Chapter Six
N ormally, Jordyn didn’t handle defeat with a very jovial heart, but coming in last at the Snowman Fight yesterday didn’t sting quite the way she’d thought it would.
As a matter of fact, as she sat on the loveseat in her cabin, opposite the Nanas, who sat on the sofa, she had difficulty focusing on what they were saying. As the Nanas spoke, her gaze continued to stray toward the window and the snowy mountain peaks in the distance, her mind and heart drifting back to the day before when she’d touched her mouth to Nate’s cheek. His skin, though chilled by the wind, had held an earthy, enticing scent, and she’d had to stop herself from nuzzling her nose against him. As her mouth had brushed his cheek, the warmth emanating from his burly frame had surrounded her, making her long to lean even closer, press her chest against his and slide her arms around his waist.
She’d kissed other men before—and had been kissed properly by other men—but she’d never felt the rush of emotion that had overwhelmed her at the briefest touch of her lips against Nate’s cheek. Last night, she’d lain awake in her new bed, mulling it over, replaying the sweet, pleasurable moment in her mind. By dawn, she’d realized that the reason the chaste kiss had held such power was because it involved more than just physical attraction, but also a heady combination of admiration and a sensation of having met a kindred spirit.
From the very moment she’d met Nate, she’d fallen into conversation with him easily. They’d teased, laughed, and conversed with each other with the ease of lifelong friends. Simply being in his presence was familiar to her somehow, prompting her to feel as though she had . . . come home.
She’d never believed in love at first sight and to be truthful, she didn’t believe in it now either. But she did believe—especially after their kiss—that there was something special between her and Nate. Some sort of connection that went beyond sheer physical attraction, and she found herself yearning to explore what might lie between them.
“Jordyn, you’re not listening to a word we’re saying.”
The gruff tone in Carol Belle’s voice yanked Jordyn’s wayward attention back to her. All four Nanas sat opposite her on the sofa on the other side of the coffee table, their eyes focused intently upon her.
“I’m sorry,” Jordyn said, rubbing her hands over her jean-clad knees. “I’m listening now. Please continue.”
“I said, placing in this afternoon’s contest is extremely important,” Carol Belle said. “Candy Cane Fishing is not a terribly challenging event, but it does require some finagling and strategy.”
“And stretching.” Holly held up a finger. “If you don’t stretch properly beforehand, you’ll injure your neck and you’ll be no good to us in the Terrible Tinsel Triathlon tomorrow.”
“And that’s a very important event,” Eve chimed in. “It’s a short course but a real test of endurance, and you can’t afford not to place in either the Candy Cane Fishing contest or the Terrible Tinsel Triathlon and expect to still have a chance to win the Christmas Crown.”
“And judging from Nate’s actions yesterday,” Kandy said softly, “I think the Stone family will have it out for you from this point forward.”
The Nanas fell silent but kept their gazes fixed firmly on Jordyn, a speculative gleam in their eyes.
Jordyn attempted to maintain a blank expression. “I . . . don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Carol Belle grunted. “Oh, you know exactly what we’re talking about. What occurred yesterday was cross-conspiring—no doubt about that!”
For a moment, Jordyn panicked, her eyes darting around her living room as she racked her mind for a suitable excuse to combat Carol Belle’s accusation. After all, Nate had gone out on a limb to help her in yesterday’s Snowman Fight and she had no desire to sabotage him even if it would give her a leg up on winning the Christmas Crown.
Then, it occurred to her that Nate had said Carol Belle always demanded concrete evidence for cross-conspire disqualifications.
“Nate did attack the Stone family with snowballs,” Jordyn said slowly. “But everyone was attacking everyone during the event. So, what makes you think he was throwing snowballs at the Stone family on my behalf?”
“Because of who he is.” Kandy smiled sweetly. “Nate is one of the few gentlemen left in the world.” She sighed wistfully. “Chivalrous, kind, and true. There’s no way he would’ve just stood by and let the Stone family pummel you with snowballs all afternoon.”
