Sean: A Stepbrother Romance (Coded for Love Book 3)

by Saskia Walker

“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” Sean replied, “but it’s true.”

  He kissed the top of her head, smiling happily.

  She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets and moved from one foot to the other to stay warm. It was just after seven in the morning, the best time of day.

  “Ready to say goodbye?” Sean asked.

  Stifling a wistful sigh, Rowan looked up at him. Pixie was in his arms, pointing at the gulls as they dipped and soared. Their little family group had gathered in a huddle on the promenade, overlooking the beach where she and Sean had begun their forbidden love affair. It was forbidden no more. Sean’s eyes twinkled as he asked the question, and his smile was broad and teasing, as if he was deeply content because he already knew the answer.

  “I am. For now.” The coastal towns of Rhyl and Prestatyn were the only real home Rowan had ever known, but they’d visit frequently. They’d all made their promises to one another. Once a month Nan and Gladys would come to London to see all the family, and once a month Rowan, Sky and little Finola would get the train to Wales to spend a weekend with the ladies. It meant they would see each other every fortnight.

  She tore her gaze away from his—it was hard to do so—and looked back out across the water. “This will always be the home in my heart, but there’s so much more for us to explore out there, and the time is right.”

  Excitement ran in her veins, hope and happiness.

  Their world was opening out, flowering, and she was ready. There was sadness there too, of course. Leaving Nan and Gladys had been difficult, but the move felt right, it felt good. It felt as if everything was possible. She was finally at peace with what had happened in the past because her heart brimmed with happiness. They were committed to one another. Whatever happened, whatever life brought them, they’d be together. They’d face all of life’s ups and downs together.

  Parked up behind them was a rental van. It was loaded and ready to go. Mostly it was Pixie’s stuff, together with a few things Nan and Gladys had insisted they take with them to their new home.

  “Ready for London and the west wing of Narnia?”

  She chuckled, amused by his description. It had really stuck, and always made them smile. “I can’t wait to see it now the renovations are under way.”

  “Rory said the windows went in on the new extension yesterday. All that’s left is the plastering and decorating, then we can move into the extension. We’ll only be in the guest room for a couple of weeks.”

  “Daddy, look daddy!” Pixie grabbed at his head, pointing at a black Labrador loping along the shoreline.

  “Yes, poppet, I’m here.” Sean grinned.

  “That’s got to be ooh, the thirty-seventh time she’s called you daddy…today.” It meant such a lot to him, Rowan had to tease him.

  He nodded, still beaming, and then looked at the dog Pixie pointed out.

  Rowan watched them discussing the dog, and her heart ached with pride.

  The wind lifted and Sean pulled Pixie’s coat closed at the front. “It’s cold. We’d better get on our way soon, we can get the heating on in the van.”

  “Two more minutes?”

  “Of course.”

  She watched the way Pixie clung to him, and moved closer, hugging against his side, stroking Pixie’s hair.

  Sean studied her for a while. “If you don’t think it’s the right time for Pixie just say the word. We can move back here at any point, whether it be one month, six months or ten years. I’ve got that fencing company idea to start up.”

  She shook her head, laughing. He’d always be the hacker-biker boy in his heart. “It is the right time, for us all. You’ve got your job at Rory’s workshop, doing something you love. I’ll have more college options, and Pixie can start nursery school in her new home instead of here.”

  “Yup, we’ll have our own space, and lots of family support.”

  “Yes, we will. It was good of Gladys to give us the money for the extension and the renovations.”

  “Don’t forget her non-negotiable conditions.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “You still have to make me an honest man of me.”

  Rowan smiled. “I’ve been trying to do that ever since you came back to me.”

  “You succeeded. I never would have done it without you, Rowan. If you hadn’t been my goal, I wouldn’t have worked so hard.”

  She’d never get used to that, it made her blush, but she was pleased. “She wants us to have a proper church wedding. Do you think they’d let me get married in purple and black, in a church?”

  “Emo girl,” he accused.

  “Rebel,” Rowan shot back, turned on her heel and set off at speed toward the van, laughing. Sean and Pixie were close behind her.

  They climbed up into the seats and began their journey into the future together.

  ###

  If you enjoyed SEAN

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  Other books in the Coded for Love series.

  RORY

  Coded for Love #1

  A chance encounter on the London Underground brings Sky Vaughn face to face with her stepbrother, Rory Rattigan, the guy she had a passionate teen crush on back home in Wales. Sky’s vowed to stay out of trouble. She’s already been thrown out of one college and she’s desperate for a second chance to study art in London—but she never could resist sparring with Rory Rattigan.

  Rory is trying to break with his computer hacker past. His sexy stepsister turns up just when he needs to hide his hacker kit, and she’s more than willing to help him out. But Rory soon realizes the desire he’s always had for Sky is going to complicate his plans to play life by the rules. He left home because he couldn’t have her, and now here she is.

  The chemistry between Rory and Sky is about to change their lives forever—because trouble and danger can’t keep them apart, and they attract both, in spades.

