“Maybe we can talk about your listing?”
He considered me for a moment. “What do you have on your schedule today?”
My brain scrolled through my day. Sue had told me to step back a bit and lie low as they figured out what was going on at Smithfield. I was ahead on all my assignments. I needed to do a bit of work for the spring catalog, but that could wait.
“I’m open, why?”
Nate picked up my hand, entwining my fingers with his. “Today’s my day off.”
“And?”
His eyes twinkled. “How do you feel about Christmas tree shopping?”
14
Timber
Nate
I pulled into the parking lot with Elle by my side. A glanced in her direction confirmed that she was still lost in thought. She looked different today, good, but different. However, she also had a lot going on in that beautiful brain of hers, which was why I suggested a trip to get a Christmas tree. She deserved some time to step away from the stress surrounding her—with work, with her apartment. I hoped last night did that somewhat and, fingers crossed, today would some more.
I know I’d told her we needed to move slow, which I was now second-guessing like crazy, but so far, I was determined to stick with it. I wanted to give her a soft spot to land, a safe place. I hoped that once she felt like she was on firm ground, we could build something from there because, make no mistake, I wasn’t looking for someone to share a night with. After knowing Elle for only six weeks, I knew I wanted more with her. A whole lot more.
“We’re here,” I said. I slid out of the 4Runner and moved around to her side to find her shivering as she shut the door.
“Brr,” she said, tugging her stocking hat over her ears as she turned to face me. She looked over my shoulder. “This is busier than I thought it would be.”
I glanced around. Even for a Tuesday morning, there were folks out here. “It looks like there are a few field trips out here right now.” I gestured at some of the small buses that local preschools used. “You met Max Harp at the brewery the other night, right?”
“Emma’s fiancé?”
I nodded. “I’ve gotten to know Max and Sully, Emma’s brother, a bit when they’ve swung by the library to see her. And of course at the brewery. Anyway, Max works out here at Highland Woods. He’s been working to make it a spot for kids more than it’s been in the past. They’ve always sold Christmas trees, but this year…” I gestured at the snowy wonderland in front of us. “He made it a bit more.”
“I don’t even know where to look first,” Emma said. “The red barn is just too perfect. And is that”—she squinted toward the barn—“a hot chocolate stand?”
I smiled. “Yep. I think Max is using Emma and Sully’s grandmother’s famous recipe.”
“Nate, is that…” Her voice trailed off with excitement as she looked toward the trees where, sure enough, a horse-drawn sleigh was coming out.
“A horse-drawn sleigh? Of course. What is a tree farm without one?” I laughed. “Max decided to offer sleigh rides when talking to one of the preschool teachers in town. She lamented there isn’t enough to do with her kids during the winter outdoors. He’s had them out here for short nature hikes, so this was his next plan.”
“Can we,” she started to ask before her voice faltered.
I turned, placing my hand under her chin and lifting it up to meet my gaze. “Ask for what you want, Elle. Always.”
I watched the flush creep across her cheeks even as her lips tipped up in a grin. “Okay. Nate, do you want to go on a sleigh ride?”
“With you? Hell yes. How about we get some hot chocolate and take a ride?” I steered us toward the barn and sent up a note of thanks to the Fates. A busted pipe in a wall that led to Elle becoming my roommate and a sleigh ride together? Life was pretty sweet.
Twenty minutes later our sleigh set out on the trails. Blake, a local college student who worked part-time for the park, told us we’d come out at the perfect time. A half an hour earlier we’d be waiting in line for a ride with a crowd of three- and four-year-olds. As much as I enjoyed story time at the library and my regulars, I was glad they were already on to a nature hike and we’d missed the exuberant crowd. Here was hoping they’d be on the bus and headed to town for a nap by the time we got back.
Blake seemed inclined to let us stay cocooned in our bubble together in the back of the sleigh while he steered us around the park. I pulled the blanket up on Elle’s lap and looked to see that her attention was on the scenery sliding by.
“Warm enough?”
Her eyes came to mine, and she smiled. “Yes, thanks.” She took a sip of her hot chocolate. “This is delicious.”
“It’s the same mix we use in our coffee at the library.”
