Sean: A Stepbrother Romance (Coded for Love 3)

As he was standing directly in front of her, she couldn’t avoid it.

Could this be real? Rowan looked at Sean holding Pixie and had the urge to pinch herself, try to wake up. Not only that, but she felt incredibly awkward. People looked at them, people she knew and some she didn’t, Tourists, townsfolk. Were they admiring the look of them together, just as she was? Did they think Pixie was his daughter? Would they be able to tell, would he notice that and wonder?

It made her want to whisk Pixie out of his hands and head off at warp factor kerzillion. The truth was she was finding it hard to let go and enjoy being around him, relearning him – as he called it – and she figured he’d bolt if he found out the truth.

It’d happen soon enough, but she wanted more of his intimacy before he disappeared for another bloody three years.

The creak of his leather jacket as he moved closer to her brought back memories she thought long buried, softening her.

“Let’s find a place to sit on the beach and talk,” he suggested, “We can get ice cream”

“S’cream,” Pixie repeated.

“It’s her favorite thing.”

“Great. Let’s find a place then I’ll go.”

“No, a bit later maybe. Too close to breakfast time, and I better choose for her. I have to be careful, not too much sugar.”

“Good point.”

She went to push the empty buggy, but he shook his head. “Fold it and I can carry it one hand.”

She did as he suggested. He swung the folded buggy under one arm, holding Pixie easily in the other. Pixie clutched at his jacket, looking back over his shoulder, delighted with the new viewpoint. He made his way to the sloping walkway leading down to the seawall, where people sat up against the wall, picnicking.

She took a moment to observe how easily he carried everything and then joined him. “I could have done with you around the last couple of years,” she muttered, without thinking. As soon as she’d said, she wanted to die. “I mean…to carry things, that’s all.” Her face was on fire.

Sean laughed, glancing down at her with a sparkle in his eyes. “Of course. You see, men are useful for something, carrying stuff.”

She groaned.

They walked along the stone built wall until they found a suitable spot, then he set his burdens down. Rowan reached for the rug, shaking it out for Pixie to sit on.

“I have to watch her,” she explained, when she noticed how closely Sean was observing. “She’s only been walking for three months but once she’s up on her feet she can head off at a rate of knots.”

Sean’s eyes twinkled. “A tear away rebel, huh? I wonder where she got that from.” He looked at her accusingly.

> “She’ll grow out of it, just as I had to.”

He didn’t respond.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is where we had our first kiss,” he commented, once they were settled.

“No. We had our first kiss outside my bedroom door late one winter night.”

When she met his gaze, she realized he’d set her up. It was a test. Humor and mischief shone in his eyes. “That’s right, so it was.”

Pixie set about pushing sand into a heap.

“So let’s talk,” he said. “Let’s fill the gaps, catch up with each other.”

“Okay, you start.”

“No, you start.”

Rowan laughed. “This is worse than when we first met.”

“Is it?” Mischief still shone in his eyes and his mouth when he smiled—it melted her inside, disarming her when she needed to be sharp and wary.