Merry Christmas, Cowboy!

“You could have come to my house.” Anna tied each bag shut with a red raffia bow. “Both Mitch and I wanted you with us.”

The sincerity in her friend’s tone brought a lump to Lauren’s throat. Stacie had assured her of that same fact just this morning. Having two such wonderful friends almost made up for not hearing from her parents.

“You and Stacie are the best,” Lauren said. “But you have husbands now—”

“I told you—”

“—and besides, this will give me a chance to get to know Seth and Dani better.” Since her conversation with Seth yesterday, Christmas Eve with him and his daughter had been constantly on Lauren’s mind. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of bringing gifts until this afternoon.

“It looks like the snow is picking up.” Through the front window of the shop, the streetlight illuminated the swirling flakes. “You’re really going all the way out to the ranch for just a few hours?”

“Actually—” Lauren struggled to keep her voice casual and offhand “—I’m spending the night.”

Seth wheeled his 4x4 to the curb in front of his sister’s shop and parked behind his brother-in-law’s Jeep. In the half hour it had taken him to drive from his ranch into Sweet River, the snow had started to pick up, making it increasingly difficult to see.

Pulling his hood up over his stocking cap, Seth opened the door and stepped into the brisk north wind. He raised a hand in greeting to Mitch and waited for his friend to get out of the Jeep. If you factored in the wind chill, the temperature had to be below zero.

“Cold enough for you?” Mitch slammed the door of his Jeep and jammed his hands into his pockets.

“This?” Seth scoffed. “Practically balmy.”

“Yeah, real balmy,” Mitch muttered. “I went to fill up the Jeep and practically froze to death.”

Seth chuckled and followed him inside, calling out a greeting to his sister and Lauren. Lauren smiled and brushed a strand of silvery-blond hair back from her face. The elegant gesture only emphasized her cool beauty.

He pulled his attention from her and focused on the shop. For an older building, it was surprisingly warm. Seth unzipped his coat. It had been a week or so since he’d been inside. Even in that short time, he could see the improvements his sister had made.

He experienced a surge of pride. For years Anna had struggled to find her place in the world. But since she’d returned to Sweet River, she’d come into her own. She was happy now, content with her life. Everything she’d been searching for in Colorado she’d found on her return to the community where she’d grown up. She had a man she loved and now a thriving new business. It wouldn’t surprise Seth if he’d be welcoming a new niece or nephew in the next year.

Yes, his sister had it all. The realization was bittersweet. He’d been in her position once. Three years ago he’d had a wife he loved. And, fool that he was, he’d taken that blessing for granted.

“Looks like the snow is really starting to fly,” Anna said with a worried frown, her gaze settling on the melting flakes dripping from his boots onto the hardwood floor.

“The roads are okay for now.” Mitch moved from the entryway to his wife’s side, slipping an arm around her waist and brushing a kiss across her cheek. “But the sooner we get moving, the better.”

Anna leaned against her husband with an intimacy that made Seth’s chest tighten. She ignored her husband’s subtle hint to hurry and instead shifted her gaze to Seth. “I learned something very interesting this evening.”

Seth supposed he could ask what she’d learned. But from her expression she was going to tell him whether he asked or not.

“I invite you and Dani to spend Christmas Eve at my house. You turn me down. I tell you we’ll come to your house. You say no.” His sister’s voice trembled with pent-up emotion. “Then I find out that not only are you spending the evening with Lauren, she’s also spending the night at your house.”

Seth clenched his jaw. He’d known he wouldn’t be able to keep Lauren’s visit quiet. That would be asking too much in a town the size of Sweet River. But he really hadn’t wanted to deal with the issue tonight.

He shot a glance in Lauren’s direction. She lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug. “Anna and I don’t have any secrets.”

“You dog.” Mitch punched his arm. “You didn’t tell me you and Lauren had hooked up.”

Seth’s spine went rigid. “We’re—”

“We haven’t hooked up,” Lauren said with a dismissive wave. “Seth invited me to have dinner with him and Dani. I accepted. That’s all.”

“That’s all?” The devilish gleam in Mitch’s eyes was at odds with his innocent expression. “What about the sleepover?”

“You know how the roads are where I live.” Seth met Mitch’s gaze. “I have a perfectly good guest room. It seemed easier for Lauren to stay than to take her all the way home late at night.”

“And this way I get to see Dani open her gifts,” Lauren added.

“And I won’t,” Anna said.

Seth saw the disappointment in his sister’s eyes. Heard it in her words. He swallowed a curse. He’d never intended to hurt Anna. Yet he had. And he understood why she was confused. On the surface the choices he’d made didn’t make sense. Why would he invite Lauren and not his family?

The answer was impossible to share. How could he tell the bubbly bride that seeing her so happy and in love was like a knife to the heart, reminding him of what he’d once had and lost? He would not burden Anna with something that was his problem, his weakness.

Finding another woman and falling in love again would help fill the void in his life but that wasn’t an option. He’d promised his wife on her deathbed that he wouldn’t remarry until Dani was out of high school. And he was a man of his word.

