“Whose that?” Lauren asked as she pushed the door all the way open.
Foster slammed the tablet flat on the desk and jumped to his feet. “Nobody.” He looked over at her and whistled. “You look fantastic!” He leaned in and lingered a kiss on her cheek.
Lauren pressed her lips together. “Seriously, Foster, who was that?”
“Hmm, you smell delicious too.” He moved to kiss her neck. “So tempting.” When she didn’t respond to his kisses, he pulled back. “Tommy’s assistant. She needed info for one of my old accounts.” He continued to kiss her neck, trailing warmth down to her collarbone. “But you’re here, and you come first. She can wait.”
Lauren softened in his embrace. “Are you ready to decorate cookies?”
He paused and looked her in the eye. “I wish I could. I have three reports to finish.”
Lauren hated feeling needy, but at this moment, she needed him. He had a way of calming her, of looking at her like she was more than the girl next door. Besides, this trip was about introducing him to the family. Bringing him into her inner circle. She couldn't do that if he stayed in the guest room all day.
“Foster, it’s Christmas afternoon.” The day was practically over. “I want to see my boyfriend.”
He studied her for a moment, assessing how serious she was at her request. “I guess I can stay up late tonight if you’ll drive back in the morning.”
She smiled. A man who could compromise was a gift. “You bet.” She took his hand and pulled him from the room. “You’re going to love my mom’s ginger cookies. Every bite tastes like Christmas.”
He chuckled. “You’re so adorable when you say things like that.”
Lauren’s smile faltered. She was already off-kilter, but there was something in his tone that was patronizing. Did he always talk like that, or was she being ultra-sensitive? “Is there something wrong with what I said?”
“Not at all.” He lifted their joint hands and kissed her knuckles. “Your wholesomeness is shining through.”
She turned away so he wouldn’t see her frown. Technically, his words were a compliment, but they’d sounded… condescending. What was wrong with being happy about cookies? They were good cookies. And she’d missed them the last few years.
Okay, there was no need to start a fight. Obviously, Jacob had stirred up old feelings, and she was hearing everything Foster said through them. Foster was not Jacob. She needn’t bite his head off just to let the steam out of her teapot.
They entered the dining room and found Ethan and Collin already working to give gingerbread men pants and smiling faces. “Hey, Sis.” Ethan stood up, and she eagerly hugged him hello. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Auntie.” Collin stood in his seat and launched at her.
She grabbed him, laughing, and squeezed him close. “Collin–you grew!”
“‘Course I did.” He got back to his seat and plopped down. “It’s what kids do,” he informed her.
She glanced at Foster to exchange an amused look, but he was staring at Ethan’s outstretched hand as if it would bite him.
“Oh!” Ethan swiped a bit of blue frosting off his palm and onto a paper towel. “Sorry about that.”
Foster gingerly took his offered hand, and they shook. Lauren internally cringed at the limp handshake. Ethan arched an eyebrow at her, silently asking why she was dating such a wimp.
“Here’s a fresh batch!” Mom bustled in with a tray of blank cookies, saving Lauren from having to defend Foster.
“Dibs!” Lauren sat down, and Mom put the tray next to her. “Foster and I can knock these out in no time.” She blew a kiss to Collin, who grinned across the table at her.
“Is that your boyfriend?” he asked, his little nose wrinkled with concentration as he placed chocolate chips down the front of a snowman cookie.
“Yep.” She smiled at Foster. He was typing on his phone, his head down and oblivious to the conversation around him. She sighed. At least he was out of the guest room, even if he wasn’t engaged in the activity. Cookie decorating wasn’t his thing. That was okay. She didn’t enjoy golf, and he’d quit inviting her to the course. She’d have fun with her nephew and brother even if he didn’t.
Dad came out from his Christmas nap around four, and they all worked together to clean up the cookies and set the table for Christmas dinner. Foster sat at one end of the table and folded the napkins to look like Christmas trees.
“That’s neat.” Collin watched him closely.
“Thanks, kid.” Foster cuffed his shoulder.
“So neat he doesn’t have to do any real work,” Ethan whispered in Lauren’s ear as he carried the turkey in and set it down.
