by Cindy Kirk
“I wasn’t suggesting that Ivy be informed we were having sex,” Lauren said stiffly.
“I know you weren’t.” Seth expelled a breath. “But kids seem to have an uncanny way of finding out things. Even if she didn’t, I would know I wasn’t practicing what I’ll soon be preaching to her.”
Lauren lifted the wineglass to her lips and took a big gulp. “You’re right.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Forget I mentioned it.”
Damn it all to hell. He’d hurt her. Just what he’d sworn not to do.
“Thank you for the offer, though.” Impulsively Seth reached over and took her hand. Despite the proximity to the fire, her fingers were ice cold.
He thought she might pull away, but once again she surprised him. For a long moment he sat there with his fingers entwined with hers in silent companionship. Seth wanted to tell her this was what he’d really missed. He missed sitting in front of the fire and talking about his day. He missed hearing about someone else’s day. He missed the closeness.
If he was being completely honest, he’d admit he missed the sex, as well. He was a man, after all. There was nothing like being pleasured and bringing pleasure to someone you loved. It was the desire for such intimacy that made him drop her hand.
Despite knowing and believing that everything he’d said to her was one hundred percent true, at the moment he wasn’t feeling particularly strong. The stirrings in his body told him he needed to back off and put some distance between them.
He stood. “I should call it a night.”
“Yes, let’s both call it a night.” Lauren jumped to her feet. “Morning will be here before we know it.”
She started toward the stairs, then stopped and turned, a swath of the most becoming shade of pink emerging across her cheeks. “I want you to know that this was the most wonderful Christmas I’ve ever had.”
“For me, too,” he said softly as she started up the stairs. “For me, too.”
If she heard him, she gave no sign. Instead she continued to climb the stairs with methodical precision as she headed to her room alone.
Watching her go, he figured he deserved a medal...for either being a responsible parent or the biggest fool on the planet.
Lauren stared at the overnight bag. When she’d unpacked it yesterday, she’d been filled with excitement. The holidays had been something to look forward to with anticipation rather than dread.
She zipped the bag shut and sat on the bed next to it. Sunlight streamed through the window but the warmth brought no comfort.
Regret oozed from every pore in her body. In the clear light of day, it was easy to see how she’d let the holiday spirit cloud her thinking. Unfortunately, she couldn’t take back the words. Dear God, what must Seth think of her now? She’d practically spread her legs and said, “Here I am, take me.”
She chuckled at the image. Okay, so maybe it hadn’t been quite that bad, but it had been awkward. She didn’t see how she could be Ivy’s nanny. Not now. Every time she looked at Seth, or touched his hand, he’d be thinking she wanted to jump him. That wouldn’t be the worst of it. Last night, for the briefest of moments, she’d seen pity reflected in his blue eyes.
He hadn’t understood her relationships with Ruis and Dirk. Granted, most times a purely sexual relationship ended up hurting one of the parties involved. But that hadn’t happened in her case. She’d been as satisfied as the men. Still, she could see where that might be a hard concept for a Montana cowboy to wrap his head around.
A knock at her bedroom door yanked Lauren from her reverie and jerked her to standing.
“Lauren. It’s me, Anna. Can I come in?”
Lauren exhaled a relieved breath. For an instant she’d thought it was Seth. Eventually they’d have to talk about last night. At least with his sister here, it wouldn’t be before she’d had her coffee.
“Lauren? Are you there?”
“Since when do you need permission to come into my bedroom?” Lauren pulled the door open, her spirits lifting at the sight of her friend.
As always, Anna looked like a model. From the heels of her cocoa-colored leather boots to her tweed skirt with a wide belt cinching her sweater close, the look was both fashionable and flattering. Even her honey-colored hair was artfully messy.
It was her dazzling smile that Lauren noticed. Since reuniting with Mitch, Anna wore her happiness on her sleeve. It surrounded her and bathed everyone near in its glow. Lauren fought back a pang of envy. What would it be like to be so much in love...and to be loved so much in return?
“Merry day-after-Christmas.” Anna pulled her close in an exuberant hug. “I wanted so much to be here yesterday.”