Asking Lauren to join him and Dani had been a spur-of-the-moment action. He’d had second thoughts about the invitation almost as soon as the words left his mouth. Still, Dani had been thrilled when she’d learned Lauren would be joining them.

From the moment Lauren had set foot in Sweet River six months ago, his daughter had taken an instant liking to the beautiful professor.

“So what’s the explanation?” Anna demanded when the silence lengthened. “Why didn’t you want to spend Christmas with me?”

“You just got married.” Seth picked up a pair of gloves from the display even as his gaze remained fixed on his sister. “I wanted you and Mitch to be able to enjoy the holiday without any family pressures.”

It wasn’t the whole truth but it was close enough. Though Anna and Mitch had delayed their wedding trip until March, they were technically still honeymooners.

“You know Seth loves you,” Lauren said in a soft 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 to bring me lots and lots and lots of presents. Right, Daddy?”

Lauren sat back, curious how Seth would respond.

“I’m sure you’ll get some,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. “But Santa will be stopping at the homes of many other children who’ve also been good. He has to have presents to give them, too.”

Lauren shifted her gaze from Seth to Dani then back to Seth. Surely Dani didn’t actually believe in Santa Claus. Lauren’s parents had set her straight at a young age about the jolly bearded man, a figure perpetuated by advertising firms and retailers.

“I want to go to bed now,” Dani announced. “’Cause if I’m not asleep, Santa won’t stop.”

Seth nodded his approval. “Did Mrs. Swenson help you wash up this evening?”

Dani nodded. “But I do have to go to the bathroom.”

“I can take her,” Lauren volunteered, not sure what helping would involve, but willing to try. After a delicious dinner of prime rib and mac ‘n’ cheese followed by three fast-paced games of Candyland, she was ready to stretch her legs.

“Thanks, but I’ve got it covered.” Seth pushed to his feet, leaned over and lifted Dani into his arms then whinnied. “Hold on, cowgirl. The horsey is leaving the starting gate.”

Lauren stared in awe as he galloped from the room. She couldn’t imagine her father playing such a game with her. In fact, she couldn’t remember her father ever even hugging her. He had shaken her hand when she’d graduated from college. And again when she’d earned her master’s degree…

She shoved aside the memories and rose to her feet. By the time Seth trotted back to the living room with Dani, Lauren had finished her eggnog, put away the board game and returned the pillows to the sofa.

Seth smiled at Lauren as he settled Dani on the sofa. “I’ll be right back.”

He returned a moment later with a glass of milk, a plate of graham crackers and a container filled with assorted Christmas cookies. After removing the Tupperware lid, Seth carefully placed the container on Dani’s lap then held out the plate.

Lauren stared with interest at the array of cookies. She couldn’t believe they were going to eat more after the big dinner and popcorn they’d already consumed. “They look delicious but I don’t think I can eat another bite.”

“These aren’t for us.” Dani’s fingers tightened around the lip of the container, as if fearful Lauren was going to snatch them away and gobble them down. “These are for Santa.”

Dani selected three of the most brightly colored sugar ones and carefully placed them on the Christmas plate.

“He gets milk, too.” Seth positioned the plate next to the glass on the table.

“And we put out extra for the reindeer,” Dani added.

“Yep.” Seth nodded, his lips quirking upward. “They have a lot of flying to do. They need to keep their energy up.”

Lauren’s smile froze on her face.

“Time for bed, kiddo.” Seth scooped Dani into his arms. Though the plastic cast had a rocker ball so she could walk without putting pressure on the fractured leg, Seth had told Lauren that the doctor preferred Dani keep her weight off it for at least the next couple of days. “Tell Miss Lauren good-night.”

Seth stepped closer and the exuberant seven-year-old surprised Lauren by flinging an arm around her neck and planting a big kiss on her cheek. “Thank you for coming and eating and playing Candyland with me.”

Lauren gently smoothed a strand of hair back from the child’s brow. With her blond curls tousled around her face, Dani looked like a little angel. “Merry Christmas, Danica.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too,” Dani called to Lauren as her father carried her from the room.

Since her injury, the child had been sleeping in the master bedroom on the main floor, while Seth had moved to the guest room. When he’d shown Lauren the bedrooms, he’d made it clear that if she did agree to move in, the guest room would be hers and he’d sleep in Dani’s canopy bed.

The thought of the rugged cowboy in the tiny twin bed with its frilly pink-and-white bedspread brought a smile to Lauren’s lips. As if her musings had conjured him up, Lauren heard the click of cowboy boots on hardwood. She turned to find Seth in the doorway, a satisfied smile on his face. “Surely she’s not already asleep?”

“She’s pretending to be,” Seth said with a grin that caused her breath to catch in her throat. “She wants Santa to show up and knows he won’t come until she’s asleep.”

The comment pulled her attention from his mouth. Though she told herself it didn’t matter if his daughter believed in mythological figures and he indulged such thinking, the strange tension gripping her said somehow it did matter.

