Her Amish Christmas Gift by Rebecca Kertz

Author:Rebecca Kertz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-09-12T19:51:20+00:00

Chapter Nine

Nate watched Charlie with Matt Troyer and endured a painful squeezing in his chest. Jacob, Matt... Who else noticed and appreciated Charlie Stoltzfus? He had no right to be upset—or to be jealous. She needed a man her own age, someone she could rely on, and it looked as if there were a number of potential beaus vying for her affection.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Jacob asked, eyeing Nate’s plate. “You’ve barely touched your food.”

He shrugged as he dug into his mashed potatoes with a fork. “Not hungry. You want to eat mine?”

“Nay. I have room enough for dessert.” His brother grinned. “I want some of Charlie’s birthday cake.”

Nate caught his brother eyeing Charlie with a smile. “Doesn’t it bother you?”

Jacob frowned. “What?”

“Seeing Charlie and Matt together.”

He made a dismissive sound. “They are in-laws,” Jacob said. “Besides, Charlie and I are just friends.”

And heading toward something more, Nate thought with a grimace.

Hannah approached them with a look of displeasure. “Charlie won’t open her gifts. She said it’s not her birthday yet.”

“Want me to talk with her?” Jacob offered.

“Would you?” The young teen looked up at him with a glimmer of hero worship.

Nate sighed. “Leave her be. I think she’s uncomfortable with all of the attention.” He sympathized with her. He wouldn’t have been comfortable being the center of attention, either. Fortunately, he didn’t have to worry about anyone throwing him a surprise birthday party. He was too old for one.

“I can still try if you want,” Jacob said, although he seemed to understand and appreciate what Nate was telling him.

Hannah shook her head. “Nay. We’ll let her open her gifts on her birthday.” She paused. “At home.”

Nate saw Charlie exit the kitchen with a small plate and a huge grin on her face. Matt said something to make her chuckle as she pushed a fork into a piece of frosted angel food cake. She lifted a bite of cake to her mouth and placed it daintily between her lips. He watched as she chewed and swallowed, then as she murmured something that made Matt laugh.

Unable to stop himself, Nate approached. “Is that angel food cake?” he asked with a gentle smile.

He saw Charlie stiffen as Matt answered, “Ja, with maple syrup whipped cream.” He took a quick bite then finished, “Charlie’s favorite cake.”

Matt saw someone across the room and he excused himself to talk with Barbara Zook, Annie Lapp’s younger sister.

Nate was surprised to see Charlie blush. Because she was embarrassed over her enjoyment of cake? When she wouldn’t look at him directly, he reached for her plate. “You’ll share, won’t you?”

Charlie’s eyes shot daggers, and Nate chuckled. “I wouldn’t steal your cake, Charlie.” He eyed her with warmth. “Unless you wanted me to.”

Her brows drew together in confusion. He gave in to the urge and swiped his finger to grab a dollop of whipped cream off her plate. He closed his eyes as he brought it up to his mouth and tasted. “Delicious.”

“Don’t,” she warned him when he reached for more whipped cream.

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