“I heard Mitch got stuck.”
“He was a bit frustrated.” Anna released Lauren and stepped back, her eyes twinkling. “You can’t believe how much snow we got. It was like the sky opened up and dumped a ton of the white stuff right over our house.”
“Well, you were both missed.”
“That’s sweet but I’m sure you did fine without me.” Anna gazed at Lauren through lowered lashes. “Seth told me you guys had a fabulous time. I want to hear all about it.”
Seth had told his sister he’d had a fabulous time? What else had he told her?
“Where is your brother?” Lauren asked, stalling for time.
“Ooh, I’m glad you asked.” Anna grabbed Lauren’s hand and pulled her into the hall. “He and Mitch went out to the stable to check on some horse that’s sick. I promised we’d make breakfast before they take us into town.”
By now Lauren’s head was spinning. “Why into town? Where is Ivy?”
“She’s downstairs coloring and very excited about you being her nanny,” Anna said. “She couldn’t stop talking about you. You’ve made quite an impression on my niece.”
“Ivy is the sweetest little girl.” Lauren swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. Who would Seth get to watch her now? Lauren told herself it was none of her concern, yet she couldn’t help worrying.
“Let’s go see the little princess.” Anna turned and started down the stairs. “And get that breakfast started.”
Lauren had to practically run to catch up to her. “What’s the hurry?”
“As soon as we eat, I need to scoot. I promised Miranda I’d help man the shop for the after-Christmas sale.” Anna tossed the words over her shoulder, the fondness for her new partner evident in her tone.
“I didn’t know you were having a sale.”
“It was Miranda’s idea,” Anna admitted. “I’m not sure how much business we’ll have but it’s worth a shot.”
“I get to go to the shop with Aunt Anna,” Ivy called from the kitchen, apparently hearing their voices. “She’s going to put me to work.”
Lauren followed Anna into the room, realizing she’d have to wait a little longer to tell her about the change in the nanny plans.
“What are you going to do for your aunt?” Lauren asked, moving to the counter to start the coffee. It was crazy, but after one day she already felt comfortable in Seth’s kitchen.
“Something with squares.” Ivy sat at the table hunched over the coloring book she’d gotten for Christmas, looking absolutely adorable in a fuzzy pink sweater. “Right, Aunt Anna?”
“That’s correct, sweetheart.” Anna dropped a kiss on her niece’s head before pulling a frying pan from the drawer beneath the oven. “She’s going to organize quilt squares for me.”
While Anna rattled on about the shop and put long strips of bacon in the skillet, Lauren got the coffee brewing.
“You’re in for a special treat this morning.” Anna cracked a couple of eggs into a mixing bowl. “I’m going to whip up my secret French toast mixture.”
“I think your secret ingredient is nothing more than vanilla,” Lauren teased her friend.
“I think—” Anna laughed “—that you should mind your own business and shut up.”
“Daddy won’t like that,” Ivy said loudly. “You shouldn’t say ‘shut
up.’”
“That’s right, princess.”
Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. With her back to the door, she hadn’t noticed Seth’s arrival. Taking a deep breath, she turned. “Breakfast should be ready in just a few minutes. If you want to wash up—”
“First I need to know something.” Seth hooked his thumbs into his belt loops and rocked back on his heels.
Dear God, surely he wasn’t going to bring up anything about last night in front of Anna or Ivy.
“Which one of you said ‘shut up’?” Seth asked.
Lauren released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Anna raised her hand. “Guilty. Only because Lauren was giving away my secret ingredient.”
“Still, ‘shut up’ is never appropriate.” A smile tugged at the corners of Seth’s lips.
“You can say whatever you want.” Mitch walked into the kitchen, flecks of snow on his dark hair. “Don’t let your brother push you around.”
“But she was telling Miss Lauren to shut up, Uncle Mitch,” Ivy said, looking up from her coloring book.
“Is that true?” Mitch asked, looking even more amused than Seth.
Anna lifted her shoulders in a shrug, her blue eyes twinkling.