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  And Amazon worldwide

  DRACO

  Coded for Love #2

  Lara Compton is in her first year of a business degree, but what she really wants to do is impress her dad and beat her older brothers into his favor. When she overhears her father talking about a mole within their finance company she decides to play detective. What better way to investigate than to secretly hire one of the hackers who broke into their computer systems the year before?

  Draco Vaughn spots the attractive woman stalking him and confronts her. She’s hot, she’s flirting, and he’s interested. However, Lara surprises Draco by offering him a job with a big financial company—and it’s only the same company who sent his stepbrother Sean to jail. Tempted by the prospect of getting inside to make the company owner suffer, he agrees to take on the job. What he didn’t account for was the unstoppable attraction between him and Lara, and the layers of subterfuge he finds in the corridors of power.

  Working closely, Lara and Draco’s undercover detective hunt runs in parallel with an intoxicating affair, a powerful relationship that won’t be denied—no matter what Draco discovers, and who it will hurt.

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  You might also enjoy Saskia’s other Stepbrother themed novel:

  REX, a stand alone novel about forbidden love.

  REX ~ A Stepbrother Romance

  Rex Carruthers can have any woman he wants, but he wants only one—his stepsister, Carmen Shelby. Their desire was once forbidden, and Rex walked away from his heritage as a result. Now, the reading of a will brings them back together, and Rex has something Carmen wants—his birthright, the stately home, Burlington Manor.

  Carmen Shelby is haunted by her desire for her stepbrother, Rex—a dangerous, masterful player, the man who broke her heart. Then Rex makes an outrageous suggestion. He will give her the Burlington Manor Estate in exchange for the affair they were denied.

  Carmen must risk her fragile heart
and explore a new submissive sexuality with Rex, a natural Dom. She quickly discovers Rex may be her true master, but can he control the powerful family secrets that drew them together—and threaten to tear them apart.

  Read on for an excerpt.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Rex Carruthers watched his father’s coffin being lowered into the ground and he felt nothing.

  The vicar’s words faded in and out of Rex’s consciousness. “An upstanding member of the community, much respected.”

  A cruel, selfish man, Rex silently added. A control freak.

  Even now, he couldn’t forgive his father.

  When indicated, Rex lifted a handful of earth and threw it onto the coffin.

  Family friends, staff from Burlington Manor, villagers and local farmers from the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside, followed his lead. They offered him solace he didn’t crave, shaking his hand and welcoming him home.

  Still Rex felt nothing.

  They saw him as the rightful heir to Burlington Manor. They had expectations. It was in their words and in their eyes. They expected him to take over the estate now his father was gone. Rex wanted none of it.

  Then he saw Carmen standing amongst the crowd.

  Carmen Shelby – so unobtainable, so elegant.

  Finally, he felt something.

  Desire pumped through his veins.

  She met his gaze. The startled look in her eyes accentuated her fragility and her unusual looks. Those dark chocolate eyes of hers were so expressive, and the way her hair was cut, tapered around her jaw before it fell loose to her shoulders, seemed to emphasize that.

  Her lips parted.

  Rex nodded her way, a silent acknowledgment of their connection.

  She glanced away, breaking the contact.

  Rex stared at her profile. Time had done nothing to diminish the hunger he felt for her. He glanced at her hand and saw no wedding band. He supposed he would have heard. Mutual friends did like to pass news on, whether it was welcome or not.

  The more he studied her, the fiercer the need he felt. His father’s death had brought him unwanted responsibilities. It had also brought Carmen back into his life. The forbidden one.

  The old craving he harbored seemed insignificant compared to what was stacking up now.

  He had to have her.

  The following Monday Carmen awaited Rex’s arrival with steely determination. Facing her—and beginning to look rather impatient on the other side of his desk—was Christopher Montague, the Carruthers family solicitor. He gave Carmen an encouraging smile. Nevertheless, he was drumming his fingers on his leather-covered desktop, clearly disapproving of Rex’s late arrival for the reading of his father’s will. They’d been due to begin half an hour earlier. “I’m terribly sorry about the delay, Carmen.”

  “Please don’t apologize.” She gave a quick smile. “Rex always has his own agenda.” That’s why I have to keep a clear head.

  Straightening the jacket of her suit, she sat back in her seat. Despite her best effort to remain business like, anticipation ticked in her veins. They hadn’t seen each other for ages, not until the funeral the week before. Yet, it was like being thrust back in time, to when she’d stupidly fallen for him, desire swamping her. How was it Rex still affected her this way, after all this time?

  Rex. The very sound of his name whispering around her mind made her hot.

  She’d been fifteen years old when her mother had married Rex’s father. Rex was older than Carmen by four years. He’d been away at university a lot of the time, which was just as well because she’d developed a painful crush on him. Thankfully she’d grown out of it. They’d been thrust together, told to act like brother and sister. An impossible task. Sexual tension swamped her whenever he was around—the rebel, the gorgeous bad boy.

