Page 18 of Evergreen Christmas
“Jordyn Banks.” She shook his hand, the flirtatious gleam in his eyes making her smile. This guy was definitely a heartbreaker—she could spot one a mile away—but the boyish charm in his expression was just endearing enough that she suspected a woman who had the misfortune of falling for him might be inclined to forgive his roguish tendencies. “Any chance you dropped off a bundle of that firewood by my place yesterday?”
“Depends on which place is your place.” He cocked his head to the side and tapped his chin, his mannerism somehow familiar as he surveyed her. “Wavy red hair and deep green eyes.” He raised one blond brow. “I’m guessing you’re our new neighbor at Chestnut Ridge.”
She laughed. “You’d be guessing right.”
“Then, yeah. A bundle of firewood was dropped off at your place yesterday. But it wasn’t me that left it and it wasn’t one of these bundles right here,” he said, patting a log.
“It was Nate, right?”
“Yep. You received a freshly chopped stack of our finest—and perfectly seasoned—oak from my brother, the primary owner of this ranch.” His gaze veered over her shoulder and his blue eyes narrowed on something in the distance, his mouth twitching. “From what he told me, he dropped it off like Santa Claus. Just tossed it on your porch and left like some common big-gut, holiday-gift-giver from the North Pole.” Grinning, he refocused on her face and winked. “Did you get his note? The one with the little smiley face that—”
“Please excuse my brother,” a deep, familiar voice drawled at Jordyn’s back. “I have my doubts that he ever matured beyond twelve years old.”
Jordyn spun around to find Nate and a little girl, a cute blonde with Nate’s crystal blue eyes and warm smile, standing behind her. Judging by her appearance, the child was unmistakably related to the two brothers, and by the way the girl held Nate’s hand and leaned affectionately against his leg, she couldn’t help but wonder . . .
“We.” Her voice faltered with surprise at the word escaping her lips.
Nate frowned in confusion. “I’m sorry?”
Clearing her throat, she carefully maintained a neutral expression and polite smile as she continued. “You said ‘We’d be happy to welcome you’ yesterday when you asked me to stop by your gift shop. I guess this is what you meant.” She gestured toward the little girl, then Tucker. “You have a brother and a niece?”
“Daughter,” Nate said.
Oh, heavens! The little girl was his daughter. Hewasmarried. And she’d admired and flirted with him like a lovestruck fool yesterday.
How humiliating!
She smiled wider, despite the scorching heat in her cheeks. “How wonderful.”
Smiling back, Nate smoothed his hand over the young girl’s ponytail and gently squeezed her shoulder. “Roxie, would you like to introduce yourself to our new neighbor?”
Nate’s daughter released her father’s hand and stepped forward, extending her hand to Jordyn. “Merry Christmas! My name is Roxanna Dawn Reed but I like Roxie best. It’s nice to meet you.”
Jordyn’s polite smile warmed with tenderness as she shook the little girl’s hand. “The pleasure is mine,” she said, crouching down in front of her. “You have a beautiful name, and I love the nickname, Roxie, too. Did your dad give it to you?”
Roxie glanced up at Nate, beaming with pride. “Yes, ma’am. He and my Uncle Tucker did.”
“They have good taste.”
Roxie’s tangled ponytail and a small smudge of dirt on her rosy cheek stirred a wave of nostalgia in Jordyn. She remembered being Roxie’s age, running wild outside, playing until her breath left her lungs, trying to hold on to every drop of daylight. And in a place as beautiful as Frosted Firs Ranch, nestled in the beautiful Christmas wonderland of Noel, she imagined—and hoped—that Roxie took advantage of the perfect outdoor playground.
“What’ve you been up to today?” Jordyn asked. “Enjoying the fresh mountain air?”
“Yes, ma’am. We got out of school last week for Christmas break.” Roxie scratched her neck where a piece of hay clung to her skin. “I helped my dad in the stables and met the new quarter horse we’re boarding.” Her expression brightened, her blue eyes roving over Jordyn’s face and hair. “You have a quarter horse, too, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“And you race him?”
Jordyn smiled. “Her. We used to barrel race together, but I’m taking a break to settle here in Noel. But when my Star was in the arena, she could beat any horse, any day, any time.”
“Even the boy horses?”
“Especially them!” Jordyn laughed.
“Ms. Jordyn’s a fierce competitor. She enjoys wiping the floor with the other riders.” Nate grinned when Jordyn looked up and met his eyes. “Least, that’s what I’ve been told.”
Despite her awkward embarrassment, Jordyn couldn’t help but laugh. “I do like healthy competition, so long as everyone plays by the rules.” She smiled at Roxie then stood, glancing around at the dozen or so customers traversing the aisles of Christmas decorations. “Which, I have to admit, is one of the reasons I stopped by today. I wanted to talk to you about the tree.”