“I like it when your aunt Anna tells me to shut up.” Mitch moved to his wife’s side and slipped his arms around her waist. “Especially when she says ‘shut up and kiss me, cowboy.’”
Anna wrapped her arms around Mitch’s neck and wove her fingers through his hair. “Shut up and kiss me, cowboy.”
The words had barely left Anna’s mouth when Mitch’s lips closed over hers.
The emotion and passion between the two was so powerful that Lauren had to look away. She busied herself turning on the electric griddle and dipping the bread into Anna’s secret recipe. She’d barely dropped the first slices on the hot flat surface when Ivy’s giggle split the air.
“That’s just how Santa kissed Miss Lauren,” Ivy said, her voice filled with triumph.
Lauren winced, closing her eyes for a second, then resumed dipping the bread into the batter and putting the slices on the griddle.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Anna turn in her husband’s arms. “What?”
“I was supposed to be asleep.” Ivy’s little voice trembled with excitement. “When I heard the bells, I knew it was Santa Claus. I got out of bed and moved real quiet to the door. That’s when I saw Santa kissing Miss Lauren.”
“Wow.” Anna shot a sideways glance at her brother. “That must have been really exciting.”
Lauren turned, spatula in hand. “The French toast is almost done. Would someone like to set the table?”
“I’ll do it.” Anna brushed another kiss across her husband’s lips before opening the silverware drawer. “But let’s talk a bit more about your romantic interlude with, ah, Santa?”
“I don’t think this is an appropriate discussion—”
“Save your breath, Seth.” Anna chuckled. “You’re just upset ’cause you weren’t there. You weren’t there, right?”
If looks could kill, Anna Donavan would be dead.
“I was upstairs.” Seth’s blue eyes flashed a warning his sister seemed determined to ignore.
“Upstairs?” Anna smiled. “How convenient.”
Ivy tilted her head, her brow furrowed. “What’s ‘convenient’?”
Seth shot Mitch a look that practically begged for assistance but his brother-in-law simply grinned.
“I just meant it’s too bad your dad missed Santa.” Anna may have spoken to her niece but her gaze remained on her brother.
Lauren swallowed a groan when Anna’s gaze shifted to her. “Tell us, Lauren. Was Santa a good kisser?”
Growing up, Lauren had always wanted a sister. But seeing the pleasure Anna was getting from tormenting her brother, Lauren could now clearly see the downside of sibling love.
“He was okay.” Lauren kept her eyes on Anna and off Seth.
“I think she liked him,” Ivy said to her aunt. “She was hugging him really, really tight.”
“Interesting.” Anna placed the plates on the table, barely able to contain her smile. “You’ll have to remember to tell me more about this experience, Lauren.”
Lauren sighed. “Somehow I don’t think you’ll let me forget.”
Anna laughed. “You’ve got that right, girlfriend. You’ve definitely got that right.”
Chapter Eight
Sew-fisticated, the small shop that Anna co-owned with former classmate Miranda Els, buzzed with activity. Ivy, along with Miranda’s youngest boy, Brandon, sat sorting fabric squares while Lauren helped Miranda and Anna man the cash registers. Trenton, Miranda’s oldest, had planned to watch the younger kids, but the twelve-year-old had gotten sick during the night and was home in bed.
Thankfully, Ivy and Brandon hadn’t been very demanding, because the traffic in the store had been incredible. In only a few short weeks the shop had become the unofficial gathering place for women in the community. Though there was more talking than selling going on, the upcoming quilting and scrapbooking classes, which had been half-filled before Christmas, were now full.
Lauren had been waiting all morning for Anna to take a break. She wanted to talk to her privately before Mitch and Seth returned.
Once they got past the kiss, and she confessed to propositioning her best friend’s brother, she hoped Anna would understand why she had to back out of her agreement with Seth.
“Would you mind running over to the Coffee Pot and picking up another pot of apple cider?” Miranda asked, her cheeks flushed with happiness. “I think one more should be plenty.”
“I’d be happy to.” Lauren started toward the door, then stopped. “What about Ivy?”
