Page 7 of Santa's Mistletoe Playbook

Danica’s cheeks turned pink. “Intelligent, huh? I like them all over again.”

Bryson tapped a response with his thumbs.

See you at Moose’s Tooth when I finish at the hospital. Danica will be with me.

Danica stretched on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. “Be careful all the same, okay? You haven’t driven in winter conditions for a while, Arizona boy.”

“Don’t worry, it’s like riding a bike. Besides, Dad’s four-wheel-drive truck has studded snow tires. I’m good to go.” He turned to go, then paused. “I hope the story about Sleeping Lady didn’t make you anxious. It’s only a story.”

She gave him a lopsided grin. “I know, but you have to remember this is a wild, foreign place for me, never having been here before. You always said Alaska has ten ways to kill you every ten minutes. I can’t help but think of that.”

Bryson laughed. “I know I’ve said that in the past, but don’t worry. I grew up here. I know the ropes. See you after work.” He kissed her forehead, then hustled out to the heated garage and fired up the truck. He backed out and headed toward Mercy Hospital in Midtown Anchorage.

Bryson pulled into the parking lot of Moose’s Tooth Brewpub and cut the engine. Danica had fixed herself up and looked like a hot million. He leaned across to drink her in. “You are sexy as hell.” He stroked her thigh through her tight-fitting jeans.

“Why, thank you, Dr. Cooper. You’re rather hot yourself.” She pushed open the door and slid down to the ground from the tall pickup, landing deftly on the heels of her boots. The hard-packed snow crunched under her feet.

They ambled inside and Bryson immediately heard his three rowdy friends before he saw them sitting at a table in the center of the restaurant.

“Dr. Cooper and his beautiful woman!” called out Monty, the tallest and beefiest of the three guys at the table. Monty waved them over.

“Hey, good to see you guys.” Bryson exchanged fist-bumps and guy slaps on brawny shoulders. “You remember Danica.”

“You mean the smart, gorgeous woman who is too good for you?” teased Monty, flipping his shaggy dark hair behind him. “Of course I do. Good to see you, Danica.”

She dipped into an amiable nod and smiled. “Thanks. Good to see you, too.”

Bryson seated Danica and himself across from Jamin and Benny, the medium-sized guys of the group. Monty stood and helped Danica ease her chair closer to the table.

Bryson cocked a brow. “Since when did you get manners?” he joked.

“Since working as a public defender.” Monty waved the server over. “These two need some microbrews, please.”

“No thanks, not for me. I don’t drink,” Danica said quickly. She gave Bryson a side-eye, and he winked his approval. She had zero tolerance for alcohol. It had gotten her into one too many scrapes—most of which she was lucky enough not to remember. What happened in Tucson a year ago was still fresh in his mind, and he didn’t want a repeat performance.

“Do you have a bun in the oven?” teased Benny, grinning.

Bryson cast a sideways glance in Danica’s direction. Hopefully, she wouldn’t divulge the real reason she didn’t drink.

“Nothing in the oven. I just don’t have alcohol.” To Danni’s credit, she didn’t elaborate, only smiled at the friendly faces around the table.

“That’s great.” Monty smiled and sipped his beer. “Wish I had your self-discipline.”

“Yeah, me too.” Jamin nodded and picked up a menu.

Bryson stared at his menu with raised brows. “You guys couldn’t stop partying if your lives depended on it.” He flicked his eyes at his hometown buddies he’d known since first grade.

He recalled first meeting Danica at the fraternity party in Tucson. Her wild streak had mesmerized him, but that was before he knew what the deal was with her intolerance for alcohol.

A year later, during spring break, Danica tossed back shots of tequila and wound up on top of a cell phone tower outside of Tucson. That was after she’d driven her car up the concrete steps to the Holiday Inn, flattening her tires. Once inside the bar, she lifted a lionfish out of an aquarium and stung herself, then she tripped on an electric cable that blacked out the bar. When the fire department got her down off the cell phone tower, she wound up in an emergency room for her swollen hand, then she was tossed in jail and her parents bailed her out.

Bryson heard about it after returning from visiting his folks in Anchorage. He and Danica argued over the incident, ending with him asking her to promise never to drink again.

The guys ordered a large pizza, and Danica ordered grilled salmon on a Caesar salad. “If I’m in Anchorage, I’m eating seafood,” she announced.

Right away, the guys tossed out suggestions about where Bryson should take Danica for delicious seafood.

Monty piped up. “You two are coming up on a two-year anniversary of being together, right? Didn’t you two meet around Christmastime at a party? How do you plan to celebrate?”

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