clean cutting board with a smile and dare you to get her back.

God, he loved her so much his chest hurt.

“I’m an idiot. A shallow, sex-starved idiot.”

Why’d she have to open with sex-starved?

“Neal is the shallow one. If he’d had enough brains to fill a teaspoon, he would have been your loyal partner—and begged you to be his girlfriend. Why’d he pick Jasmine? Because she’s a size six.”

The remote landed on his knee with the force of a missile. “Ow!”

“You’re not helping!”

“I am pointing out how dumb he is!”

“I’m the dumb one! Look at me! How could I think that he… That I could ever…”

“Stop that! Shut up, Beatrice Kyung Miller! You are the most beautiful, talented…” He stopped.

Bea was giving him a look that he didn’t recognize. Disgust? Disbelief? “Hrm. You get the picture. You’re freaking awesome.”

“I thought he liked me. And he was using me. I even… I sort of thought he might be.”

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