Holly nodded in agreement, delight in her eyes. “Absolutely. It was very apparent that Nate had his eyes on you for most of the event. And it was rather curious that he didn’t begin attacking the Stone family until after they’d hit you several times with snowballs.”
“That’s a very good point,” Eve said. “Not to mention that we heard through the grapevine that—”
“Now, Eve,” Kandy said softly. “There’s no need to bring that up now.”
“There is every need!” Carol Belle scooted to the edge of her seat and propped one elbow on her knee, leveling her gaze on Jordyn. “You kissed Nate Reed yesterday, didn’t you?”
Face heating, Jordyn looked down and fidgeted with the hem of her jeans. “I—I might’ve given him a peck on the cheek.”
Carol Belle narrowed her eyes. “Right during the Snowman Fight contest? In the middle of town square? In front of the sweet Lord and everyone?”
Jordyn blinked and shook her head. “That’s not entirely accurate.” She winced. “I kissed him after the contest ended.”
“Moments after,” Holly said, grinning.
“It doesn’t matter when she kissed him,” Eve said. “We all know it was a bad move that doesn’t bode well for her.”
Jordyn sat up straighter and folded her hands in her lap. “Excuse me, what do you mean it doesn’t bode well for me?”
The four Nanas fell silent again. Carol Belle stared at the ceiling, Eve looked at the floor, Holly stared out the window, and Kandy twirled her pink hair around one finger and hummed nervously.
“Come on, now,” Jordyn prompted. “You can’t say something like that and then not explain.”
Carol Belle cleared her throat. “I’m afraid we can’t share any more information until after you’ve practiced at least one round of Candy Cane Fishing.”
“But surely, any fallout from my chaste kiss with Nate is more important?” Jordyn shook her head. “You can’t expect me to focus on a Christmas contest when I’m concerned about—”
“Why not?” Carol Belle frowned. “You’re going to have to deal with distractions during every contest in the Christmas competition, so you might as well start practicing now.” She gestured toward a dozen candy canes that she had hooked onto the edge of a glass bowl and set on the table shortly after arriving at Jordyn’s cabin. “Now, do your neck stretches and give it a go, please.” She lifted her wrist and pressed a button on her watch. “I’ll time you.”
Stifling a groan, Jordyn complied. Over the next ten minutes, she completed Carol Belle’s strict regimen of neck stretches, clenched the end of one candy cane between her teeth and lowered her head to the glass bowl, fishing candy canes from the edge of the glass bowl by hooking them with the candy cane in her mouth. Each time she snagged a new candy cane from the bowl, she jerked her head to the side and flung the candy cane she’d fished out into a pile at the other end of the table.
“Time,” Carol Belle called.
Jordyn dropped the candy cane from her teeth, sat up, rubbed the back of her neck and groaned. The dipping and tossing of her head from one direction to the other had taxed her neck and jaw much more than she had expected. “Gracious, that hurt quite a bit more than I thought it would.”
Eve raised her eyebrows and nodded abruptly. “See? We told you.”
Holly pointed at the pile of candy canes Jordyn had fished from the glass bowl. “Try not to sling those candy canes quite as hard during the contest. Competitors sit close together at the same table and if you toss the candy canes too hard, they’re liable to land in someone else’s pile and then you’ll lose credit. We’ve caught more than a few participants cheating at Candy Cane Fishing.”
Kandy clapped her hands and smiled. “I think she did rather well for her first fishing trip! I think she has a really good shot at placing in this contest.”
Jordyn dipped her head in gratitude. “Thank you, Kandy. I appreciate the compliment. And now that I’ve done as you’ve asked and practiced, can we get back to my question?”
The Nanas immediately sank back against the soft sofa cushions and avoided her eyes.
Jordyn sighed. “Look, I know this isn’t a very pleasant conversation to have because y’all aren’t getting along with Nate right now, so I’ll come clean with you and admit that I do like him. So far, I think Nate’s a great guy. He’s been nothing but polite and neighborly to me, and no matter what you might think, he didn’t deliberately try to sabotage my chimney. He was just being a good neighbor. So what’s the harm in my giving him a little friendly peck on the cheek during a fun Christmas contest?”
