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
