Sean: A Stepbrother Romance (Coded for Love 3)

Would he run for the hills? She risked a sidelong glance at him. He’d be shocked, but he might stick around to ask a few questions, give her a hard time.

He was so tall and built, walking alongside her. She wouldn’t allow herself to enjoy it, even though it was right there below the surface. It was lovely to be with him, and Pixie, away from the house. “It must feel good to be outside, after so long.”

“It certainly does.” He smiled, scanning the sky and the horizon before he turned to meet her gaze.

The look in his eyes was so direct and questioning, as if he wanted to ask her something. Her pulse tripped, her senses reeling. It shocked her to find herself so acutely attuned to him, after all this time. She always knew the attraction would still be there on her part, her sensual dreams assured her of that. However, one look into his eyes could still totally arrest her attention, locking her thoughts to his. It hadn’t ever gone away, the deep, instinctive connection they shared.

Without realizing her paces slowed, lost deep in his eyes as she was. When she realized, she laughed awkwardly. “Sorry, miles away.”

He put his hand over hers on the buggy handle. “Why don’t I push for a while?”

Surprised, she nodded.

It was odd seeing him take charge, but he didn’t seem awkward with it, as she might have expected. Within moments he’d familiarized himself with the buggy and tucked Pixie’s trailing rug back where it should have been, before setting off again. He was making a big effort. It made her heart ache for more, but it was too soon to even trust herself to cope, to let go and enjoy the moment fully.

They walked along the seafront promenade side by side, and he asked about the changes he saw in the town. Maintaining her focus on Pixie, she mumbled appropriate responses. He seemed genuinely interested though. Art made her wonder. “Anyone would think you were thinking of moving here.”

“It’s an option, isn’t it?” Lowering his eyelids, he glanced at her, watching her response.

“I suppose you have loads of options.”

“Rory offered me a job in London.”

Well, that was non-committal. So much for his promises.

“It’s good to have an offer, but this is a big turning point for me Rowan. I need to make the right decisions. I’ll go up there, check it out, but I want to see what there is here too. I need a reliable job, not just seasonal work.”

There was good sense in what he said, but it made this moment seem so temporary, a fleeting experience. They were close to their destination, the sandy beachfront at Rhyl. Sean had suggested it, but as they closed on it memories began to drift through her thoughts. This was the place they hung out most of all, margining into the seaside visitor crowds to be together, to kiss and collude away from the disapproving eyes of their elders, who never missed a chance to drum into them they were siblings and out of bounds.

Had he suggested they head here for a particular reason, or simply because it was a familiar haunt, somewhere to go? Tension ran up her spine. She didn’t come here as often now, filled with memories as the place was.

Thankfully, Pixie was oblivious, happily pointing at the gulls and the people passing by.

“Birdie,” Pixie announced when one swooped low ahead of them.

“Yes, birdie, well done.” She reached down and stroked Pixie’s head.

Pixie pointed at a nearby family who were headed in the opposite direction on the promenade and about to pass them. “Baby.”

At her side, Sean chuckled. “She’s hoping for a brother or sister maybe.”

“She can hope all she wants, it’s not going to happen.” Rowan pursed her lips.

“Daddy,” Pixie exclaimed, pointing at the dad when the family passed by.

Rowan’s face flamed. She was mortified. It’d happened before, but why now? “I have no idea where she gets these things from.”

“The ladies probably,” he commented, and reached for her arm. “Hey, don’t be embarrassed, it’s natural.”

Mortified, she pulled free. “So you’re a fully fledged child expert now too?”

He drew her to halt with his hand over hers on the buggy.

She braced herself for a difficult response, but he didn’t say anything more, instead he squatted down in front of the buggy and started undoing the safety belt. A moment later he’d risen to his feet, with Pixie in his arms, holding her just the way the other daddy had held his child.

Pixie squealed gleefully, delighted to be up high, and clutched at his jacket with grabby hands.

“That’s better,” he said and smiled at Rowan.