Miranda glanced toward the back room. “I’ll keep an eye on her. Anna will be here, too.”
Lauren caught Anna’s eye. Her friend stopped talking, er, selling, just long enough to offer a little wave. Lauren could only hope Seth wouldn’t get back early, so she and Anna would have time to talk.
After dropping “the girls” off at the shop, Seth and Mitch had left to do some handyman work at the home of one of the town’s senior citizens. Apparently, doing such good deeds the day after Christmas was a tradition for the men of Sweet River.
Lauren pulled her jacket off the hook. As she wrapped the thin fabric around her, her thoughts drifted back to yesterday. She remembered how Seth had insisted she take his coat so she wouldn’t get cold. He’d been such a gentleman.
Her lips twisted in a wry smile. She should have known better than to think he’d be interested in a fling. But she was through beating herself up over the error in judgment. She pushed open the door and practically stumbled over Loretta Barbee, the pastor’s wife.
“Mrs. Barbee. Merry Christmas.” Lauren tried to step around her but Loretta shifted to block her way. NFL linebackers had nothing on this woman.
“We missed you at church yesterday.”
“The weather was turning bad,” Lauren found herself explaining. “Seth didn’t want to take the chance on getting stuck in town.”
“That explains why Seth Anderssen wasn’t there.” Loretta’s eyes narrowed. “That doesn’t explain your absence from God’s house.”
“I was with Seth.” The words popped out before Lauren could stop them.
The woman’s hand rose to her chest. Her beady eyes widened. “You spent the night?”
“I spent Christmas with Seth and Ivy.” Lauren lifted her chin. “In the guest bedroom.”
Though she’d answered factually, Lauren immediately regretted the abruptness of her response.
“Tsk-tsk. No need to be so defensive,” the older woman chided. “I was merely making conversation.”
“I’m sorry.” Lauren offered the woman a conciliatory smile. “It’s been a long day. I just meant—”
“No need to explain, dear. I can see you’re in a hurry. I’ll let you get on your way. Have a nice day.�
�� The minister’s wife turned abruptly and opened the door to Anna’s shop.
It took until Lauren reached the Coffee Pot for her embarrassment to ease. She stood for a moment and breathed in the enticing aromas of Stacie’s culinary creations before stepping inside.
The bells over the door heralded her arrival. Norm and Al, two cafe regulars, glanced up from their game of checkers. Lauren returned their smiles, then glanced around the dining area, impressed at how the changes Stacie had made in the past few months were coming together.
The first to go had been the teapot-and-flower wallpaper. It had been replaced by paint in a soft dove gray. Then Josh had ripped the knotty pine paneling off a far wall and left the brick exposed. The wagon-wheel light fixtures were trashed soon after, energy-efficient ceiling fans taking their place. Still, despite the alterations, the cafe retained its small-town charm.
Business had soared since Stacie had started doing most of the cooking. Today, other than the two checkers players, the place was deserted.
Stacie’s laughter sounded from the kitchen seconds before the swinging door opened. The newlywed swept into the room, dressed in coat and mittens, her arms filled with two big boxes. Her face brightened when she saw her friend. “Happy day-after-Christmas, Lauren.”
“Same to you.” Lauren hurried and took the top box from Stacie’s arms. It was heavier than she’d expected. “What do you have in here? Bricks?”
“Just food for the shelter.” Stacie paused. “I’m making a delivery. Care to join me? It’ll give us a chance to catch up, and I sure could use an extra pair of hands.”
Lauren hesitated. “Anna sent me to pick up more apple cider for the Sew-fisticated open house.”
“The church where the shelter is housed is only a couple blocks away, so the delivery shouldn’t take long.” Stacie’s tone turned persuasive. “If you help me out, I’ll not only get that cider for you, I’ll throw in a little something extra.”
Lauren thought quickly. From what she’d observed, the Sew-fisticated customers were doing more talking than drinking. With hot coffee and tea available, they probably wouldn’t miss the cider...at least not for the next half hour. “I’d love to take a walk in the crisp Montana air with you.”