Page 35 of Sean

“Like what?”

“Outer space one year, princesses and knights another, cowboys and cowgirls, of course, since this is a ranch. We did all sorts of things. Mom and Tara are awesome at managing a party.”

“Can we do it this year?” Lucy asked. The kids no longer added ‘if we’re still here’ to every request. They’d gotten used to doing that while they’d hidden in various places. At the ranch, they were settled in, and Julia didn’t have the heart to remind them that they would eventually have to leave. The kids were happy, which meant everything to her.

“You know,” Emmy said. “Maybe we can. Let’s think about a good theme while we finish your hair.”

The kids made several suggestions. Most of Lucy’s had to do with horses or animals, while Amos’s were focused on stars and planets. It was good to hear them be so enthusiastic. More than that, Emmy seemed happy to join in, which made Julia think that she hadn’t overstepped.

About the time Amos was shaking out his dark curls and Emmy had spiked Lucy’s new red hair, Sean called Julia’s name from the hall.

“You guys in there?” He stepped into the room and took in the kids. “Whoa, who are these guys?” He played up pretending not to recognize them to make Amos and Lucy giggle, which somehow made Julia’s heart skip three beats. The man she’d first met wouldn’t have done that. Being back on the ranch amongst his family had done him good. Or…did she dare to think maybe she and the kids had had an influence on him, too?

“It’s just us,” Lucy insisted, giving him a giant smile.

“So it is. I like this.” He brushed his hand over the girl’s hair. “I was hoping to steal your aunt away for a little while. Okay with you?” Both kids nodded at him. “Julia?”

“What are we doing?”

“Taking a hike. You haven’t been on the trails behind the house.” Sean exchanged a look with his sister.

“I’ll keep track of the kids. I think we have some horses to feed carrots to,” Emmy volunteered.

“Why can’t we go hiking?” Amos asked.

“It can be a tough climb,” Sean answered, resting a hand on Amos’s shoulder. “Let me take your aunt this time, and she’ll decide if you can do it another day.”

“I don’t have any hiking boots or gear with me,” Julia said, wishing she had what she normally took on assignment with her. A hike did sound like fun.

“Emmy’s or Tara’s stuff should fit you.” Apparently, he’d already thought this through.

“Mine,” Emmy said instantly. “Tara’s will be too big on you.”

“In that case, sure. I’m game,” Julia answered. She was more than willing to spend time alone with Sean. Their interrupted kiss hadn’t been far from her mind despite her other worries.

“I’ll meet you in the mudroom, then.”

“Sound like you’ve got a date,” Emmy commented with a grin on her face. “For the record, I like you way better than any of his past girlfriends—not that there were that many of them.”

“It’s not a date,” Julia said even though she could feel heat spreading across her cheeks. “Just hiking. Maybe I’ll take some pictures.”

And maybe she’d get the chance to kiss Sean again.

EIGHTEEN

Sean had gotten up that morning wanting two things. One was nature. He’d always been one for getting outside to think, and his conversation with his dad the day before had given him plenty to think about. He was reconnecting with his family and that felt good.

His other desire was more time alone with Julia. He’d tried to reason himself out of his attraction for her, but then that kiss would replay in his mind. It wasn’t only the physical, though. He liked her, liked that she was sweet but still fierce, liked that she knew her own mind, liked that she adored her niece and nephew. She’d put her career and life on hold to care for them, and then had run enormous risks by taking them from their father to protect them. There was so much to admire about her.

Was he falling for her? Maybe. He didn’t expect anything long term to come from it, but he’d given himself permission to enjoy the day with her. And he was definitely enjoying watching the way she moved with easy grace as they climbed upward. She was sure-footed on the steep trail, which didn’t surprise him. It was her enthusiasm that completely drew him in.

“I love this.” She stopped for the tenth time in the past twenty minutes and raised her camera to her face. “The light is so amazing.” She snapped several pictures of the valley that spread out below them. To him, it was home. The scent of the pines and the earth, the rocky soil, the hills and hollows of the Blue Ridge Mountains where he’d been raised. “Sorry. Do you mind that I keep stopping?”

“Not at all,” he assured her.

She stepped off the trail and focused her camera on the spring leaves of an elm tree, taking her time and framing the shot. “So perfect.”

He was thinking that, too, but about something else altogether. In an instant, his imagination got ahead of him, and he saw them together. Not just now, but down the road. Check that thought, he told himself. If he had anything with Julia, it would be in the here and now.

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