The Nanas remained quiet for a moment. Then Carol Belle said, “Well, there’s your reputation to think of.”
“Yes,” Eve said. “Unfortunately, you must consider how kissing Nate during the contest might look to others who don’t know you well. You’re a newcomer to the competition and, well, kissing a man who happens to be your primary competitor . . . that gets people talking.” She grimaced. “They might jump to conclusions.”
“Yes,” Kandy said. “Noel is a very small community and everyone loves to talk about other people’s business.” She looked down at her hands, resignation in her tone. “Once word spreads—”
“What are you ladies saying?” Holly asked, an indignant expression on her face. “Are you trying to say that Jordyn should prioritize what other people think above her own thoughts and emotions? She’s a grown woman. She’s allowed to live her life the way she pleases regardless of what others may think.”
Kandy looked up, her gaze meeting Jordyn’s. Her expression was thoughtful as she considered Holly’s comments.
“No one’s disagreeing with the fact that Jordyn should live her life the way she pleases,” Carol Belle said. “The kiss potentially compromising Jordyn’s victory—should she win the Christmas Crown—is just one concern. The other is more significant.”
“Oh, I see.” Holly’s anger receded a bit, consternation taking its place as she looked at Jordyn. “Unfortunately, Jordyn, I share the second concern.”
Jordyn leaned forward, eyeing each of them. “And what is the second reason why I shouldn’t have kissed Nate?”
Carol Belle looked at the ceiling again. “Well, how much do you know about him?”
Jordyn shrugged. “I know he owns Frosted Firs Ranch. He’s my neighbor. And he has a brother named Tucker and a daughter named Roxie.”
Holly smiled gently. “Is that all?”
Jordyn laughed. “Well, I know he’s hot, chivalrous, and interesting. And I know that I’d like to get to know him better.”
Kandy issued a soft sound of dismay. “That’s the problem. He may not be inclined to want to get to know you better.”
Jordyn stilled, her hands curling around her knees tightly. “What do you mean?”
“Nate lost his wife six years ago,” Eve said gently.
“Yes,” Jordyn said. “He told me.”
“Did . . .” Holly hesitated, picking at her nails. “Did he tell you anything else about his late wife?”
“Not really,” Jordyn said.
“Nate loved Macy very much,” Kandy said quietly.
“So much,” Holly said, “that he has refused to even consider dating anyone for six years. He’s made it very clear to every woman who’s approached him that he’s not interested in dating or pursuing a romantic relationship.”
Jordyn’s stomach clenched. “O-other women have asked him out? A lot of them?”
Grimacing, Holly nodded. “More than a few. And they’ve all received the same answer from what I hear—he’s not interested or available.”
“He’s been very clear about that,” Carol Belle confirmed. “And I just don’t see him changing his mind. We and Nate may have our differences right now regarding the Christmas competition, but one thing Nate is and has always been, is a fantastic father. He loves that little girl of his so much, he’s not willing to take up with another woman who might disappoint either of them in any way.”
An ache spread through Jordyn. “But . . . I’m trying not to disappoint anyone. And I certainly wouldn’t want to hurt Nate or Roxie.”
“No one’s saying that,” Holly said urgently. She hopped up, sat on the loveseat beside Jordyn, reached out and placed a hand on Jordyn’s knee. “All we’re saying is that he prefers to be single and focus his energy on Roxie.”
“Yes,” Eve added. “What we’re trying to say is, Nate is not available.”
“And all of us—especially me—forgot that for a little while,” Carol Belle whispered. Grimacing, she looked down at her hands and wove her fingers tightly together in her lap. “When we heard Chestnut Ridge was getting a new owner, we were excited. For years, we’ve been subtly trying to persuade Nate to step away from the Christmas competition and focus his energy on rebuilding his own interests.”
Jordyn shook her head. “But I thought Nate loved the Christmas competition.”
