Page 10 of Evergreen Christmas
They both laughed, then fell silent.
“Well, as I mentioned,” Jordyn said, “I’d like to invite you in but I don’t even have a chair to offer anyone a seat yet.”
She laughed self-consciously, eager, at this point, to retreat in embarrassment and try to impress him another day when she had time to make herself presenta—
“Hey, wait!” She snapped her fingers. “You said you’re my neighbor. Nate, right?”
Smiling, he nodded.
“Neighbor Nate Reed,” she repeated slowly. “Owner of Frosted Firs Ranch and that long, white fence bordering my property?”
“Yep.”
She grinned. “The one who lurks around my fabulous fir tree from time to time?”
He chuckled. “I see Noel’s Nanas have already warned you about me.”
“Noel’s Nanas?” She tapped her chin. “Has a nice ring to it. I suppose those were the four women who followed me from the town square this morning and told me to guard Fabio Fraser with my life?”
He groaned and dragged a broad hand over his face. “I hate that name.”
“Not your first choice, huh?”
“No. It’s demeaning. First of all, I don’t name trees—each species has already been named—but if I did, I would’ve chosen something much more dignified.”
She tilted her head, trying to focus on his eyes rather than his mouth. “Like what?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Frederick? Bill? Carlton Brandon Holmes the third, maybe?”
She laughed. “All suitable choices, but a bit stuffy, if you ask me. Fabio Fraser has a much more mischievous—and fun—ring to it. I take it Fabio’s the reason you’re here?”
He winced. “Not that I’m trying to take advantage of anyone, but—”
“But you’d like to get an up-close look at him, huh? Get your Christmas fix?”
He held her gaze, his mouth twitching. “I suppose that’s what I’m after.”
“Then how ’bout we take a stroll out back and admire him?” Jordyn grabbed her jacket from the floor, shrugged it on and slipped past him outside, pausing on the front porch. “While we’re out there, would you mind showing me the property line between my place and yours? I was thinking of putting up some fencing for an additional paddock and I don’t want to encroach on your property.”
“I’d be happy to.”
He ambled down the steps, joining her, then strode across the property, his long legs matching her pace. The wind had grown blustery, pushing against them as they walked, ruffling their hair. By the time they’d walked across the back lot, Nate’s blond hair had been tousled across his forehead and ears.
“The white fencing to your left marks my property line, and”—he pointed to the right—“the Fraser fir marks the back edge of your property bordering mine.” His steps slowed as they reached the tree in question and he dragged a hand across the back of his neck, adding sheepishly, “Have to admit, this one caught my eye a long time ago. It has a natural shape I haven’t been able to replicate in my own trees.” He lifted his hand, his long fingers gently cradling the needles of a low branch.
She drew to a stop, too, standing behind Nate, doing her best to keep her eyes above his waist. Good grief, the man was built! And after an inconspicuous glance at his left hand, she noticed he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Something about his reserved, quiet, gentlemanlike approach pleased her unexpectedly.
Most of the men she’d met when traveling the rodeo circuit were decent guys, but they tended to be a bit rowdy, overly assertive and usually only interested in one thing: a good time with no strings and no commitment. They all sought a casual relationship. The exact opposite of the type of romantic relationship she’d always dreamed of having.
But judging by first impressions, this man—Nate Reed—seemed to have put down roots in this beautiful town and might be inclined to embrace commitment rather than run from it. In any event, he was a man she definitely wouldn’t mind getting to know a little better.
“. . . willing to part with it?”
Jordyn blinked. Nate faced her now, his gaze, expectant, focused intently on hers. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I was wondering if you’d be willing to part with it?” He reached out and touched one of the tree’s branches again. “I’ll pay top dollar for it.”
She shook her head in confusion. “You want to buy Fabio Fraser?”
