The professor extended his hand and when it closed over Lauren’s bulky mittened one, Seth saw the interest on Adam’s face. For a second Seth was seized with the urge to tell the professor to keep his coffee, that they were heading straight home. Thankfully he reined in his caveman protective instincts just in time.
“Adam, this is Anna’s friend Lauren Van Meveren.” Seth shifted his gaze to Lauren. “Adam and I went to high school together. Nordstroms have owned this land since the 1800s.”
Lauren stepped from the sleigh, her hand still in Adam’s. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Nordstrom.”
“Likewise, Miss Van Meveren.”
“Call me Lauren.” She flashed a smile.
“Only if you call me Adam,” he immediately countered.
“Deal.”
Seth resisted the urge to gag at the sophomoric repartee.
Adam cocked his head and studied Lauren for several seconds. “I know this is a long shot, but are you any relation to Dr. Edmund Van Meveren at Stanford?”
“He’s my father.” Lauren spoke without hesitation, but Seth noticed her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Do you know him personally? Or from his work?”
“Both.” Adam’s expression grew animated. “I was his teaching assistant when I was working on my PhD in Applied Mathematics. The man is absolutely brilliant. I’m now teaching at Brown, but I’ve continued to follow his achievements.”
“You’re a mathematician?”
From her expression, Seth couldn’t tell if Lauren thought that was a good or a bad thing.
The professor raised his hands and laughed. “Guilty as charged.”
“Adam is back to settle his father’s estate,” Seth informed Lauren. “He’ll be leaving soon.”
It couldn’t be soon enough to suit Seth.
“I’ll be here awhile.” Adam may have answered Seth, but he immediately focused his attention back to Lauren. “Tell me, does your father still spend holidays in Paris?”
Lauren’s smile teetered and Seth saw the strain around her eyes.
Adam didn’t appear to notice because he chuckled. “Everyone in the department envied his lifestyle.”
Seth had heard enough. He knew this was a sore spot for Lauren. He wasn’t about to stand here and watch Adam inadvertently pour salt in the wound.
“We should get inside,” he spoke brusquely. “Ivy is getting cold.”
He didn’t give Adam a chance to respond. Instead, Seth lifted his daughter from the sleigh then herded Lauren and Adam to the house.
“I’m sorry to hear about your dad.” Lauren waited for Adam to open the door of the two-story home. “Had he been ill long?”
“Dad had numerous health issues.” The smile that had been on Adam’s mouth since he’d seen Lauren slipped from his lips. “I’d been at him to sell the place and move closer to me. He refused. He insisted on staying out here in the middle of nowhere.”
By the professor’s tone it was apparent his feelings about the Big Sky state hadn’t changed.
“What happened?” Lauren asked softly when Adam didn’t continue.
“Lars had a heart attack while checking cattle.” Adam pushed open the door. “Since he lived alone, it took several days for his body to be discovered.”
Seth followed Lauren inside, Ivy in his arms. He saw no need to mention that he’d been the one who’d found Lars.
“Lars loved this land.” Seth lowered Ivy to a standing position on the floor. When he was sure she was steady, he unzipped her coat. “Dying on the range was how he’d have wanted to go.”
“It doesn’t make it any easier.” Adam cleared his throat. “I keep imagining him out there alone.”
A look of sympathy crossed Lauren’s face. She rested a hand on his arm. “I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you.”
“I try not to think about it. I just want to get this place sold so I can get back to civilization.” Adam shifted his gaze to Seth. “The attorney said you might be interested in buying the land.”
“Might be.” Seth took Lauren’s coat from her and hung it next to Ivy’s on the coat tree. “This isn’t the time to talk business.”
“That’s right, it’s Christmas.” Lauren removed her stocking cap and her blonde hair spilled out, tumbling to her shoulders.
Seth had to admit she made a fetching sight. Adam apparently agreed because a look of pure masculine appreciation filled his gaze.
“I’ll get your daughter and Lauren settled while you tend to the sleigh.” Adam may have mentioned Ivy but his eyes remained firmly fixed on Lauren.
The man’s arrogant manner grated on Seth. But when Adam smiled down at Ivy and asked about her accident, some of his irritation eased as his little girl blossomed.
“I broke my arm and my leg and I hit my head.” Ivy smiled up at him, enjoying her time in the spotlight.
“I bet it’s hard for you to get around,” Adam said to Ivy while sharing a smile with Lauren.
“That’s why Daddy wanted Miss Lauren to move in,” Ivy told Adam. “So she can take care of us.”
Adam straightened slowly. He turned to Lauren, his eyes wide with shock. “You live with Anderssen?”
Seth gritted his teeth. The man made it sound as if she were shacked up with a barbarian.
“Temporarily.” If Lauren noticed, it didn’t show in her matter-of-fact response. “Until Ivy is better.”
Adam opened his mouth as if to comment, but shut it without saying a word. He gestured to an arched doorway. “We’ll have our coffee and dessert in there.”
Seth scooped up Ivy and carried her to the living room. A fire crackled in the hearth, and an open book lay on the side table. He set Ivy down on a green floral sofa that had once been Barbara Nordstrom’s pride and joy. Her death in a car accident was something Lars had never gotten over.
“I’ll get the coffee,” Adam announced. “And plates for the pastry.”
The pastry.
Seth stifled a groan. His gaze met Lauren’s and just like that, he found himself drowning in their emerald depths.
“By the way...” Adam turned back on his way to the kitchen. “Where is the Kringle?”
“I left it in the sleigh.” Seth yanked his attention
