“That depends on how well you play your part.”

Twenty-Two

Aiyana couldn’t help watching Seth closely. What she was looking for she couldn’t really say—some change in him, fresh enthusiasm for life, the loss of the black cloud that’d hung over him since Shiloh’s death. Maybe she’d gotten lucky when he agreed to come teach. And maybe she’d gotten even luckier when Tia wound up in the guesthouse on the same property. Although she’d never wish bad luck on anyone and was terribly sorry for what Tia had been through with the accident, she couldn’t help feeling as though there might be a few Christmas angels at work.

She knew Seth would laugh at her for thinking so idealistically—and, he’d say, superstitiously. He was far too practical to believe in meddling angels, at Christmastime or otherwise. But there did seem to be some magic afoot, and she couldn’t help hoping it was strong enough to make a difference.

“This one’s pretty amazing.” He was partially turned away from her and fully focused on a dragon clawing its way out of an egg. He called it a mixed media piece; to her it was a papier-mâché creation. “This kid has a natural eye for dimension.”

“I think so, too,” Aiyana agreed, but she must’ve sounded as distracted as she was because he looked over at her curiously.

“What is it?” he asked.

She spread out her hands. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re up to something.”

“No, I’m not!”

He continued to study her.

“It’s Christmastime,” she said, blinking innocently.

“This has nothing to do with the holidays.”

She’d never been able to get one over on him. No one could. “Well, for one thing, you haven’t complained about the music.”

He tilted his head as if he’d only just noticed the carols playing on the Bluetooth speaker in the corner of the room, but she knew that was something he would not have missed before. He hadn’t been able to endure so much as a chorus of “Winter Wonderland.”

“I can barely hear it.”

“It’s plenty loud.”

He shrugged. “So?”

“That says something.”

He scowled. “It says I’m concentrating on something else. That’s all.”

“And you’re in a hurry to get back to Maxi’s.”

“I am in a hurry, but not for the reason you’re probably implying.”

“Can I just...” She caught hold of his arm. “Seth, can I tell you one thing...because I love you?”

He arched a sardonic eyebrow at her. “I have a feeling you’re going to do it anyway.”

She would’ve chuckled at his reaction, except this meant too much to her. He meant too much to her. If she risked overstepping, so be it. “Life is too short to let yourself go on like you have been.”