Page 35 of Evergreen Christmas

“Pass away like Macy?”

Nate froze, absorbing the pain of the words that fell from his brother’s lips.

“I’m sorry,” Tucker said quietly. “I’m not trying to rub salt in the wound, and I understand what you’re saying. I’m just concerned about you. You’ve had countless opportunities over the past six years to try to move on, but you haven’t taken advantage of any of them.” An exasperated sound burst from his lips. “Even now, when you’re actually interested in a woman, you still aren’t willing to even consider trying to build a new relationship. You’re not obligated to grieve forever. You’re entitled to be happy again.”

Nate stared down at his boots, his vision blurring as he said quietly, “Knowing Roxie is happy is enough for me. And that’s the way I plan to keep it.”

Tucker released a heavy breath and turned away, walking toward the open door of the stable. He stopped short of it though and faced Nate again.

“Speaking of Roxie,” he said. “She’s been beggin’ to see that white quarter horse of Jordyn’s. I promised her I’d drive her over there when the sun came out and the snow melted a bit. We’re going to Chestnut Ridge now to see if Jordyn’s home, drop off another free load of firewood and ask her if she’d be willing to introduce Roxie to Star. It’ll just be an innocent, neighborly visit.” His mouth twisted, an ironic look in his eyes. “And it’ll make Roxie happy. You want to go?”

Nate stared. Did he? Of course, he did. He’d thought of little but Jordyn over the past three days. His mind had fixated on her friendly interactions with Mason at the Candy Cane Fishing contest and he’d kicked himself every time he imagined that he could have been sitting across from her where Mason had sat, making her laugh the same way, had he just answered Jordyn’s question differently.

But . . . no matter how much Tucker pushed for him to move on, he wasn’t ready to explore a new relationship. And misleading a woman was a sure way to stir up trouble. It was better, overall, to let things stay as they were.

“Thank you,” Nate said, “but no.”

Even though the snow had melted, Jordyn still couldn’t get over how magnificent her backyard was. She stood in the back lot of her property, tilted her head and breathed deeply, drawing in the fresh, cold mountain air. The brisk wind that swept over the landscape put a spring in her step as she walked over to stand next to the impressive tree the Nanas had dubbed Fabio.

Star, who’d been strolling through the back lot, took off, galloping across the field, her thick white mane rippling with each leap. Clearly, the brisk winter wind had put a spring in the mare’s step, too.

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” Jordyn glanced up at the noble evergreen to her left and smiled. “Pretty pitiful, ha? Me standing out here in the middle of my field talking to myself. Well . . . I’m not exactly talking to myself—I’m talking to you. Though . . .” she reconsidered, “that might be even worse, seeing as how I’m talking to a tree.”

But she had to admit, Fabio Fraser was a good listener.

She’d woken up early this morning after a fitful night of sleep, made a hot, sweet cup of coffee in the new coffeemaker the Nanas had helped her pick out, bundled up in her warmest jacket and led Star out to the back field to admire the view and the perfect Fraser fir that still stood tall on her property.

Her surroundings had lifted her spirits at first, the rolling foothills and majestic mountain peaks in the distance reminding her of what a gorgeous stretch of property she now owned and how much potential it held for the new business she planned to build. But somehow that particular dream of breeding and training barrel racing horses had taken a back seat to her participation in the Christmas competition—and her preoccupation with Nate Reed.

“Oh, this is ridiculous,” she grumbled, kicking the dormant grass with the toe of her boot.

It was absolutely ridiculous to obsess over a man she’d just met and barely knew, much less grieve over what might’ve been, had he accepted her invitation to explore a relationship. And his rejection shouldn’t have disappointed her as much as it had. After all, the Nanas had already warned her that Nate wasn’t interested in any type of romantic encounter and that he’d already refused a number of women’s advances.

Only, she’d held out hope that Nate would respond differently to her. That perhaps he felt the electric energy sparking between them as deeply as she did.

But, in the end, Nate had rejected her, too. His response had stung her pride . . . and heart.

She supposed she should be grateful he’d been honest and direct with her from the get-go. At least now, she knew exactly where she stood. He wasn’t interested in a relationship, so she shouldn’t pursue one with him. They would be friendly enemies until the end of the Christmas competition and after that, they’d see each other in passing, as polite acquaintances.

Whatever admiration she still harbored for Nate Reed should be tucked away and only allowed to emerge occasionally as a casual appreciation for her new neighbor. That was all that would ever exist between her and Neighbor Nate, and it was better to know that now rather than later.

Wincing, she slipped her hand under her thick scarf and rubbed her chest. Oh, if only that knowledge didn’t sting quite as deeply as it did.

The rumble of an engine sounded at her back and, hand stilling against her sternum, she glanced over her shoulder, her breath catching at the site of Nate’s truck.

“Oh . . . kay,” she breathed.

Had Nate changed his mind?

Her hand lifted to her hair, her fingers hastily smoothing the windswept strands. Had he, after three days of mulling it over, reconsidered her proposition that they date, decided to drive over, apologize for turning her down, admit he’d made a mistake and beg her to allow him back into her good graces?

But when the doors opened, Tucker and Roxie hopped out instead.

Nate was nowhere in sight.

“Ms. Jordyn!” Roxie, her hair pulled back in her ever-present ponytail, bounded across the back lot toward Jordyn, a huge smile on her face. “We came to visit you!”

Taking a moment to dispel her disappointment at Nate’s absence, Jordyn smiled at the excited expression on Roxie’s face, knelt and beckoned the little girl over to her side. “Well, hello! What a wonderful surprise.”

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