Page 43 of Evergreen Christmas

“That’s right.”

“Then what do you suggest I do?”

“I don’t know at the moment,” Kandy said. “But don’t panic. You still have several hours to figure it out and I’m sure—”

The familiar sound of an engine rumbled up the long driveway leading to Jordyn’s cabin. She glanced to her left where a truck was pulling to a stop out front.

“I’m sorry, Kandy, I’ve got to go. I’ve got guests. Tucker’s brought Roxie by again, I think.” Jordyn left the window and headed for the front door. “Thank you for helping me get the ingredients and recipes together. I’ll give my dilemma some thought and figure it out somehow.”

“And please let me know what you decide to do,” Kandy asked.

“Yep. Will do.” Jordyn said her goodbyes, disconnected the call, returned her cell phone to her back pocket, then opened the front door.

Immediately recognizing the truck parked in front of her cabin, Jordyn smiled as the passenger door opened and Roxie hopped out. But the ripple of joy she felt at the sight of the little girl shifted to nervous tension as instead of Tucker, Nate slid out of the truck and followed Roxie as she ran ahead.

“Hi, Ms. Jordyn!” Roxie skipped up the front steps, threw her arms around Jordyn’s waist and pressed her cheek to Jordyn’s middle. “Merry Christmas and congratulations again on your first-place win!”

Smiling, Jordyn hugged her back. “Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you, too! I’m so happy to see you. I don’t get many visitors other than the Nanas.”

“I was hoping you’d be home.” Roxie released her and stepped back, smiling up at her with a hopeful expression. “I wanted to see if it would be okay for me to visit Star again.”

“Of course! You’re more than welcome to visit Star anytime you’d like. She’s already had a run for today though, I’m afraid. She’s settled snug and comfy in her stall for a nap.”

“If she’s not asleep, is it okay if I . . .” Roxie’s voice trailed away as her gaze fixed on the open window where black tendrils of smoke still slithered over the windowsill and curled up into the cold winter air. “Ms. Jordyn, something’s burning in your house!”

Jordyn winced. “Yeah. I’m afraid I had a little trouble in the kitchen today.”

Nate, striding up the front steps to join them on the porch, glanced at the smoke wafting from the window, then swept his gaze over Jordyn from head to toe before meeting her eyes. “Are you okay?”

The concern in his tone warmed her on the inside.

“Yep.” She smiled brighter and shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans, trying to hide the tremors running through her. “I just gave baking a try for the first time in my life and, unfortunately, it didn’t turn out so well.”

Nate’s tense posture relaxed as a slow smile spread across his face. “Getting ready for the Christmas Cookie Crumble, are you?”

Jordyn nodded. “Or, at least, trying to.”

Gracious! Even though his rejection of her suggestion that they date still stung, she found him as gorgeous as ever.

Look away. Look away!

She tried desperately to pry her gaze from his, but after three full days of absence, his charismatic appeal was a balm to her senses and . . . she’d missed him. Biting her lip, she ducked her head. Oh, boy. There it was.

She’d missed him.

It’d only been three days since she last saw him, but it felt like a year. And now, face-to-face with him, she felt as though Christmas had arrived early, bringing Nate Reed to his romantic senses—and her front door—on a beautiful winter’s morning.

Only, that was a silly fantasy, seeing as how Nate had told her himself that he wasn’t available—and quite possibly not interested in her at all.

“I’m sorry if we disturbed you,” Nate said softly, still holding her gaze. “But Roxie was anxious to see Star again, and Tucker said you didn’t mind when he brought her by to visit the other day, so I thought . . .”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all. Roxie’s welcome to visit Star anytime. I mean that,” she said, smiling brighter. “Really. As a matter of fact, why don’t I take y’all out to the stables now and let her have a visit?” Jordyn leaned back inside the door, grabbed her coat from the coatrack, then joined them on the porch and led the way toward the stable.

As they approached the entrance, Roxie took off, jogging inside, then slowing her steps as she approached Star’s stable. The white mare, warm and comfortable beneath her Christmas blanket, lifted her nose in greeting as Roxie strolled over.

“Hello, Star,” Roxie whispered, pressing her hands together in front of her middle. “I came to visit you.”

Jordyn grinned. “You can pet her if you’d like. She likes being stroked on the neck, especially.”

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