“You two ready for Christmas?” she asks, leaning a curvy hip against the counter.

“We’re running behind, but we’ll catch up this week,” I explain, thinking that I probably really do need to get up to Ashbrook to get some decorations and buy a few things for Emmy.

“If you need someone to watch the little princess while you do your shopping, just say the word. I’m great with kids.” She winks at Emmy. Emmy turns her face into my side.

“I bet you’d make a great mom,” Cody says from beside Emmy. His soft blue eyes are fixed appreciatively on Jordan. I’ve noticed him watching her before. I’ve heard him say kind and complimentary things before, too. Jordan always waves him off, though. Like she’s doing now. It makes me wonder if she’s overlooking something good that’s right in front of her eyes.

“You must be as drunk as she is, Cody,” Jason says as he appears down the bar at the cash register. He opens the till and removes some receipts from under the cash slots. Jordan blanches under her makeup. I’ve noticed she’s reacting less and less flippantly to her brother’s cruel teasing. It makes me worry about her. She’s had enough abuse from the people in this town, apparently, and the last thing she needs is more from her brother.

“I’m sober enough to see her brother for the asshole he is,” Cody rebuts with a grin.

“Don’t make me come down there, man,” Jason replies amicably.

Cody looks over at me. “He’s all bark and not a damn bit of bite.”

“I heard that,” Jason sing-songs over his shoulder as he disappears again into his office.

“He just doesn’t see that all his sister needs is the love of a good man and she’d be right as rain.” Cody winks at me and I grin, too. Oh yeah. He’s definitely got a thing for Jordan.

Jordan’s smile is less bright when she clears her throat and tries to get back to business. “What are we eating, girls?”

I order lunch for Emmy and myself, and before Jordan leaves, Cody stands and tosses some bills onto the bar.

“Thanks for lunch, Jordan. Catch you later.”

“Bye, Cody,” she says, swiping up the cash and palming his plate. “See you later.”

“Count on it,” he says, smiling widely at her as he pushes through the door.

Jordan puts his dirty plate in a gray bus-pan and then tallies up his bill at the cash register, pocketing the change he left for tip. After she puts our lunch order ticket on the spinning wheel in the corner of the kitchen window, she comes back to clean up the bar where Cody sat.

As she drops his silverware into his empty glass and begins wiping the bar clean, I speak quietly to her. “I think Cody really has a thing for you, Jordan.” I use my best girl-conspirator tone. I just want to feel her out on the situation. Overstepping my bounds would not be a good idea.

She doesn’t look up at me and her smile is a sad one. “He just thinks he does. What would a nice guy like that want with someone like me?”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong with you? You’re beautiful, funny, smart. And you make a heck of a Mrs. Claus,” I add, eyeing her outfit.

“I’m nothing any decent man would want to take home. Unless it’s just for the night.”

This isn’t like Jordan. She’s usually so ballsy, so confident. It’s heartbreaking to see her so…down.

I reach over to put my hand over hers, stilling it and drawing her eyes to me. They’re glistening and I realize how near tears she is. My heart breaks even more for her. And I could just strangle her brother and her ex for making her this kind of a wreck.

“Jordan, don’t sell yourself short. You’re worth more than one night and you can’t let anyone convince you otherwise. I know it. Cody knows it. Jason knows it, too. He’s just too big of a butt to admit it.” I’d like to call him something much nastier, but little listening ears preclude me from doing so.

“You really think so?” she asks, her voice wobbly.

“I know so. Why don’t you give Cody a call? Just to see. What can it hurt?”

“My pride,” she answers. “My heart.”

“Both of those are already hurting, though, right?” She shrugs. “But if I’m right… Maybe he could be someone who would make you really happy. Isn’t that worth the risk?”

Her eyes search mine for long seconds before she nods grudgingly. “I guess so.”

“I know so,” I repeat, squeezing her hand before I release it.

As I lean away, I’m filled with hope for my friend. I hardly notice the beautifully-modulated southern voice when it sounds from just over my shoulder. Until I hear the name she mentions.

“Pardon me, but do you know where I might find Cole Danzer? I went by his house and he’s not there.”

I turn to see to whom the voice belongs and I’m stunned. A gorgeous brunette is standing behind me, casually poised, smiling pleasantly at Jordan. Her hair is as black as mine, only wavy, and her face looks like it should grace the cover of a magazine. She’s dressed like she might’ve just come off the slopes of Aspen with her winter white ski jacket and matching moleskin pants.

“Eden, do you know where he is?” Jordan asks, pulling my attention back to her.

I’m speechless for a few seconds. A lancing pain in the vicinity of my heart tells me that this is not a good thing. That this woman is going to be a game changer for a game I was already in danger of losing.