  Then Rex clashed with his father over some matter or other. Rex left Burlington Manor, the stately home that had been in his family for hundreds of years. He’d walked away from his family responsibilities to pursue a start-up career in engine design for the racing car industry. She, on the other hand, had accepted the responsibilities life thrust upon her, taking command at her mother’s company after her mother’s death.

  The door opened, snapping Carmen back to the moment. Rex entered the room. Chris Montague stood up to greet the new arrival.

  Carmen took a deep breath and observed as he approached. The dark slash of his eyebrows and the angular bones of his face captured her attention. It was a rugged face, starkly handsome, with unforgettable blue eyes. The stubble on his jaw only made him more attractive. Rex had the kind of intense good looks that meant he could have any woman he wanted, as he so often did. While Carmen stood by, heart-broken.

  He shook hands briefly with Chris.

  Carmen noticed the fine cut of the clothes. Smart, business-like. Yet the fitted black suit only emphasized the fine male physique it clothed. He was toned, the shape of his shoulders and torso drawing her eye. The open-neck shirt beneath his suit was crisp and charcoal in color. His thick black hair was swept back from his forehead but fell forward as he moved. He pushed it away with one hand as he approached her.

  “Carmen, you’re more beautiful than ever.” Ducking down, he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

  The casual brush of his mouth on her skin unnerved her. “Rex, hello.”

  She crossed her leg at the knee while smoothing her skirt down. Rex stared at her blatantly as he took the seat next to hers, watching her legs as she rearranged her position. The look in his eyes was far too intimate and possessive to be respectable.

  Oh, how that used to make her want him—back when she had no sense. Not anymore. She’d grown up since then. She knew what was good for her and the list did not include Rex Carruthers.

  He seemed alert and focused, she noticed. The week before, when she’d stood opposite him across his father’s grave, he’d been somber and deep in thought, as one might expect. He and his father never made up their differences. Did Rex regret it? He’d barely nodded at the mourners who spoke with him. Only at the end, when he looked her way, had his expression changed—marginally—his eyes hooded and dark with secret thoughts.

  Rex avoided the social gathering at the Manor after the funeral, which meant they hadn’t had a chance to talk. And now here they were, and he was the personification of suave, the self-assured urbane man. She couldn’t let him distract her from her goal, so she pulled her attention away.

  She looked at their mediator, who had returned to his seat. “Chris, I have another meeting to attend later today. Can we get on?” Asserting herself was a deliberate move. She had an important deal to discuss. “We’re already running late.”

  Chris didn’t have a chance to respond.

  Rex reached out and took her hand in his. “Always in a hurry, Carmen. Let’s get comfortable before we get down to business.”

  He flashed his eyes at her.

  She arched her brows at him. He always did like to spar, but if he was going to play the bad boy at a time like this she’d find negotiations difficult. “Rex!”

  She tried to sound chastising, but her voice came out sounding breathless.

  He lifted his hands in apparent surrender. He didn’t stop looking at her though. His appraisal was undisguised.

  “Besides,” she continued, unnerved, directing her comment to Chris. “I’m sure the contents of the will have very little to do with me—”

  “I’m sure it has very little to do with me, either,” Rex interrupted. “After all, I was disinherited years ago.” He stared at her deliberately, making a point.

  Carmen frowned. Rex had no siblings, so she’d assumed he would inherit the estate. Despite the rift, Charles Carruthers was deeply traditional at heart. She’d only come to the reading because she was ready to buy Rex out. Rex had never been interested in Burlington Manor, whereas she had a deep connection to the place. She’d been happy there
and wanted to recapture those feelings. She looked back at the solicitor. “Chris?”

  Chris pushed his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose. “Good. Well, as you’re both aware Charles Carruthers and I were old friends. He moved all the family’s legal work to me to help me get off the ground when I was starting my own practice here in London, back in the 1980s. There’ve been several alterations to his will over subsequent years, but I’m familiar with his intentions. There are several bequests for staff. I’ve arranged to see them later today because you might want the contents of the will to remain confidential for the time being.” He paused. “Those that relate specifically to you both, until you decide what to do about it.”

  Puzzled, Carmen looked at Rex.

  He shrugged.

  She shook her head to indicate she hadn’t a clue what it might be.

  His stare lingered on her.

  She noticed it too – they were able to communicate silently, as they had done so many years ago. It reminded her of sitting opposite him at the dinner table at Burlington Manor, and how he used to make her smile with the slightest expressive glance.

  “Should you have any questions at all,” Chris continued, “please just ask.”

  Carmen forced her attention back. “The staff will be concerned about the estate being sold,” she stated, curious he’d opted to deal with the staff separately.

  “I daresay they are.” Chris gave her a genial smile.

  She wanted to state her intention to buy the estate, to own it and keep the staff in their jobs, no matter what. Once they’d heard the contents of the will she could flag it up.

  Chris lifted the papers on his desk. “This is the last will and testament of Charles Denton Carruthers.”

  “His last chance to make us dance to his tune,” Rex murmured.