by Cindy Kirk
“I didn’t know you were married in college.” Lauren wondered how she could have missed that part of the story.
“We were dating but not married.” Seth’s voice was even and well controlled. His expression gave nothing away. “Jan had some health concerns early in the pregnancy. She wasn’t keen on being away from her folks. When my parents decided to relocate, it made sense for me to move back.”
“You only had a year left.” Lauren did her best to hide her shock. “You gave up your dream when you were so close.”
“I suppose that’s one way to look at it.” Seth shrugged. “I prefer to view it as trading one dream for another. Jan and Ivy and the land were what I wanted, too.”
Lauren stared in amazement. There wasn’t an ounce of bitterness or regret in Seth’s voice. Jan had been one lucky woman.
“Enough about me.” Seth lifted a hand in a dismissive wave. ‘Tell me about you.”
Though she’d barely scratched the surface on what made Seth tick, his tone made it clear he wouldn’t welcome any more questions about himself. She got the distinct impression he regretted saying as much as he had.
“Not much to tell.” Lauren thought for a moment. “I already told you about my parents’ commuter marriage and their commitment to their careers. They weren’t planning on children, but my mom’s IUD failed. She made sure they wouldn’t be surprised again. She had her tubes tied right after I was born.”
Seth’s gaze searched her face. “Unexpected or not, they must be very proud of you.”
“They have pretty high standards." Lauren spoke evenly, ignoring the dagger of pain lancing her heart.
According to her parents she’d done a lot of things right and more than a few wrong. They hadn’t understood why she’d pursued her PhD on a part-time basis instead of hitting it full-time. Hadn’t seen that teaching at the community-college level for several years had honed her classroom presentation skills and counseling patients had broadened her appreciation for the knowledge gained in her doctoral studies.
“From your description, I get the feeling they aren’t the kind who’d approve of you taking six weeks out of your life to babysit Ivy.” Seth broke the silence now draped over the table like a shroud.
“That’s a major understatement.” Lauren couldn’t help but smile. Her father, Dr. Edmund Van Meveren, would be horrified his daughter would consider becoming anyone’s live-in babysitter. Her mother, the prominent physicist Dr. Margaret King-Van Meveren, would find the whole situation unworthy of discussion. “But no worries. They haven’t influenced my decisions in a very long time.”
Seth’s gaze lingered for a long moment. “Have you thought any more about watching her?”
Lauren opened her mouth, but Seth raised a hand before she could speak. “If you’re not ready, don’t feel obliged to answer. After Christmas is what we agreed upon. I can wait another couple days if you need more time.”
“I’ve been thinking all evening,” Lauren admitted. “Until you mentioned it over dinner, I hadn’t realized that the school district would be sending out a teacher to work with Ivy. Between you being home in the evening and the hours she’ll spend with the teacher, I should have the time I need to work on my research and give Ivy the time and attention she deserves.”
Hope flared in Seth’s eyes. “Are you saying you’ll do it?”
“Congratulations, Mr. Anderssen.” Lauren extended her hand. “You’ve got yourself a temporary nanny.”
Chapter Five
Lauren rolled over in bed and pulled the covers tight around her shoulders. She kept her eyes closed, determined to fall back asleep. She’d been having such a pleasant dream about Seth. One that made her body feel all warm and tingly inside.
But the light streaming through the frosted windows and the smell of fresh coffee and frying bacon tugged at her. Reluctantly she opened one eye and glanced over at the clock.
Nine o’clock.
Anna and Mitch were probably already downstairs. Lauren jerked upright, her heart going from 60 to 100 in 3.5 seconds. Throwing off the warmth of the down comforter, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the goose bumps popping up on her arms.
With her heart pounding, Lauren quickly showered and dressed. Figuring she was already late, she took an extra second to dab on some lip color, mascara and a spritz of perfume. Pulling her still-damp hair back with a couple of clips, she scampered down the steps.
Instead of waiting for her in the kitchen, Seth and Ivy were in the living room. Though she was only wearing jeans and a fuzzy aqua-colored sweater that was more comfortable than fashionable, the look in Seth’s eyes told her if this were baseball, she’d have hit a home run.
