Chapter 31

INDIE

“Indie?” She turned when Grace called her name from the door. “Someone’s here for you.”

Indie smoothed the edge of her red sweater, straightening the green Christmas trees with their jeweled trimmings, her hands shaking with anticipation.

After they had met in the coffee shop the day before and she had gotten over the shock of seeing him with someone, her stomach had flip-flopped like a sea lion, especially when h kissed her hand.

When he did that, she was unable to refuse him anything, melting like a snowman in front of a fireplace.

He hadn’t been to the shop yet, but Felicity had told her that he was on voluntary duty after the incident with their perpetrator, as well as a prolonged graveyard shift.

No wonder he had looked so tired. And beautiful…

His blond hair hung over his eyes, tempting her to brush it off his forehead.

And those full lips framed by the light shadow along his jaw made her want to stand on tiptoe and kiss them till she couldn’t breathe.

The devastation in his eyes when she told him she was busy was her undoing. She needed to touch him, and all she could allow herself to do was cup his cheek, his stubble tickling her palm.

The little flames of awareness that had traveled from her hand to parts unmentioned still had her tingling in anticipation.

She checked her appearance in the tiny mirror at the door before she entered the shop.

She stopped in confusion as she looked around the display cases.

There was none of the electricity in the air that was always present when they were in the same room, nor was there any sign of his large form filling the space, and her heart sank in disappointment.

The feeling was so sharp, it felt like someone had put a knife to her heart and twisted it, making her gasp for breath. She blinked and looked around again.

There were three other people in the shop, but no Seth. With a giant effort, she turned to Grace with a frown.

The other woman removed her hat and her russet curls bounded down her back, making Indie gasp for another reason altogether. “Maggie!”

Indie embraced her sister, holding her tightly as she allowed the tears to fall.

They were tears of joy at seeing her sister after three years, as well as some of disappointment at it not being Seth.

Maggie pulled back and looked at Indie, then gently wiped the tears from her cheek.

They had often been mistaken for twins, but Maggie was three years older than Indie, and not as full in the hips or as busty as she was.

Magenta Erato Artemis Dawson was Indie’s idol—fearless, adventurous, daring, and free. Maggie personified everything that Indie had ever wanted to be.

She never allowed anyone to tell her she couldn’t do something. Instead, she took it as a dare.

It was because of that attitude that Maggie had earned a full scholarship to Kansas University’s medical school.

She specialized in emergency medicine, getting attention from some of the most prestigious hospitals in the country.

But Maggie, being Maggie, chose to work for Doctors Without Borders, leaving everything she knew to travel around the world to help people.

Indie loved her sister and wished she had a small amount of her bravery.

“Indie!” Maggie held her at arm’s length as she studied Indie. “You grew up since we last saw each other.”

The words were softly spoken, but Indie felt each of them as though Maggie had shouted them through a megaphone.

Indie swallowed the tears clogging her throat, but she knew her sister could see every emotion in her amber eyes.

“Oh, Indie…” Maggie pulled her close for another tight hug. “No worries. I’m home now, and I’m gonna beat the shit out of him.”

The image of a five-foot-five Magenta straddling a six-foot-three giant Seth and pummeling him flitted through Indie’s mind and her laughter erupted. “I love your sentiment, sister dear.”

“I’m serious, Indie. I’m here now.” Indie nodded at the serious expression on her sister’s face. “Oh, and so is Leith.”

“Leith?” Indie frowned at Maggie.

“Remember that guy I told you about?”

Indie felt her eyebrows rise as she looked at her sister. “The nerdy hookup who proved that solid matter can melt with the right amount of friction?”

“Hey! The nerd is right here!” The women turned to the tall man holding a sleeping toddler in his arms.

He was nearly as tall as Seth but not half as wide. His hazel eyes were magnified by the heavy-framed spectacles, his dark hair flopping over his high forehead.

He was handsome, and Indie could see why Maggie was attracted to him. “Leith, by the way.”

Indie hooked her arm through Maggie’s and turned toward Grace, who joined them when she had finished with her customer.

“Well… It’s a good thing you brought him home, then. Who else is going to remind you that instantaneous combustion is possible?”

Maggie giggled, reminding Indie of the high school cheerleader she had been with her first crush. “He’s adorable, Indie. And no scare tactics, Grace!”

“Me?” Grace squeaked. Indie and Maggie narrowed their identical amber eyes at her. “Anyway, he looks too tame to be trouble.”

The sisters gasped at her in shock then turned to Leith as they laughed.

“Come on, Indie, close the shop, and let’s go prepare for Christmas tomorrow,” Maggie suggested.

Indie raised her eyebrow at Grace, who nodded without hesitation. “Okay.”

