For the Love of Ivy - Cindy Kirk Page 0,50
patronizing tone in the older man’s voice roused his protective instinct. “It’s not—”
“You’ve missed the point.” Lauren’s voice was as strong and firm as the look she gave Edmund. “The weddings illustrate that the survey was a good tool for assessing compatibility. Not only were these couples compatible on paper, they fell in love.”
Her father appeared to weigh her words and Seth felt a surge of hope. All the man needed to do was give Lauren a little recognition for a job well done. Surely that wasn’t too much to ask.
Edmund took a sip of wine. “Who did you match with Adam? I can’t believe there are many women around here who’d be his equal.”
Seth tightened his fingers around his iced-tea glass. Apparently, a little recognition was too much to ask.
“You forget, Professor. Your daughter lives here,” Adam said, smiling at Lauren. “Surely you would find me an acceptable match for her.”
Edmund placed his glass of wine on the table. His piercing gaze narrowed on Lauren. “You completed a survey? Surely you’re aware this will compromise your results.”
Lauren lifted her chin. “I did it after I’d compiled and analyzed all my data.”
The fact that Lauren didn’t mention Adam’s encouragement to complete the survey didn’t surprise Seth. He’d come to realize that Lauren was a woman who took responsibility for her actions.
“So did I match with someone?” Adam asked, his tone a shade too eager.
“You mean, did you match with Lauren?" Seth tried to keep the irritation from his voice, but failed. Regardless of what her father might think, this guy was not anywhere near good enough for Lauren.
Adam ignored Seth’s comment.
“You did get a hit.” Lauren smiled. “Kim Sizemore.”
“Kim?’
Seth swore Adam’s voice jumped two octaves. He took another sip of tea, the tightness gripping his chest suddenly gone.
“Why are you so surprised?” Lauren asked him. “Word around town is you’ve been sleeping with her. Maybe you should try taking her out on a date, even talk to her sometime. I think you’ll find you have more in common than you think.”
“Lauren.” Edmund’s voice was sharp with disapproval. “That’s quite enough.”
“Kim is content with our relationship the way it is,” Adam said stiffly, refusing to look Lauren in the eye.
Coward, Seth thought. He can’t even be honest with himself.
“That may be what she says.” Lauren shot him a steely look. “I guarantee she wants more from you—”
“Forget about Adam’s social life. Concentrate on your own future.” Edmund’s lips rose in a smug smile. “I have it on good authority that King’s College, a small but well-respected private college in Virginia, will be offering you a position once you have your doctorate.”
“Why, that’s...wonderful,” Lauren stammered.
“A friend is the chancellor there.” Edmund waved a dismissive hand. “I’m certain I don’t need to tell you this is an excellent opportunity.”
“I realize that,” Lauren said. “I appreciate your efforts to get me that offer.”
“Of course you’ll accept.”
“I’ll certainly consider it.”
“Consider?” Her father’s brows pulled together like two dark thunderclouds. “What is there to consider?”
Seth couldn’t believe her father didn’t know. He wasn’t even related to Lauren and he knew how much her crisis work and private counseling meant to her.
“It’s a wonderful offer. I’d have to be crazy to turn it down,” Lauren said, then immediately changed the subject to a recent accolade her father had received.
Seth focused on his food while the three talked. Seeing the distance between Lauren and her father made him realize he’d been lucky. He’d always been free to chart his own course in life. Even when he’d dropped out of school, his dad had been disappointed but understood that was Seth’s decision to make.
“I understand from Adam that you’re a rancher,” Edmund said, finally acknowledging Seth.
“That’s right.”
“Seth graduated at the top of our high school class,” Adam said. “Beat me out for valedictorian.”
Lauren shifted sideways in her seat to face Seth. “You never told me that.”
“Ancient history.” Seth couldn’t believe Adam had even brought up the topic. “Definitely not a big deal.”
“You could have gone far.” For some reason Adam refused to let the subject drop. “Of course you’d have had to leave Sweet River to realize that potential.”
“You didn’t pursue higher education?” From the horror in Edmund’s voice, Seth surmised there could be no greater crime.
“Seth has a degree in biology,” Lauren said before he could answer. “And three years postgrad in a veterinary program.”
Edmund frowned. “Those programs are usually a four-year course of study.”
“They are.” Seth kept his tone matter-of-fact. “I didn’t complete the program.”
“Why not?” Edmund