Lauren floated down the last couple of steps.
“Good morning.” Seth’s smile was warm and welcoming. “The bacon is cooked. I just need to know how you like your eggs.”
“Daddy said we can’t open presents until after we eat,” Ivy said with a petulant pout. “He wouldn’t wake you up even when I asked nicely.”
Lauren felt the heat creep up her neck. Though there’d been no censure in Seth’s eyes, he probably thought she was a total sloth. She was always talking about the long hours she worked, yet the first opportunity he’d had to observe her behavior she’d slept half the morning away. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to staying up so late.”
It was a poor excuse, but the truth. She and Seth had sat in front of the fireplace, drinking the bottle of wine she’d brought over and talking until after one in the morning. Though he hadn’t had the chance to travel like she had, he was well read and knew more than she did about many of the places she’d visited over the years.
“No problem,” Seth said in a reassuring tone. “It was hard for me to get out of bed, too.”
“Not me,” Ivy piped up, shifting slowly due to the cast on her leg. “I was up before Mr. Doodle-Do.”
Lauren lifted a brow.
Seth grinned. “Ivy has an alarm clock shaped like a rooster.”
“I’ve had it a long time,” Ivy said loudly. “I was only five when Aunt Anna gave it to me.”
“That was a long time ago.” Lauren hid a smile. To a seven-year-old, two years probably did seem like an eternity.
“I thought we’d eat in the kitchen,” Seth said, “then come back and open presents in here.”
Lauren paused. “What about Anna and Mitch? Shouldn’t we wait for them?”
Seth turned with Ivy now in his arms. “They called this morning.”
“They’re not coming.” Ivy’s lips turned downward and her voice was heavy with disappointment.
“Did something happen?” Lauren couldn’t imagine what it could be, but it had to be bad for Anna to forfeit Christmas with her niece.
“They’re stuck,” Ivy volunteered. “Uncle Mitch is stuck in the snow.”
“Is that true?” Lauren turned to Seth.
“There’s a good amount of snow out there.” Seth’s brows drew together. “From the sound of it, the foothills got even more than we did. Mitch was blading his lane and got stuck.”
“Daddy told Uncle Mitch he needed to put chains on the tires.” Ivy seemed eager to share every detail of the conversation.
“It’s easy to forget how hard this snow can be to plow.”
“They’re not coming at all?” Lauren couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice. She’d been looking forward to sharing Christmas with her best friend.
“Doesn’t sound like it,” Seth said and continued quickly, “Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some breakfast.”
Ivy tugged at her father’s sweater. “Then can we open presents?”
“Yes, princess.” Seth smiled. “Then we’ll open presents.”
The sun hung low in the sky and the interior of the older home had taken on a slight chill. Lauren twisted her new sterling silver bracelet back and forth around her wrist and waited for Seth to fetch her and Ivy for their next adventure. He’d told them h
e had a surprise but refused to tell them the plans. Though his daughter had tried to wheedle it out of him, Lauren hadn’t bothered. Whatever it was, she was confident she was going to like it. After all, the whole day had been one wonderful adventure after another.
The breakfast Seth had fixed had been magnificent. Lauren couldn’t remember the last time she’d tasted orange juice from the carton so sweet or eaten bacon so perfectly crisp.
Opening presents had been hilarious—with Ivy declaring each gift to be her favorite—as well as touching because of the child’s delight and appreciation for everything she received. She’d loved the pink heart necklace Lauren had given her and insisted on putting it on the moment it was out of the gift sack.
After all Ivy’s gifts were open, Lauren expected Seth to take center stage. He told her it was tradition that gifts were opened by age—from youngest to oldest—and since she was younger than him, she would go next. Lauren had been struck dumb. Didn’t he realize there were no gifts for her to open?
Before she could figure out how to gracefully remind him of that fact, Ivy had reached under the tree and pulled out two packages. The first present had been a Christmas mug filled with Hershey’s Kisses. Lauren had immediately popped a couple in her mouth and then raved about the cup and the chocolates. Ivy had beamed. The second gift had been a silver bracelet from Seth.