“He does,” Carol Belle hastened to explain. “But for all the wrong reasons. You see, for him, the Christmas competition—and the tree contest, especially—has become another way for him to dwell on his loss.” She held up her hand. “Not that we want to discourage Nate from remembering Macy, treasuring the time he had with her and sharing those memories with Roxie. The reason we began the Christmas competition in the first place was for Kandy and me to honor our late husbands’ memory while moving on with our lives. But instead of celebrating Macy’s memory during the Christmas competition and finding new joy, Nate uses the festivities to fuel his grief and remain stagnant. It’s just that, well, he’s so fixated on the past that he won’t embrace any possibility of a new future for himself. Macy loved the Christmas competition and winning the Christmas tree contest and Christmas Crown was her goal every year. Nate even built her a trophy case to store all of the Christmas Crowns she’d won. When she died, Nate took it upon himself to carry on that tradition to the detriment of healing after her loss.”
“We’ve been searching for a way to encourage him to take a break from the Christmas competition and refocus his attention on himself for a change,” Holly whispered. “We love Nate and want him to be happy. Misguided intentions or not, we hoped a break from the competition would do him good.”
“And when we heard you had bought Chestnut Ridge,” Eve said, “we saw an opportunity for a newcomer to use Fabio to kick Nate out of the Christmas tree competition this year.”
“But we didn’t expect you to be so . . . so . . .” Carol Belle struggled for words, her face flushing.
“So beautiful,” Holly said, smiling softly. “And vivacious. And appealing. And it hasn’t escaped our notice that Nate has noticed, too. And that you have taken an interest in him.”
“And that,” Carol Belle stressed, “we didn’t count on. Please don’t misunderstand us—we were over the moon when we noticed he’d taken an interest in you. We were ready to encourage it even! Maybe do a little matchmaking! ”
“But it wasn’t until you kissed him that we thought the situation through properly,” Eve said. “Nate still hasn’t truly let Macy go and, well, we’ve come to think that he may not ever be ready. And when we saw you kiss him, we guessed you might have already fallen for him a little.”
“We may still be getting to know you,” Kandy whispered, “but we already care for you—very much! And the last thing we’d ever want is to see your heart get broken, especially right after you moved to town.” She reached out and patted Carol Belle’s knee. “Looking out for each other’s well-being is what we do best as friends.”
The two women shared a meaningful look.
“Yes,” Carol Belle whispered. “And we’re very protective of each other when it comes to romantic entanglements.”
Jordyn sank back in her seat, her heart thumping in her chest, and an awkward embarrassment singeing her neck. She hadn’t stuck around yesterday after kissing Nate. Rather, she’d walked away, focused only on the pleasurable tingle running through her. She hadn’t thought about how Nate might have reacted to her kiss.
Poor man. Had she actually accosted him with an unwanted advance? And in doing so, had she unwittingly given Noel’s residents the wrong impression of her? What if Nate really wasn’t interested in pursuing a new romantic relationship? What if she had mistaken the chemistry she thought existed between them, and what if he didn’t feel the same attraction for her that she did for him?
Heaven help her! She clapped her hands over her face. She’d made an utter fool of herself.
“Oh, Jordyn,” Kandy said quickly, leaving the sofa, sitting on the loveseat beside Jordyn and gently tugging Jordyn’s hands from her face. “Please don’t be embarrassed. You did absolutely nothing wrong. You were just being a kind neighbor and friend.”
“And were enjoying a bit of innocent flirting with a man you’re interested in,” Holly added. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.”
“Nothing at all,” Eve said.
“We’re just looking out for you is all,” Carol Belle said. “Something we should’ve done sooner than this by giving you fair warning about endangering your heart.”
Jordyn surveyed the Nanas for a moment, the heat in her cheeks receding as she mulled over their words.
What if they were wrong? What if there was a chance, however slight, that Nate actually felt the same attraction and interest for her that she did for him? What if pursuing a potential romantic relationship with her would appeal to Nate enough that he’d take a chance?
