Okay, so that question hadn’t been worded so well. What had been intended as a teasing acknowledgement of his discomfort had instead led her thoughts onto paths they really had no business being on at this point. Firmly pushing thoughts of Seth-sans-tux from her mind, she asked quickly, “What kind of tea do you prefer? I have quite a few selections.”
Looking at her just a little quizzically—oh, heavens, was she blushing? At her age? Honestly!—he replied, “Earl Grey. Hot.”
She had already turned toward the kitchen to hide her pink cheeks, but his words made her spin around again in pleasure, momentary embarrassment forgotten. “I’ll make it so, Captain.”
A grin spread across his face, making her swallow hard again. Wow. Did this man have a nice smile!
“You’re a Trekkie?” he asked in amused disbelief.
“In my family, there’s little choice.” She turned toward the kitchen again, hearing him follow when she left the living room. “My parents met at a sci-fi convention in the ’70s. They had both watched the original series as kids, and they made sure we saw all the series and films.”
He laughed. “You’re kidding! A sci-fi convention?”
She nodded, accustomed to the reaction to her description of her parents’ meeting. “My mom was there on a date with her geeky boyfriend, as she describes him. Dad was dressed as a Klingon. Apparently it was love at first grunt.”
Dropping into a chair at the round, glass-topped table in her modern granite and stainless kitchen, Seth grinned. “What about the geeky boyfriend?”
“He met a busty Amazon warrior woman at the same convention, so everyone left happy.”
“No wonder Alice was so taken with your mom. Alice loves sci-fi, too.” Looking bemused, Seth propped his chin on his fist and watched her fill two clear glass tea mugs from an instant-hot-water dispenser, one of her must-have kitchen conveniences.
“Milk or sugar?” she asked.
“No, thanks. Just tea. You must have had a fun childhood.”
She removed two canisters of tea from a cabinet, Earl Grey for Seth, an herbal blend for herself. “I did, actually. Dad was a physics professor at UALR, kind of an oddball but beloved by his students. He stressed the equal values of advanced education, independent self-reliance and quality science fiction as we grew up. He was also obsessed with roller coasters, so we spent a lot of time at amusement parks. Mom’s a CPA, and she worked full time for a big Little Rock accounting firm until Dad died and she became responsible for her mother. She was almost always home by four in the afternoons to welcome us home from school.”
“Unconventional.”
“Yes. But wonderful.” Smiling nostalgically, she carried the steaming mugs to the table.
“No wonder you all turned out so well.”
“Did you have a happy childhood?”
“It wasn’t a bad childhood. Nothing like yours.”
“You were an only child,” she remembered.
“Yeah. And both my parents were workaholics who focused on their careers almost to the exclusion of anything else. They hated amusement parks. Occasionally they paid a nanny to take me to one, but they’d never have visited one themselves. Said they didn’t have time. My earliest childhood memories are of watching them rushing around the house in the mornings, shoving bagels in their mouths while they gathered papers and briefcases and put on their suit jackets.”
Seeing her expression, he shook his head. “Don’t look so pitying. I had a good childhood. My parents loved me, though they wouldn’t have known how to play with me even if they’d had time. That was something I always wanted to change for Alice. I wanted her to remember playtime with me, even though I’ve made it clear that my work is important, too.”
He took a tentative sip of his hot tea. “Colleen’s more like my parents. Your sister the psychiatrist would probably have something to say about my ex-wife being very much like my mother, but we’ll let that slide for now. Anyway, she loves Alice very much and lets her know it, but she’s clueless when it comes to playing or relaxing or anything but work. They’ll spend their time in Europe visiting museums and historic landmarks. And Colleen will have the nanny take Alice on the more frivolous adventures while Colleen is in meetings.”
“And you won’t relax until Alice is safely back home with you,” she predicted over the rim of her mug.
He made a face. “Not for a minute.”
“How’s your search for a new housekeeper going?”
Seth heaved a heavy breath. “I’m trying to find time to interview a few. I’ve received several resumes, but I’ve got another crazy week ahead at work. Tomorrow would have been a good day to talk to people, with Alice at her grandparents and all, but I’ve been called in for a partners’ meeting tomorrow that’s going to take most of the afternoon. Maybe I can schedule some evening interviews later in the week, or next weekend. Unless…”
Something about his suddenly speculative expression gave her pause. “Unless…?” she repeated.
“Well, you did say you’re bored.”
She set down her mug. “You’re suggesting I interview housekeepers for you?”