Lauren swallowed hard against the lump in her throat When she’d opened the box and saw the bracelet nestled inside, she hadn’t known what to say. The bracelet was perfect—delicate, classy, just the type she’d have chosen for herself.
The rest of the day had flown by. Between baking Kringles for the neighbors—another tradition—and Seth teaching her how to roast chestnuts in the fireplace, Lauren had been so busy she’d barely thought about her family. Only after both Stacie and Anna had called to wish them a Merry Christmas did it hit Lauren that she hadn’t heard from her parents.
She shoved aside the hurt and told herself it didn’t matter. She was going on another adventure. And, after a brief afternoon nap, she felt up to whatever Seth had planned. As he’d instructed, she and Ivy were dressed in their warmest clothes.
“Daddy says this is a special surprise.” Ivy piped up from her spot in the living room. Her voice quivered with excitement as her uninjured leg swung back and forth. “Can you see him? What’s he doing?”
Lauren moved to the window and pushed back the draperies. She pressed close to the glass but the windows were so frosty, it was impossible to see out. “I can’t see much except snow.”
After dumping a foot of the white stuff last night, the storm had moved out of the area, leaving behind a winter wonderland. The snow in the yard surrounding the ranch house glistened like a thousand diamonds.
The front door was flung open with a clatter. “Are you ready?”
“We’re ready.” Lauren stepped away from the window. Since he’d told them to dress warm, Lauren had put Ivy in her new snowsuit. Thankfully Grandma Anderssen had bought it extra big. Though she knew they wouldn’t be going on a hike, Lauren had even put a boot on Ivy’s uninjured leg.
For herself, Lauren had been forced to improvise. Because her coat was lightweight, she’d tried to layer. At least she had warm boots.
Seth’s gaze swept over his daughter, and he nodded his approval. But when he turned to Lauren, his brows pulled together. “That coat doesn’t look like it would keep you warm on a day that was fifty and sunny.”
‘It’s all I have.” Lauren lifted her chin, wishing she’d gone for substance, rather than style, when choosing a coat to wear to Seth’s house. “I put a long-sleeved tee under my sweater, so I should be good.”
“I don’t think so.” With a determined expression, Seth reached past her and opened the closet door. He rummaged around, finally pulling out a thick dark gray coat with a hood. It reminded Lauren of one you’d wear in Maine on a moose hunt. Or in Montana doing...something. “You can borrow this one.”
Seth held the coat out to her. After hanging up her jacket, Lauren slipped her arms into the sleeves and Seth pulled the coat around her and zipped it up. A faint woodsy scent of cologne clung to the lining and teased her nostrils.
“This will keep you warm.” He flipped up the hood over the pastel-striped stocking cap Anna had given to her and tied it securely under her chin. Then he grabbed a scarf from the closet and looped it loosely around her neck. “Now you’re ready to go.”
“Where are we headed?” Lauren chuckled. “The North Pole?”
Ivy, looking like a little Eskimo on the settee, giggled. “I want to go to there and see the elves.”
Seth smiled mysteriously and opened the front door with a flourish. “Ladies, your carriage awaits.”
Lauren stepped onto the front porch. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the old-fashioned sleigh. Small and compact with tufted upholstery, the wood body was the same rich burgundy as the seats. Several cream-colored stripes painted on the glossy side accentuated the deep color. Lauren was so enamored with the sleigh that it took her a couple seconds to notice the beautiful horse hitched to the front.
Held tightly in her father’s arms, Ivy clapped her hands, the sound muffled by her mittens. “Hooray! We get to go on a sleigh ride!”
Lauren turned to Seth. “I’ve seen these in old movies, but I never thought they still existed.”
Seth smiled. “Are you up for a ride?”
“Are you kidding? Of course I am.” Lauren started toward the steps, but was stopped by Seth’s hand on her arm.
“Wait here. I’ll get Ivy settled and then I’ll help you. The steps are icier than they look.”
