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 offered a sly smile. “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 spoke 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 too cold, I’ll definitely consider your suggestion.”
Chapter Three
Lauren gazed down at the Trouble game board spread out before her, the bright primary colors 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 hit the Pop-O-Matic bubble to roll the die. Yellow. She moved her peg three steps forward. 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 Ivy 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, Ivy still needed help playing the game.
“Your turn.” Seth moved the board closer to his daughter. With her left hand, Ivy hit the bubble.
A huge smile spread across the child’s face.
Seth glanced at the board and groaned loudly before moving her peg to join the other three in the Finish zone. He shifted his gaze to Lauren and heaved a dramatic sigh. “Can you believe she beat us again?”
“Super job, Ivy.” Lauren grinned. Competitive as she was, the look of pleasure on the little girl’s face made losing painless. “You’re definitely the Queen of Trouble.”
“I know I am,” Ivy responded with childlike honesty. “Now I want to play Go Fish.”
Lauren widened her eyes in mock surprise. “Go fishing? In this weather?”
Ivy’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.” Ivy’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 Ivy then back to Seth. Surely Ivy 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,” Ivy announced. “’Cause if I’m not asleep, Santa won’t stop.”
Seth nodded his approval. “Did Mrs. Swenson help you wash up this evening?”
Ivy nodded. “But I 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 Trouble, she was ready to stretch her legs.
“Thanks, but I’ve got it covered.” Seth pushed to his feet, leaned over and lifted Ivy 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