“Isn’t Dani a little old to believe in Santa?” While it may have been a question, her tone made her feelings on the matter quite clear. And Lauren didn’t stop there. She gestured to the plate of treats and the glass of milk. “And practices such as these just fuel the illusion.”

The words hung in the air for a long moment. Lauren thought about calling them back. Though she’d meant what she’d said, she could have been more diplomatic.

To her surprise Seth didn’t seem to take offense. In fact, by the twitch of his lips, you’d have thought she’d said something amusing. He reached over and grabbed two cookies from the plate, handing one to her and keeping the other for himself. “These practices are about embracing the magic of the season.”

An illogical argument if she’d ever heard one, but charmingly delivered. Lauren took a bite of cookie and chewed for a moment. “Dani’s a smart little girl. She can’t really believe in elves and reindeer and Santa Claus.”

“She seems to,” Seth said, without a hint of embarrassment. “And as long as she does, I’m going to be supportive.”

“Supportive? Of a lie?” Lauren wasn’t sure what had gotten into her. Her training had taught her the importance of every word uttered. These outbursts weren’t like her. But something about the whole Santa lie felt…personal.

Seth’s brows pulled together and for a second he looked as if he might argue the point. But instead he shut his mouth and studied her for a long moment. “You never got to believe in Santa.”

Instead of comforting her as perhaps he’d intended, the observation stirred up a hornet’s nest of memories. Restless, she moved to the front window and, for several seconds, gazed out at the thick blanket of snow.

“My parents called him a bogus, fantasy figure,” she said, turning back to face him. “A myth that contributed to the commercialization of Christmas.”

“Did you ever go to a store and sit on his knee?” Seth asked, ignoring the outburst. “Whisper in his ear what you really wanted for Christmas?”

“Since he wasn’t real, what would have been the point? Besides, it wouldn’t have mattered,” Lauren said with a sigh. “My parents didn’t believe in giving gifts for Christmas. Still don’t.”

“Not at all?”

Lauren shook her head. “To them Christmas is just another federal holiday.”

Seth hooked his thumbs in his front pockets and appeared to ponder her words. It took a moment before he spoke. “If you could have sat on Santa’s knee and asked him for a gift when you were Dani’s age, what would it have been?”

Lauren shifted her gaze, remembering back. “There was only one thing I ever wanted for Christmas. That year I gathered my courage and approached my mother. I told her there was something I really, really wanted. I promised if she’d buy it for me I wouldn’t ask for another gift ever.”

“What did she say?”

“She asked what it was. When I told her…she laughed.” Lauren pressed her lips together, the long-ago hurt returning, squeezing her chest. She took a steadying breath. “Still, I went to bed that Christmas Eve hopeful. In the back of my little-girl mind, I thought this could be her chance, a way to show that she loved me. Crazy, huh?”

“Not crazy,” Seth said softly. “Did she buy it for you?”

Not trusting her voice, Lauren shook her head.

“What had you asked for?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Lauren shifted her gaze away from those eyes that seemed to see too much. “It was silly.”

Most men would have gratefully changed the subject. Actually most would never have pursued the topic. But she was beginning to realize Seth wasn’t most men. So Lauren wasn’t really surprised when he took her hand and tugged her to the sofa, dropping down to sit beside her. “Tell me.”

His tone invited confidences. His eyes promised no matter what she said, he wouldn’t laugh.

“A Cabbage Patch Kid.” Lauren felt her cheeks warm. She lifted her chin. “They were extremely popular when I was in grade school. My friend Wendy had seven of them. You probably don’t know what they are—”

“Spencer David.”

“What?”

“Spencer David was Anna’s Cabbage Patch doll. She got him when she was about Dani’s age.” A tiny smile lifted Seth’s lips. “She took him everywhere she went. I remember one time…”

A dimple she never knew he possessed flashed in his left cheek.

“What?” Lauren touched his arm, the flannel of his shirt soft against her fingers. She immediately released her hold and let her hand drop to her side, but her heart still fluttered.

“We were at the rodeo. Anna was about to be crowned Little Miss Yellowstone County. When my parents went down to the arena to take pictures, they left Spencer with me.” The dimple flashed again. “Just what every boy wants—to be at a public event with a doll by his side.”

Lauren resisted the urge to smile at his pained expression. “I’m sure no one even noticed.”

“No one except every friend I had, including Josh and Mitch.” Seth rolled his eyes. “You can imagine the comments. Then Wes Danker came up with the brilliant idea of throwing Spencer David over the top rail into a pile of manure. The guys were all for it.”

Lauren gasped. “Did you let him?”

“I couldn’t,” Seth said. “Anna would have been heartbroken. Not to mention mad as hell.”

Something told Lauren it wasn’t Anna’s anger that had made him protect Spencer David as much as it was the knowledge of what that doll meant to his little sister. She wondered what it’d be like to have someone care about her that much. A lump formed in her throat but she swallowed past it. “You’re a good person, Seth Anderssen.”

“Naw, just watchin’ out for my own hide.” Seth stretched and covered a yawn. “Sorry. Dani’s leg was bothering her and I hardly slept last night.”