She didn’t know the answer to any of those questions, but she knew that if she didn’t take a chance herself, she’d never know what might have been. And taking a risk had never been something she’d shied away from.
“I just need to ask him,” she said quietly.
The Nanas continued staring at her, apprehension in their eyes.
“What do you mean?” Carol Belle asked.
“I mean . . .” Jordyn smiled and glanced at Holly and Kandy who sat beside her, her chest lifting with confidence that she hoped would stay with her throughout the Candy Cane Fishing contest. “I’m going to ask Nate Reed if he’s available.”
Two hours later, Nate sat at one of many long tables that lined Noel’s town square, waiting with several other competitors for the Candy Cane Fishing contest to begin. He warmed up along with the others, stretching his neck and doing his very best to keep his eyes on the wide metal buckets filled with candy canes that sat in the center of the table in front of him, but the temptation to get a glimpse of Jordyn was too strong.
He glanced around the town square again, scanning the small groups of people that milled about, some greeting each other with bright smiles as they arrived, several stopping by vendors who were positioned throughout the town square selling snacks and Christmas decorations, and others eyeing seats at each of the long tables for the best position to participate in Noel’s Candy Cane Fishing contest.
Nate, having a favorite strategy of his own, had scoped out the other participants as soon as he’d arrived at the town square, chose a seat beside the least agile and most ungraceful competitors, plopped down in a chair in front of a metal bucket filled with candy canes, and hoped for the best. That was as much as anyone could do to win the Candy Cane Fishing contest. And today, Nate needed to do his very best. Not only was he representing Frosted Firs Ranch but he was also representing Roxie and Tucker.
Sighing, he glanced over at the Tree Scoreboard, which kept a running tally of the Christmas contest wins. The Nanas assigned a certain number of winning points to each contest based on the level of skill and commitment it required. The first place winners of each contest earned either one or two points based on the level of difficulty of the contest and the second and third place winners each earned half a point. At the end of yesterday’s Snowman Fight contest, Noel’s Christmas competition judges had awarded the Stone family first place, giving the Stones one point and positioning them at the top of the scoreboard. Luckily, Frosted Firs Ranch had been awarded second place, which ranked them directly below the Stones and well above all of the other competitors.
Jordyn, unfortunately, had come in at the bottom of the list, her hastily arranged molehill of snow not even ranking high enough to allow her name to be placed on the scoreboard. But that was no surprise. Due to the Stone family’s onslaught of snowballs, she hadn’t had a chance to finish her snowman, much less craft an impressive one.
Nate glanced to his left where the Stone family sat further down the table, whispering in hushed tones and strategizing for the contest in which Angelina would represent them. The young girl had already begun casting suspicious glances in Nate’s direction.
The bitter expression on eight-year-old Angelina Stone’s face was enough to make Nate shudder . . . though he hated to admit that sad fact.
Trying to let bygones be bygones and exhibit good sportsmanship, he lifted his chin and called out to the Stone family, “Good luck today! I wish you well, Angelina.”
Noel’s Christmas competition had always been a notoriously cutthroat business, but Nate figured there was nothing wrong with being kind and neighborly. And considering he’d stepped in on Jordyn’s behalf in the Snowman Fight yesterday, the least he could do was to be neighborly to the Stones today and make it clear he had no personal ax to grind with them during the remainder of the competition.
Angelina, however, was apparently not impressed with his gesture. She narrowed her eyes, balled up one fist, lifted it high into the air and growled, “Eat dirt, Mr. Reed! You’re going down!”
Nate’s smile froze. The little girl’s antagonistic expression struck a chord of fear in even him. She might be small, but she was definitely feisty.
“Don’t pay her no attention, Nate,” Tucker hollered from the sidelines where he stood with Roxie, both holding jumbo candy apples in their hands. “She’s just a little girl.” He bit a hunk off his candy apple, chewed, then shouted, “Give as good as you get, man. Give her a taste of her own medicine!”
“Yeah, Daddy,” Roxie called out around a juicy bite of apple. “Take her down!”
