For the Love of Ivy: An uplifting feel good holiday romance Read online

  Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. When he put it that way, how could she refuse?

  Chapter Two

  I told Seth that Ivy could move in with Mitch and me until the casts come off.” Anna Donavan’s words were muffled by the scarf shielding her face from the harsh Montana wind.

  Lauren hunched her shoulders and shoved her gloved hands into the pockets of her jacket. She resisted the urge to tell Anna to hurry up and open the door. Anna hated the cold as much as Lauren did and the fact that she’d stayed in town and reopened her shop on Christmas Eve was a testament to their friendship. “I bet your brother just wants to keep things as normal as possible for her. That means sleeping in her own bed.”

  “That makes sense.” Anna heaved a relieved sigh when the store key slid into the lock. She turned the handle, pushed open the door and flipped on the lights before stepping aside to let Lauren slip past.

  Lauren could feel her blood start to thaw as soon as the door shut behind her, blocking the wind. A blast from a heater duct provided a warm welcome. After a few seconds, Lauren pulled her hands from her pockets and glanced around. Two gifts shouldn’t be hard to find. Not in this store.

  Sew-fisticated was the name of the eclectic shop Anna owned, along with one of her former high school classmates, Miranda Els. Miranda was a fantastic seamstress and Anna a talented designer. In addition to custom-designed clothing, they offered clothing repair, knitting classes and quilting supplies. For Christmas the store had been stocked with a variety of popular gift items.

  “I didn’t know you were starting quilting classes.” Lauren stared at the brightly colored notice on the community bulletin board.

  “Miranda will be doing the teaching. I’ll be doing the learning.” Anna pulled the scarf from her head, sending flakes of wet snow flying.

  “You?” Lauren didn’t bother hiding her surprise. Anna had always been the trendiest and most fashion oriented of the three friends. “Quilting doesn’t seem like your thing.”

  “That’s what Mitch said.” Anna laughed, her voice filled with love for her husband of ten days. “Actually that’s not true. What he said was I’m constantly surprising him.”

  The way her face glowed, Lauren surmised that Mitch was enjoying the surprises. “But quilting?"

  “It’s very fashionable,” Anna insisted. “Just like knitting. Women are searching for something real, something they can hold in their hands.”

  Lauren’s skepticism must have shown because Anna chuckled. “I know it’s a change for me, but the design part of the process fascinates me. I like the idea of making something that can be passed down from one generation to another.”

  While that was a rather old-fashioned concept, Lauren recognized the appeal. “Makes sense.”

  “You could join me,” Anna urged. “It’d be more fun to learn with a friend.”

  “Um, no thanks. Not my thing.” Lauren moved to a counter showcasing several varieties of men’s gloves. She took off her mittens and touched a pair made of soft pig suede. “Do you think Seth would like these?”

  Anna moved to Lauren’s side and studied the gloves with a critical eye. “These are lined with soft acrylic pile for added warmth. They’re nice enough to wear when he goes out, but sturdy enough for some of the lighter ranch work.”

  Lauren smiled at her friend’s enthusiasm. Anna had worked retail for years before opening her own shop. It was easy to see why she’d been so successful. “I’ll take the gloves for Seth and that necklace with the pink heart for Ivy.”

  “I’ll wrap them for you.” Anna took the gloves from Lauren’s hands and removed the necklace from a display. Even as she put the items in stenciled gift bags, she glanced at Lauren. “My brother wouldn’t expect you to bring gifts.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” Lauren lifted one shoulder in an unconcerned shrug. “But he was nice enough to invite me to share his Christmas Eve and I want to bring something.”

  “You could have come to my house.” Anna tied each bag shut with a red raffia bow. “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 cleared her throat. “But you have husbands now—”

  “I told you—”

  “—and besides, this will give me a chance to get to know Seth and Ivy 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. 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 husband she adored 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. Fool that he was, he’d taken that blessing for granted.

  “Looks like the snow is really starting to fly.” Anna’s brows pulled together in 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 Ivy 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. T
hat 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. “I didn’t think it was a secret.”

  “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 Ivy. 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.”

  “This way I get to see Ivy open her gifts,” Lauren added.

  “And I won’t,” Anna murmured.

  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 Ivy was out of high school. He was a man of his word.

  Asking Lauren to join him and Ivy 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, Ivy 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 accomplished 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 spoke softly. “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 advised. “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 Ivy 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.” The light returned to Anna’s 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. 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 Ivy.

  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, Ivy’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 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.”