Merry Christmas, Cowboy!. Cindy Kirk
voice. “I’m sure he only wants what’s best for you.”
“Maybe. Let’s say I believe you had my best interests at heart.” Anna snatched the gloves from his hands and slapped them against the counter. “Next time you give me the choice.”
He’d hurt her. He saw that now. He’d been so focused on his own needs that he’d failed to consider hers. “I’m sorry, Anna. If you and Mitch want to come over tonight—”
“We’re celebrating with Mitch’s family this evening,” Anna said. “But we’re free tomorrow.”
Seeing the unsure look in her eyes only added to Seth’s guilt. He smiled encouragingly. “Why don’t you come over in the morning. You can watch Dani open her gifts, and we can all have lunch, maybe play some cards.”
“C’mon, Anna, say yes,” Lauren urged. “It’d be so much fun.”
“It would be fun.” Anna slanted a sideways glance at Mitch and he nodded. “What time?”
Seth thought for a minute. “Nine?”
“We’ll be there,” Anna said, the light back in her eyes.
Lauren squeezed Anna’s arm. “I’m so happy you’re coming.”
Anna smiled. “Me, too.”
Seth let his gaze linger on Lauren. She’d always been such a good, supportive friend to his sister. And she’d always gone out of her way to be nice to him. Any regret over his impromptu invitation disappeared. He was glad she’d be spending Christmas with him and Dani.
She caught him staring and smiled.
“Ready to go?” he asked. “I don’t want to keep Connie away from her own family any longer than necessary.”
Lauren grabbed her coat and bags from the counter. “We just need to stop by the house for my overnight bag.”
Overnight. The impact of what he’d done struck him. A woman would be spending the night in his home. Not any woman, he clarified, Dani’s potential babysitter. The tightness gripping his chest eased.
Lauren gave Mitch and then Anna a quick hug. “See you tomorrow.”
The physical contact surprised him. He’d never thought of Lauren as the touchy-feely type. She’d always seemed more…businesslike.
Of course, she had hugged him in her kitchen only a few days earlier. The feel of her soft body pressed against him had brought all sorts of memories and feelings flooding back. Even though he’d told himself it was just a simple hug by his sister’s friend, his body hadn’t gotten the message. He was just relieved Lauren hadn’t noticed.
“Are you feeling okay?”
Seth looked up to find Anna staring. “Why do you ask?”
“You look a little flushed.”
He ran a finger along the inside collar of his coat. “That’s because you keep it like an oven in here.”
“Hot?” Mitch laughed. “Are you crazy? I can see my breath.”
“Speaking of temperature…” Anna turned to Lauren. “If you get cold in his house, don’t ask, just turn up the thermostat. My darling brother is like an Eskimo.” Anna shook her head. “I practically have to wear my coat inside his home.”
Granted Seth was most comfortable with the house cool, but Anna was exaggerating. “You didn’t wear your jacket when you and Mitch stopped out a couple days ago.”
“That’s because Mitch was there to keep me warm.” Anna cupped her husband’s face with her hand and planted a lengthy kiss on his more-than-willing lips.
“Not warm. Hot.” Mitch’s hands slid sensuously up and down his wife’s back. “I keep you hot.”
“You most certainly do.” Anna breathed a happy sigh before shifting her gaze back to Seth and Lauren. “That’s another option for you.”
“Option for what?” Lauren asked, looking perplexed.
Anna put her hands on her hips. “Must I spell everything out?”
The twinkle lurking in Anna’s eyes sent red flags popping up. A shiver of unease skittered up Seth’s spine. “That’s okay—”
“Spell it out,” Lauren said innocently, obviously not sensing the danger.
“Personal contact,” Anna said. “Why worry about the thermostat when you have in your power the capability to generate your own heat?”
“Anna,” Seth growled in warning.
“Are you suggesting I sleep with your brother?” Lauren sounded more amused than shocked.
“I’ll leave the specifics to you.” Anna’s lips curved in a sly smile.
“You have gone too far,” Seth said between gritted teeth. “To suggest—”
His words were drowned out by the sound of Lauren’s laughter. “Thanks for the great advice, Anna. If I get cold I’ll definitely consider your suggestion.”
Chapter Three
Lauren gazed down at the Candyland game board spread out before her, the brightly colored spaces creating a cheery pattern on Seth’s family room floor. As she prepared to take her turn, she wiped the beads of sweat from her brow. She couldn’t believe Anna thought Seth kept his home too cool.
Pushing the sleeves of her sweater up to her elbows, Lauren removed the top card from the stack and flipped it over. Yellow. She moved her marker three steps forward to the next space of that color. Behind her a blazing fire crackled in the hearth. The buttery smell of the popcorn they’d eaten earlier in the evening still hung in the air.
After dinner, instead of playing the game at the table—as Lauren had expected—Seth had placed it on the floor in front of the fireplace. Then he’d used pillows to prop Dani up against the sofa right in front of the game. The proximity hadn’t helped. With her right arm in a bright pink cast and her left leg in a plastic walker cast, Dani still needed help playing the game.
“Your turn.” Seth picked up the stack of cards and held them out to his daughter. With her left hand, Dani flipped over the top card.
A huge smile spread across the child’s face.
Seth glanced at the board and groaned loudly before moving her piece to the last rainbow space. He shifted his gaze to Lauren and heaved a dramatic sigh. “Can you believe she beat us again?”
“Super job, Dani.” Lauren grinned. Competitive as she was, the look of pleasure on the little girl’s face made losing painless. “You’re definitely the Candyland Queen.”
“I know I am,” Dani said with childlike honesty. “Now I want to play Go Fish.”
Lauren widened her eyes in mock surprise. “Go fishing? In this weather?”
Dani’s giggles turned to peals of laughter. “It’s a card game, silly.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever played it.” Though she’d heard of it, there weren’t many children’s games Lauren had played. The day school she’d attended had been focused on academics, and her evenings had been filled with “enrichment” activities.
“I can teach you.” Dani’s voice quivered with excitement. “It’s not hard. And it’s really, really fun.”
“You’ll have to show her tomorrow.” Seth glanced at the clock on the wall as it began to chime. “It’s nine o’clock and your bedtime. Tomorrow will be a big day.”
The child’s pout morphed into a smile. “I’ve been super-duper good this year.” She leaned forward, resting her arm cast on the leg propped up on a pillow. “Santa is going