Merry Christmas, Cowboy!. Cindy Kirk

She can play by herself for hours. Which is a good and a bad thing.”

      Lauren raised a brow.

      “I worry about her being alone so much,” he explained. “That’s why I make sure to spend quality time with her every evening. And to invite friends over to play so she can learn to share and have an opportunity to socialize. I’m sure your parents did the same for you.”

      Lauren wondered what he’d say if she told him she seriously doubted they’d ever given her needs that much thought. She’d been an unplanned late-in-life baby. Both had been determined not to let her arrival impact their careers.

      “They did their best.” Lauren kept her answer simple. When it came to discussing her parents, the less said the better. She decided to change the subject. “I can’t believe Christmas is this weekend.”

      “I know.” Seth took a sip of coffee. “Are you going home for the holidays?”

      “My parents like to spend Christmas in Paris.” Lauren found herself strangely embarrassed by the admission. “Going to France has become a holiday tradition for them. Since they live on separate coasts it’s a good way for them to reconnect.”

      Seth’s brows pulled together. “They don’t live together?”

      “They do,” Lauren said. “About ten percent of the time.”

      Confusion blanketed Seth’s face. “Are they separated?”

      “Only by distance. My father teaches at Stanford.” Lauren kept her tone light. “My mother is at Cornell.”

      Seth’s eyes widened but he immediately brought his expression under control. “Yet they’re married.”

      “Thirty-five years next month.” Lauren added another lump of sugar to her coffee. “They have a modern ‘commuter marriage.’”

      It wasn’t the kind of union most would choose, but it worked for them. She took a sip of coffee and grimaced at the sweetness.

      “Hmm.” Seth hesitated, obviously subscribing to the tenet if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. “It must be hard, having them both far away.”

      “I’m used to it.” After all, even when she was with them, she felt in the way. “What’s difficult is being without Stacie and Anna.”

      Unexpected tears stung the backs of Lauren’s lids. Though Christmas was only a few days away, she’d avoided thinking about the new reality as much as possible. It was too easy to get into “pity party” mode and that wasn’t fair to anyone. She was happy for both her friends. Happy they’d found someone they loved. Happy they’d found their bliss in Montana…but not happy to be the odd one out.

      “I’m surprised neither of them invited you to spend Christmas with them.” A look of disappointment skittered across Seth’s face. “That sure doesn’t sound like Anna. Or Stacie, either.”

      “They did invite me,” Lauren reassured him. “But they’re both newlyweds. I’m not going to crash their first holiday with their new husbands.”

      “I suppose,” Seth reluctantly agreed.

      “There’s no supposing about it,” Lauren said firmly. “They shouldn’t have to worry about entertaining me.”

      “You’re being an awfully good sport,” Seth said.

      Lauren couldn’t understand the admiration in his tone. “Anyone would feel the same.”

      “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Seth paused for a moment. “I’ve got an idea. How ’bout you join Dani and me? The food won’t be anything special but it’ll be edible. It’d be great to have another adult around on Christmas Eve, and I know my daughter would enjoy having a different face to look at besides mine.”

      Before she could politely refuse the offer, Seth reached across the table and took her hand. “I’d really like you to spend Christmas Eve at the ranch.”

      Lauren was sure he’d meant it only as a kind gesture, an innocent show of friendship. But there was nothing innocent about the jolt of desire that shot through her. Her first reaction was to snatch her hand away, but that would make her look like a fool. Besides, she really liked the feel of his warm, strong touch.

      She reminded herself that he was merely showing his support. And his offer was probably no more than any person in this small town would make.

      “I make a great prime rib,” he added in a persuasive tone. “And I promise the brussels sprouts will stay in the freezer.”

      Just say no. She could hear her father’s stern voice in her head. Concentrate on your dissertation. Your career must be your priority.

      Still, Lauren’s entire being rebelled against the prospect of eating a frozen dinner in front of a computer screen on Christmas Eve. And really, what would be the harm in accepting Seth’s offer? It was just dinner. And she had to eat…

      “C’mon, Lauren, say yes.” His fingers tightened around hers. “Aside from pleasing Dani, it’ll be a great way for us to get to know each other better.”

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

      Chapter Two

      “I told Seth that Dani 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 said grudgingly, heaving an audible 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, Cassie Els. Cassie was a fantastic seamstress and Anna a talented designer. In addition to custom-designed clothing, they offered clothing repair, knitting classes and quilting supplies. And 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.

      “Cassie 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 said. “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. Plus I like the idea of making something that can be passed