Page 11 of Evergreen Christmas
He nodded.
“You want to cut it down?”
Smiling, he nodded again.
“But . . .” Frowning, she shoved her hands in her jacket pockets, pulling her coat tighter around her chest. “I kinda like it in the ground, you know? Healthy and alive? Able to be admired year-round? It’s a rather perfect tree, I think.”
“That it is.”
“You know . . . the Nanas mentioned they were coming back to visit me tomorrow with a welcome basket and a proposition of utmost importance.” She raised one eyebrow. “Got any idea what they want to propose? Anything to do with this tree?”
Nate chuckled. “Chances are, they’re going to come by to talk you into competing against me in Noel’s annual Christmas competition.”
“Christmas competition?” Her frown vanished and she smiled, her stomach fluttering. “That would be fun. I’ve never stayed put anywhere long enough to participate in a community event. Sounds like a blast!”
He shrugged. “It is. But it’s also pretty cutthroat.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice, his mouth twitching. “The Nanas are in charge of the competition and they take the whole thing very seriously.”
“And that’s why you’re both interested in this tree?”
“I’d like to buy it and enter it into Noel’s Christmas tree contest,” he said. “It’s the culminating contest of the Christmas competition. And the Nanas probably want to buy it, give it to one of my competitors to make sure I lose the Christmas tree contest along with all the other contests in Noel’s Christmas competition this year.”
“Oh yeah?” She stifled a giggle. “And what did you do to deserve such poor treatment?”
He laughed. “Nothing, I assure you. I board horses and grow Christmas trees next door on my ranch and generally keep to myself. Producing spectacular Christmas trees is my specialty and it’s more than a full-time job. But I guess I won the tree contest in the Christmas competition too many years in a row and the Nanas think it’s time someone else gets a shot.”
“And you don’t want to give up the title?”
“Not a chance.”
Jordyn crossed her arms over her chest and smirked. “I get it. I’m pretty competitive myself.”
“That’s what they’re counting on.” He rocked back on his heels and glanced up at the tree. “They’re planning on talking you into competing against me and using this tree to clinch the win.” He spread his hands. “But considering you just moved in, I imagine you’ll have a lot to do to get settled and probably won’t have time to participate in the Christmas contests. By the way, if you need a hand getting moved in and settled, I’d be happy to help you out. I know a few folks who’d be willing to give you discounts on—”
“Are you trying to bribe me?” She lifted her chin and held his gaze, the hint of mischief in his eyes making her smile wider. “You are, aren’t you, Neighbor Nate? You’re just trying to get to my tree before they do.”
Holding her gaze, he grinned. “You think?”
“I know.” She leaned in, too, bringing her nose inches from his, then whispered, “And I’m gonna tell you right now, Nate Reed—neighbor and not—if I were to enter this competition, I’d wipe the floor with you.”
He laughed softly, his warm breath brushing her chilled cheek. Oh, he smelled delicious. His muscular physique, tender voice and sensual mouth were enough to melt any woman into a puddle at his feet—even in the midst of a winter chill.
“What if I sweeten the deal?” he whispered. His gaze lowered to her mouth, a subtle flare of heat in his eyes. After a moment, he stepped back, straightened to his full height, and withdrew a business card and pen from his jacket pocket. He flipped the business card over and scrawled something on the back, then handed it to her. “If you go to town to pick up some things—furniture, linen, household supplies, whatever—show this to the owners of the stores you go to and they’ll give you my business discount. You can even flash it at Kringle’s Café for a hefty markdown on those red velvet cupcakes.”
She flipped the card over and read his note on the back:Please extend my discount to Jordan Banks upon purchase.His signature was beneath the note.
She glanced up at him and grinned. “I spell my first name with a y.”
“Oh.” He dipped his head in apology, then plucked the card from her hand, corrected it, and returned it to her. “There. Good to go now.”
“You think this will do it, huh?” She tapped the business card with her fingernail. “You think offering me a discount on some furniture and jumbo cupcakes is going to persuade me to sell you this tree?”
Biting his lip, he squinted up at the Fraser fir. “Well . . . I’m hoping it’ll at least be a jumping-off point for negotiation.” He met her gaze again and smiled. “And if you’re into decorating for Christmas, I sell every decoration imaginable in the gift shop next door. Swing by when you have the time and I’ll make the deal even sweeter.”
He spun around on the heels of his worn boots and left, striding across the dormant grass, but paused several feet away and glanced at her over his shoulder. “I mean it. Stop by Frosted Firs Ranch anytime you like. We’d be happy to welcome you to Noel properly.”
We?
Jordyn watched him amble away, then looked up at Fabio Fraser and smiled. “You’re in rather high demand, dude. Though I’m not sure who’s more handsome—you, or our neighbor.”
