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. That 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