In unison, Tucker and Roxie nodded, took large bites of their candy apples and scowled in Angelina’s direction as they chomped.
Nate closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. One thing he couldn’t deny was that Tucker and Roxie had inherited the Reed family competitive streak. But at least they were honest and fair during competitions. Much like someone else he knew . . .
Nate opened his eyes and his gaze strayed as he began scanning the crowd again. It was ridiculous to be this obsessed with one woman. But for some reason, ever since Jordyn had kissed him yesterday, he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Even now, over twenty-four hours later, he could still feel the tender press of her lips against his cheek, her soft breath against his skin and could still recall the sweet scent of her hair.
A pleasurable thrill rippled through him at the memory of her kiss and he couldn’t help but imagine—for the millionth time since yesterday—what it might feel like to really kiss her. To cover her mouth with his, part her lips and explore her mouth thoroughly.
More than that . . .
What would Jordyn feel like in his arms? If he slid his hands around her slim waist, tugged her close and tucked her head beneath his chin, how would she feel against him? Would she fit perfectly? And would she hold him in return?
Stifling a groan, he squeezed his eyes shut again and rubbed the knot forming at the base of his neck, reminding himself that his focus needed to be on the contest at hand and not on his sexy new neighbor.
“Hello, again.”
At the sound of Jordyn’s soft voice, he stilled, opened his eyes, and drank in the sight of her as she sat down opposite him at the table.
Jordyn’s deep green eyes held his gaze for a moment; then she smiled. “How are you today?”
Clearing his throat, he casually propped his elbows on the table and adopted a relaxed tone. “Good.”
“Did you sleep well last night?” she asked softly, wiggling her eyebrows.
His cheeks burned. “Yes. W-why wouldn’t I?”
She shrugged. “I just thought that with all that snowball throwing, your arm might’ve gotten sore. You were quite the defender of my honor, you know.”
His shoulders relaxed and a deep chuckle rumbled up from his chest. “I’m not quite old enough yet to get sore after a short snowball fight, even though I may have a few years on you.”
She tilted her head. “And how old are you exactly, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Thirty. You?”
“Twenty-five.” She grinned. “So, you got five years on me.”
“Good to know.” He imitated a serious expression. “I’ll take it easy on you today, kiddo.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to go easy on me.” Leaning forward, she slid her hands across the table and rested them, palms flat on the table, on either side of his elbows. “Maybe I want you to give me a run for my money. What would you say to that?”
Something had shifted in her tone. Instead of the light, teasing note, a dangerous hint of challenge had entered her voice, as though she wanted something from him. Something he might not be able to give.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” he said cautiously.
She leaned even closer, her face mere inches from his, then glanced around, noticing the interested looks of others who sat near them. “Hey.” She crooked her finger in a come-hither gesture and when he leaned closer, whispered in his ear, “What if I wanted you to compete with me in this competition to the best of your ability?”
“I’d say, I’d be happy to do that,” he whispered back, struggling to focus on forming a complete sentence rather than the soft waves of her hair that tickled his cheek. “I do, after all, want to win.”
“And,” she whispered again, “what if I wanted you to give me a run for my money outside of the Christmas competition?”
His heart kicked his ribs, and a wave of need rolled through him, weakening his legs and prompting him to sag onto the table, closer to her. “I don’t understand.”
Her hands had slid a bit closer across the table, her fingertips brushing the sleeves of his shirt. He swallowed hard, licked his lips and glanced around the table where the onlookers who’d been interested in their conversation had lost interest and directed their attention elsewhere.
“What if I told you that I’m interested in you?” she asked, her lips brushing the shell of his ear. “That even though we haven’t known each other long at all, I’ve enjoyed every moment I’ve spent with you so far and would like to be near you more? That I find you intriguing and attractive? And that instead of being friendly enemies, once this Christmas competition is over, I’d very much like to explore being friendly neighbors and maybe something more? What would you say if I asked you that?”
He froze, his breath stalling his lungs.
