Page 44 of Evergreen Christmas

Smiling broadly, Roxie lifted her hand tentatively and stroked Star’s thick neck. Star dipped her head and nuzzled Roxie’s small hand, making her giggle.

“She likes me!”

“Of course, she does,” Jordyn said. “What’s not to like?”

“Can I come by and see her tomorrow, too?” Roxie asked, smiling over her shoulder at Jordyn. “And if she’s hungry when we get back from the cookie contest, maybe I can feed her some more apple slices?”

“I don’t see why n—”

“Roxie, it’s not polite to just invite yourself ov—”

Jordyn glanced at Nate as they both stopped talking. As his face flushed, she smiled, leaned closer and whispered, “Yeah. It’s better to just show up, isn’t it?”

Nate stared straight ahead but his mouth kicked up. “You got me,” he whispered. “A gentleman would’ve called you before showing up on your front porch—especially after our, er . . . mutually agreed-upon arrangement as friendly enemies. Guess I no longer qualify as a gentleman.”

Jordyn laughed. “I wouldn’t say that.” Raising her voice, she said, “Roxie, you’re welcome to visit Star anytime you’d like so long as you have your dad or uncle’s permission.”

“Thank you, Ms. Jordyn!”

“Speaking of the cookie contest,” Nate said, glancing over at her. “You plan on giving baking another shot, or are you hanging up your apron?”

The teasing gleam in his blue eyes stole her breath. “Why? Are you hoping I’ll bow out of the contest and lessen the challenge for you, Neighbor Nate?”

He laughed. “No, not at all. Roxie and I are pros at baking and decorating Christmas cookies, and Tucker can pack away more of ’em than an elephant, in one sitting, so I have no doubt that our team will walk away with a first-place win tomorrow.”

“Oh, really?” Crossing her arms over her chest, Jordyn narrowed her eyes and asked playfully, “But that’d be so much easier for you if I just happened not to show up with three dozen Christmas cookies and a healthy appetite, wouldn’t it?”

Nate grinned. “Possibly.”

“Uncle Tucker always eats the most cookies,” Roxie said as she continued stroking Star’s neck. “He eats so many that no one else can keep up with him and they crumble.” She smiled proudly. “Dad says that’s why they call it the Christmas Cookie Crumble. Because everyone but the winner crumbles during the eating part of the contest.”

Nate chuckled. “Yep. It’s a shame you won’t get to participate. I’d love to see how many Christmas cookies you could scarf down before folding.”

“But she could still play.” Roxie stopped petting Star and walked over, slipping her hand in Jordyn’s. “Dad makes the best Christmas cookies in Noel, and he could show you how to make ’em, too, couldn’t you, Dad?”

Nate tilted his head and pursed his lips, considering this. “I won’t argue with you.” He winked at Jordyn. “I am the best Christmas cookie cook in Noel.”

Jordyn grinned. “Well, I know my lack of baking experience is contributing to my failure, but I think my oven may be the real problem. It’s been officially added to Chestnut Ridge’s In Need of Repair list.”

“If your oven’s broken, you can use an oven at our house!” Roxie beamed up at her. “We have two of ’em.”

Jordyn glanced at Nate in surprise and the lighthearted expression on his face faded.

“Macy—Roxie’s mom—loved to cook,” he said. “Especially during the holidays. She insisted on a state-of-the-art kitchen when we built our house.”

Jordyn nodded, a bittersweet ache spreading through her belly. The tenderness in his tone as he spoke of his late wife was all too clear. Oh, how much he must’ve loved her!

Throat tightening, she whispered, “I see.”

“So, can she, Dad?” Roxie asked. “Can Ms. Jordyn come cook Christmas cookies with us?”

Jordyn glanced at Nate, noting the hesitancy in his expression. “I don’t know about that, Roxie. It’s nice of you to offer, but you and your dad are on a different team than me, and it’s against the rules for one team to help another in the Christmas competition. It’s—”

“Cross-conspiring,” Nate said quietly.

Roxie frowned. “But . . . Ms. Jordyn’s our friend. And she’s our neighbor, Dad. And you said we should always help our neighbors when they’re in need.” She squeezed Jordyn’s hand. “We could help her with her cookies as friends and not as another team.”

Nate grinned down at Roxie but remained silent.

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