Though the air was brisk, warmth flowed through Lauren. She’d grown up in an egalitarian household where her father wouldn’t presume to take care of her mother. Still, Lauren had to admit that Seth’s solicitude made her feel special. She understood this behavior was just the Montana way. Men here were taught from a young age to take care of women. It wasn’t anything personal. Yet somehow Seth’s chivalrous behavior felt very personal.
“Ready to go?”
Lauren lifted her gaze. When Seth held out a hand, she realized with a surge of pleasure that he was wearing the gloves she’d given him for Christmas. She placed her hand in his and smiled. “Let the adventure begin.”
Chapter Six
Seth slowed the sleigh to a stop in front of the Nordstrom ranch house and his Christmas spirit took a dip. This year there was no lighted star at the top of the stable. Because there was no one left who cared enough to put it there. His neighbor and friend Lars Nordstrom had passed away shortly before Thanksgiving. The home was now occupied by the rancher’s son, Adam, who had arrived last week to settle the estate.
Though they hadn’t run with the same crowd, Seth remembered the math genius from high school. Back then Seth had been into rodeo, sports and girls, not necessarily in that order. Adam had been more of an intellectual who’d made no secret of his hatred for all things Montana. It hadn’t surprised anyone that once Adam had left Sweet River for college, he’d rarely returned.
The barking of Old Ben, Lars’s golden retriever, must have alerted Adam he had visitors because the light flipped on before Seth had even gotten out of the sleigh.
A man dressed in khakis, a navy sweater and an open ski jacket stepped onto the porch. Tall and lean with a messy mop of dark hair and thin wire-rimmed glasses, Adam looked very much the up-and-coming college professor.
Definitely Lauren’s type.
Seth’s hands tightened on the reins. “Merry Christmas, Adam. We brought you Kringle.”
“Kringle?” The professor’s serious expression eased into a smile. “That’s always a welcome gift.”
Adam’s reaction was just what Seth had expected. There wasn’t a person alive who didn’t like the buttery, layered, almond-filled pastry. Jan’s recipe was the best. Although many traditionalists insisted Kringle be shaped like a pretzel, his wife had always made hers in an oval to e
liminate the unfilled, overlapping parts.
For years, Seth had helped Jan make the pastry for friends and neighbors. Though the skill was usually passed from mother to daughter, Ivy would have to learn from him. It was important to him that his child embrace her Norwegian heritage.
Today’s lesson had gone surprisingly well. Ivy had been an apt pupil. It helped that she and Lauren had learned together. In fact, having Lauren there had made the lesson more fun for all of them, Seth included.
“Come inside.” Adam approached the sleigh. “Warm up. Have a cup of coffee and some Kringle with me.”
Seth hesitated. It was almost Ivy’s bedtime. Still, he didn’t want to be rude. And this was their last stop. He turned around to where Lauren sat with Ivy on the backseat of the sleigh. His eyes locked with hers and for a second the world tilted sideways. It was the same craziness that had been happening all day.
Electricity sizzled in the air whenever he glanced her way. Desire shot through him like a bull out of a chute every time her hand brushed his. He wasn’t sure why any of this was happening. It was damned annoying.
Lauren’s voice broke through his thoughts. “A cup of anything hot sounds good to me.”
“You can put the horse and sleigh in the stable, if you’d like.” Adam gestured toward the building Seth had helped Lars shingle just last summer. “It’s empty now so there’s plenty of room.”
Seth inhaled sharply. “You got rid of Hoss?”
Adam’s head cocked. “Boss?”
“Hoss. The palomino.” Seth snapped. Didn’t he even know the name of the aging gelding that had been Lars’s pride and joy?
A light of recognition flashed in Adam’s eyes before he chuckled. “It wouldn’t surprise me if that one was already at the glue factory.”
Seth bit back a harsh reply. Hoss may have been long in the tooth but he had many good years left in him. The horse had been more than a means of transportation—he’d been the lonely man’s friend. Adam would have known that if he’d visited his dad more than once every five years.