Every cell in his body urged him to say yes, that he’d welcome the chance to explore a relationship with her. That he wanted to test this chemistry between them thoroughly, to find out exactly how strong these emotions he had for her were and how much more intense they might grow.
But his gaze shifted over Jordyn’s shoulder and focused on Roxie, who still stood by Tucker’s side, laughing out loud at something he said and taking another bite of her candy apple, an expression of joy enveloping her cute face.
Right now, Roxie was happy, safe and secure in the knowledge that he and Tucker would be there for her every day, all day, for the rest of her life. She didn’t fear the future or worry things might change on a whim—things that might occur should he upset the status quo he’d worked so hard to build. Roxie’s days at the ranch were fun but predictable and filled with memories of a mother who, even though they’d never had a chance to meet, had loved her more than life itself. And those memories were especially important this time of year.
At the thought of Macy and all she’d lost—all that had been stolen from her, Nate sat back, a wave of guilt and regret rushing through him as he put distance between himself and Jordyn. He looked up reluctantly, barely able to meet her eyes.
“I’m afraid I’d have to say,” he whispered, “that I’m not available.”
The words he’d chosen were simple—polite and benign—but they had an unexpectedly harsh impact on her.
The rosy color in her cheeks drained, the teasing light in her eyes died and a wounded expression appeared on her pretty face.
“Jordyn . . .” He lifted one hand in appeal. “I only meant—”
“I know what you meant.” She smiled, though the act was insincere.
“But I . . .” He floundered for the right words. “You . . . you were joking, right? Just kidding around?” He forced a laugh. “Trying to knock me off my game before the contest?”
He had hoped, on some level, that she’d agree with him. That she’d play off her advance, admit she was trying to rattle him, then wave off his concern.
But she didn’t.
“No. I was just trying to be honest and open with you.” She laughed nonchalantly but the blazing flush on her face spread down her neck, and she avoided his eyes. “But I understand, and it’s okay. Thank you for being honest with me, too.”
Her fingertips left the sleeves of his shirt, her hands retreated across the table, and she stood as though to leave.
“Jordyn, wait.” He stood, too, but when she looked at him, his throat closed with remorse at having hurt her and he couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
She met his gaze then and smiled, sincerely this time, a teasing light entering her eyes. “Don’t sweat it, Nate. It really is okay. I’m a risk-taker, took my shot and struck out. That’s all. And now, I know where I stand.” She left then, pausing a few feet away to turn back and smile. “Good luck fishing, Neighbor Nate. I’ll see you around sometime.”
Nate watched her walk away, then sat down again.
Eventually, Jordyn chose another table among the many arranged in the town square, sat in a chair and conversed briefly with the man sitting in front of her. Mason Walker, a dashing local cop who was two years closer in age to Jordyn, took advantage of Jordyn’s proximity, engaging her in a deep discussion, leaning across the table and saying something that made her laugh.
Nate frowned and refocused on the bucket of candy canes in front of him.
“Get them Stones, man,” Tucker drawled from the sidelines, chewing another mouthful of candy apple.
“Yeah,” Roxie shouted. “Win this one, Daddy!”
Nate smiled back at them and went through the motions, greeting the next person who sat in the empty chair Jordyn had vacated, listening intently as Noel’s Nanas walked onto the stage still positioned in the center of the town square and announced the countdown for the contest. And when the contest began, he clenched his candy cane tightly between his teeth and dove into the task at hand wholeheartedly, using the strange surge of jealous anger within him as extra energy to snatch up candy canes from the bucket in front of him and sling them into a high pile by his side.
But when it was over, even though he won second place and moved a bit higher on the Tree Scoreboard, he had trouble smiling.
Instead, his gaze kept returning to Jordyn where she still sat across from Mason, laughing at his jokes and engaging in conversation. He told himself that he was happy Jordyn was settling in and forming new acquaintances, getting to know everyone. But he couldn’t shake the immensely unpleasant thought that even though he’d told Jordyn he wasn’t available, it wouldn’t be very long before she discovered that other men in Noel were.