Page 9 of Santa's Mistletoe Playbook

Jamin motioned the server over. “Glacieritas all the way around.” He twirled his finger.

“Oh, no, not for me, thanks,” Danica waved her hand in a no gesture. “I’ll have a soda.”

Jamin turned to Danica. “These are made with glacier ice, which any Alaskan will say is good for you.”

“I’m sure, but I’ll stick with soda.” Danica thought of her promise to Bryson and shook her head.

The server arrived with their drinks, and Haley’s Comet took the stage and played popular tunes.

Monty pushed his chair back. “Want to dance?” He offered his hand.

Danica took it and shoved her chair back as well. “I’d love to.”

They hit the dance floor to the lively beat of one of her favorite songs. When it ended, Monty kept her on the floor for the next one. But when the third song ended, Danica pointed at the table.

“Let’s take a breather.” She wished Bryson were here to dance with her.

Jamin and Benny were already on their second glacieritas. Danica scrutinized the pretty blue drinks, and Monty motioned to the bar. “Your soda is empty, and I need to order. Let’s go get our drinks.”

Danica followed him to the bar, where a server flirted with him, chatting him up. Monty was eye-candy to single women with his shaggy, grown out hair, giving off a bad-boy vibe. She noted several heads turn in his direction. He was almost as handsome as Bryson—almost. In her view, no one was better looking than her hot-bodied boyfriend. She wondered if the women at the Anchorage hospital were hitting on him like the ones did in Phoenix.

Danica made it crystal clear at parties and work functions that Bryson washersand he wasn’t up for grabs—hands off!Shetrusted him, and so far, he hadn’t given her a reason not to. A friend of hers who worked at the Phoenix hospital had assured her Bryson kept things professional on the job.

Monty pointed to two shot glasses on the bar. “Have you ever had Jell-O shots?”

Danica shook her head. “I know what they are, but I haven’t tried them.”

“How can you not? They’re delicious!” He picked up a glass of blue liquid. “They’re just gelatin with a smidgeon of vodka. Want to try one?”

She eyed the colorful shot glass, then moved her head back and forth. “I better not.”

“Don’t worry, the tiny amount of vodka isn’t enough to affect you.”

One woman who’d flirted with Monty appeared next to them. “Oh honey, you’ve got to try one! It’s like having a luscious dessert.” The server picked up the red one and handed it to Danica. “Come on, try it.”

Danica stared at her, deliberating. “Oh, what the heck, okay.”

On impulse, she took a tiny, cautious sip. After all, Monty said there was hardly any alcohol.

“Not like that. Like this.” Monty lifted a blue one and threw it back like a shot of tequila.

Danica mimicked him, and the red liquid slid down her throat. It was astonishingly good.

“Two more!” Monty motioned to the bartender. “Different colors this time.”

Like magic, two more appeared, a green one and an orange one. He handed the green to Danica, who downed it instantly. Her stomach responded with a tingly sensation.

“Yum, they’re so good.” The familiar warm buzz jettisoned through her bloodstream. “I’d better sit down.” She knew better than to stay at the bar.

Monty followed her to the table, where Jamin and Benny had two young ladies sitting with them. More gelatin shots appeared on the table in front of Danica. She stared at them, hesitating. Her long-ago promise to Bryson dissolved like it never happened.

She reached for a blue one and downed it.

Jamin motioned to the two young women at the table. “These two ladies have never been to the Devil’s Club.”

“Seriously?” Monty raised his brows. “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”

Jamin aimed a mischievous grin at him. “I’m thinking so.”

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