Page 18 of The Friendship Pact

“Not at all. I like your tree.”

“Thanks. It’s one of the first things I put together. I love the ambiance of the white lights and the fireplace.”

“I go back and forth between a real and artificial tree. It depends how much time I have. This year, I’ll have to enjoy yours.”

Kate made a mental note. Everyone needed a Christmas tree. She removed the bun from her burger and strolled into the kitchen for a fork. “Having a tree is a must for me. It doesn’t feel like Christmas without one. Besides, the girls love to sleep under it.”

“They don’t climb it?”

“They did as kittens, but I broke them of the habit pretty quick.”

“Where are Nyla and Lucy now?”

Kate loved that Nick remembered her cats’ names and inquired about them. Jacques had tolerated them, but he was happiest when they stayed away. He didn’t like indoor pets.

“Curled together on my bed. I fed them when I got home. Now it’s nap time.”

Kate sat next to him on the couch, and they ate while watching a Timberwolves game.

Nick wiped his fingers on a napkin. “Is there something else you’d rather watch?”

“I’m not fussy. I like most sports,” Kate said. Sure, number seven on the “Ten Ways” list was showing interest in what a friend enjoyed, but she would not fake liking something she didn’t. She found that she and Nick shared a lot of the same interests.

“Eats burgers, bakes amazing desserts, and likes sports. Who are you?”

Kate shrugged and yelled at the TV as the opposing team drew a foul.

Nick glanced at Kate as she focused on the game. He pushed his plate aside, picked up his water, and sat back on the couch. “So, you like watching sports and you like to bake. What else should I know about my new friend?”

Kate glanced his way. “I’m highly competitive, and I enjoy trying new things.” She took a bite of her burger.

“What do you do for fun when you’re not baking or watching sports?”

“I enjoy the outdoors. When I lived in Chicago, my friends and I would head into Wisconsin to hike, bike, and ski to escape the city. It’s one reason Deer Creek Falls appealed to me.”

Nick knew that wasn’t the only reason she moved to Minnesota. No one escaped the local gossip mill. He heard she’d bought the old church after her long-term relationship ended, and surmised that that played a role in her starting over. He had moved home for similar reasons. But he’d wait until Kate wanted to talk about it. Hell, he didn’t want to rehash his past relationships either.

“I also like to travel. One of my goals is to visit all fifty states by the time I’m fifty,” Kate said.

“That’s a great goal. I haven’t been to all fifty states either.”

He stood and walked over to her tree. “I noticed you had quite a few ornaments from your travels.” He fingered one from Hawaii.

Kate stood and joined him, pointing out others. “I like to collect Christmas ornaments from places I visit.”

They settled back on the couch. Kate finished eating and then curled up against the far end. “What about you? What does a normal day off look like in Sheriff Reid’s world?”

He contemplated that for a moment and said, “I haven’t had much time off. But when I do, I end up sleeping in, and when I can, I stop over at Ethan’s and use his gym. I record the U of M college football games and usually fall asleep in the recliner. Basically, I’m boring as hell.”

He stacked the plates. “My hours have been all over the place. Nights, days, weekends. It helped some when we hired Sawyer, as long as he stops arresting innocent people,” he said with a wink. “My schedule should free up more when my new deputy starts in the new year.”

“It sounds like you need more sleep and shouldn’t be here entertaining me.”

Nick shrugged. “That’s what friends do, especially for those who’ve been going above and beyond to help my family.”

They’d sat in silence for a while, watching the game, when Nyla sauntered in, flicking her tail back and forth. She jumped onto the couch and sat on Nick’s lap. Shocked, he looked at Kate as he ran his hand over the cat’s long black coat.

“You should feel privileged,” Kate said. “Nyla doesn’t take well to strangers.”