Shirlee McCoy - Missing Persons

“That’s exactly what I’m looking for. This year has been tough for Jake. He wants to fit in with the other kids, but no matter where he goes or what he’s doing, food is an issue.”

Before Lauren could respond, a young boy rushed into the room, his red-gold hair mussed, pink blotches marring his neck and arms. “Hey, Dad…” He saw Lauren and skidded to a stop, his cheeks going scarlet. “Oh. Hi. You must be the cook.”

“That’s right. And you must be Jacob.”

“And since we’re all introducing ourselves, I’m Reese.” A young blond stepped into the room, her makeup perfect, her hair artfully tousled. The babysitter? If so, she wasn’t the kind of babysitter Lauren remembered from her own youth.

“I’m Lauren Owens.”

“Good to meet you.” Reese smiled and moved up beside Seth, her posture staking a claim Lauren wasn’t sure she had a right to.

Not that the validity of her claim mattered. Seth’s dating life had nothing to do with Lauren.

“Dad said you’re going to make some cool food for me to bring to school.”

“I said Lauren was going to teach us how to cook some more interesting meals. I didn’t say anything about her making food for you to bring to school.”

“Oh.” Jake’s cheeks turned a shade darker, his slumped shoulders and obvious embarrassment tugging at Lauren’s heart. She knew exactly how he felt. Her own childhood had seemed like one big blur of timidity and embarrassment.

“Your dad paid for a week’s worth of meals. That includes lunches, so I’ll definitely be making you some things to take to school.”

“Cool. Can you make cookies without gluten or nuts?”

“Sure.”

“How about brownies?”

“Yep.”

“Can you—”

“Jake.” Seth’s quiet reprimand was enough to heat Jake’s cheeks again.

Poor kid. “I’ve got a lot of ideas, but I want to get them all together before we discuss them more.”

“When will that be?”

“Not tonight.” Seth put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I’ve got to take Lauren home. Do you mind staying for a little longer, Reese?”

“Not at all.” The perky peppiness of the words reminded Lauren of the cheerleaders she’d known in high school.

“She doesn’t have to stay, Dad. I’ll be fine by myself for a while.”

“You’re ten. Not twenty, Jake. And I’m not ready to leave you home alone yet.”

“I’ll call Dee and have her come pick me up.”

“There’s no need for that. Reese is happy to stay, and I’m happy to give you a ride. You be good, kid.” Seth ruffled his son’s hair and started toward the kitchen door.

Lauren could argue or follow.

She met Reese’s gaze, saw the younger woman’s curiosity and decided to argue after she followed Seth out of the room.

Outside, the night had grown silent and still, the air cool with late summer and darkness. Overhead, the moon shone bright in a clear star-dappled sky. It was the perfect night for long walks and hand-holding, for quiet conversation and whispered promises. A perfect night for romance if a person was into that sort of thing.

Lauren definitely wasn’t. A few dates. A few dinners. A few phone conversations. She didn’t let things go further than that. She didn’t want them to. Dating was fine. Making plans, sharing dreams, those were other things entirely.

“I suppose you’re going to insist on calling Dee.” Seth spoke quietly as Lauren moved toward the edge of the porch.

“It makes more sense than having you take me to her place.”

“Maybe, but I don’t think Dee will appreciate you cutting into her evening. Besides, I owe you one.”

“You’ve paid for the services I’m providing, Seth. You don’t owe me anything.”

“I haven’t paid yet.”

“You still don’t owe me anything.”

“No, but if I were anyone else, you’d take the ride and let Dee enjoy her evening.”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Probably.”

“So, let me give you a ride.” He grinned, the fine lines near the corners of his eyes deepening and wiping away whatever vestiges of the boy she’d known remained. No more gangly teenager or broad-shouldered young man. Seth was hard edges and muscle hidden beneath charming wrappings.

Someone worth avoiding.

Which was why she should get out her phone and call Dee.

Of course she wouldn’t because that would mean letting Seth know just how desperate she was to keep her distance. “All right. As long as it’s no trouble.”

“None at all.” His fingers brushed against her lower back as he urged her down the steps and toward the car.

Lauren took a quick step away, uncomfortable with the warmth that spread through her at his touch. She would not react to Seth.

“You don’t have to run away, Lola. I don’t bite.”

“I’m not running. And I told you not to call me that.”

“Old habit.” He opened the passenger side door, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll try to break it.”

“Please do.”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating in the air and tickling against her ear as she slid into the car. Riding to Dee’s house with Seth was one more bad decision piled on top of several others. It was past time to stop making them. Unfortunately, she seemed to be on a roll. After months of avoiding men and relationships she was sitting in a car with the one man she would have been happy to never see again. The only man she’d ever truly loved. The man who’d shown her just how fickle love could be.

“You’re quiet.” Seth’s voice was soft silk and dark chocolate. The kind of decadence that could get a woman into trouble if she let it.

“Just thinking.”

“About?”

You. “Jake. He reminds me a little of myself when I was his age.”

“It’s funny you should say that. I’ve often thought that he could be…” He shrugged. “He reminds me of you, too. A little shy. A little cautious.”

“A little boring?”

“You were never boring.”

But she hadn’t been interesting enough to keep his attention. “I’m sure Jake isn’t, either. Does he play sports?”

“Just baseball. His size has been an issue. He’s a lot smaller than other boys his age.”

“But he has other activities he enjoys?”

“Music. Video games. Playing with his friends. Normal ten-year-old stuff.”

They were on safer conversational ground, and Lauren planned to stay there. “He seems like a good kid.”

“He is. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of how blessed I am to have him.”

A child was a blessing. One that Lauren had longed for when she’d been dreaming of marriage. Nowadays, she tried not to think about what her life was missing, concentrating instead on what she had.

“You really are blessed, Seth.” Her throat was tight around the words, and she cleared it. Maybe this conversation wasn’t as safe as she’d thought it. “I’d better call Dee.”

A quick phone call provided Dee with minimum information and probably had her anxious to hear the details. Lauren would fill her in later. For now, she just wanted to get back to Dee’s guesthouse and away from Seth.

“Is she okay with you skipping out on her?”

“Of course. Dee is always fine on her own.”

“I take it she still loves to party?”

“She loves to be around people. That’s always been her gift. Take the next left. Dee’s house is just a few miles from here.”

“You seem like you’ve gotten more comfortable with crowds, too.”

“Eleven years is plenty of time to get comfortable with just about anything.” And that was all she was going to say on the subject. Seth didn’t need to know how hard that first year without him had been, or how she’d realized that she’d relied on him too much. “Why don’t you tell me a little about what Jake enjoys eating?”