SETH

He watched Indie lock the door and hook her arm through the arm of the woman waiting for her.

Grace took the tall man by the arm and led him to Indie’s car, his body sheltering the toddler in his arms from the sudden blast of wind.

He sighed in resignation as he watched the group drive away. His timing sucked. More precisely, the mayor’s timing sucked.

When he had finished his shift earlier that day, Burnsley had called him to his office.

~“You’re on mayoral duty today. Get some sleep, you fall in at noon.”~

~“Doing what exactly?” ~

~“Oh, I forgot to tell you. You are now the official sheriff’s department representative on the newly formed community policing forum. ~

~“There is an induction workshop at the mayor’s office. Don’t be late.” ~

~“No, sir.” ~

Seth had been glad that Burnsley had hung up and missed the sarcasm in his reply.

He had barely been aware of what was said in the meeting because he kept thinking about Indie and how his world had brightened when she agreed to speak to him.

Every minute he sat in a meeting about senseless information was another minute going by that he wasn’t able to see her.

And now he sat in front of her store, missing her more by the moment, and by the looks of it, she was going to be busy for a few days more.

He started his truck and made his way home, hoping to get some sleep before his shift at midnight.

“Pops!” He caught Amelia as she jumped into his arms. “Mama says that Santa’s coming tonight!”

“Is that right?” he teased as he carried her into the kitchen to greet his sister, who was still giving him the cold shoulder.

“Come on, Elli, let’s go watch ~The Grinch~ while your mom finishes up here.”

Sarah barely spared Seth a cold glare before she turned back to the oven. He settled Amelia with the movie, putting the volume louder than usual so that he could speak to her mom.

Going back into the kitchen, Seth poured a cup of coffee and then slid onto the counter as he waited for Sarah to acknowledge him.

“What, Seth?” Not quite welcoming, but at least she was prepared to listen.

“I was meeting with Indie to tell her about Tereza when the shit hit the fan, Sar.

“And yes, I tried to ignore the issue for as long as possible because I wanted something in my life to be untouched by Tereza.”

“How did that work out for you, fratello?” He swallowed the retort at her sarcasm, sipping his coffee instead.

“Indie is busy this week, Sar. She said I could pop in at the shop to talk. We’ve just not had a—”

“Bullshit, Sethford,” she hissed as she pushed a bowl of pasta alfredowith bacon, one of his favorite dishes, into his hands. “You’re stalling again.”

“Sarah…”

She shook her head and turned back to the pots on the stove. “I’ll go around there tomorrow.”

“Not tomorrow, Sethford, ~tonight~.” Her tone told him that she wouldn’t tolerate an argument. It didn’t mean he was going to comply without some resistance.

They looked at each other when there was a knock on the door, both shaking their heads at the unspoken question.

He reluctantly put his near-empty bowl on the counter and went to answer the knock. He took a step back in surprise at the sight of Indie on his doorstep.

“Hey,” she said softly, her husky voice sending shivers down his spine.

“Hey,” he answered, his own voice rough at the sight of her.

The red of her sweater emphasized the rosiness of her cheeks, and he smiled at the tiny decorated Christmas trees on the hem.

The sight of her jean-clad legs had him remembering the way they clung to his waist during their lovemaking.

“Oh, for flying monkeys’ sake, Sethford, let the woman in!”

He blinked away the images of their intertwined bodies and opened the door completely to allow her to enter. “I’m sorry, please come in.”

“Thanks.” She smiled up at him, and he felt it deep in his gut.

He helped her take off her jacket, needing to feel the silkiness of her skin as he deliberately brushed the nape of her neck.

Her hair sliding against his fingers and creating tiny pops of electricity along his skin. His stomach clenched when he saw the color rise in her cheeks and her breathing become faster.

“Indie!” Elli called, breaking the spell between them.

“I came by to drop off some gifts that Santa left at my house,” Indie told her.

“Really?” The little girl pulled Indie to the large tree in the corner of the living room, the base surrounded by an ocean of gifts. “Let’s find space for it.”

“Wow…” Indie breathed as she stared at the volume of boxes, raising an eyebrow at Seth, who just shrugged.

“I usually buy something I like and store it. I’m not mad about last-minute shopping.”

“Sure,” she drawled as Sarah joined them, greeting her with a hug.

“Well, now that you’re both here and available, I suggest that the two of you talk.” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest as she glared at them.

Seth took a deep breath and held out his hand as he looked at Indie.

She licked her lips—his blood draining to parts he’d rather not think about at the moment—and gingerly put her hand in his.

He clasped her fingers tightly, afraid that she might change her mind. He turned to lead her out of the kitchen when Sarah’s voice stopped him.

“My room.” He turned to his sister with a frown. “I doubt you’ll do much talking in yours. So use my room.”