Page 40 of Sean

“Enough. I really was trying not to listen, but I did get the sense that you and Sean…got together. Am I wrong about that?”

“You’re not,” Julia said. “You must have heard me say it was only temporary, too. I know you probably think that’s wrong, but—”

Tara held up a hand. “You’re both consenting adults, and it’s not my business. It did seem to me, though, that you and Sean need to talk about that. Have you?”

“No, it’s all so new, and everything is so uncertain.”

“I’m going to be a bossy sister for just one comment, and then we’ll drop this topic,” Tara said. Julia steeled herself for what might come. “If this isn’t a long-term thing, don’t let the kids know about it. Any of the kids. They form expectations and get their hearts broken so easily.”

Adult hearts broke, too, but she got what Tara was saying. “You’re right. We’ll be careful.”

“Good. See you in the morning.” Tara left the room.

In the quiet house, Julia considered their conversation further. She needed to talk with Sean if for no other reason than to convey to him Tara’s warning.

And that couldn’t wait until the next day.

TWENTY

Sean put his phone down and looked out the window of his boyhood home, feeling restless. The text exchange he’d just had with Ethan and Owen did little to calm him. They had nothing of note to report in the ongoing investigation of Wilson. Yeah, the police were working to shut down the drug operation, and they were now investigating Mira’s death as well, but they weren’t moving fast enough to suit Sean.

He wanted to be doing something. Sitting back in a defensive role wasn’t his norm. He was the hunter, not the hunted. All of his training told him to seek Wilson out and end this directly. But that wasn’t his role on this mission. He was on guard duty to keep Julia and the kids safe. A worthwhile task. Imperative. He got that down to his soul. Just…

Just, he was out of his element. And he’d seriously complicated the hell out of his life by starting something with Julia at the cabin. The sex had been amazing, possibly the best of his life, and there were definitely no regrets on that score, but it didn’t mean that he was ready for a relationship of any kind. He’d avoided those, especially in the past four years. Worse, he didn’t know what her expectations were. If she wanted a relationship, was he able to give it to her? And if she didn’t want a relationship—if she saw it as just a onetime thing—how did he feel about that?

The only thing he could do, he decided, was to follow her lead. He was considering how that might look when he heard soft footsteps, her footsteps, outside his room and a tap on his door.

“Come in,” he said. She entered the room and closed the door.

“Hi.” She looked gorgeous, her short, dark hair tousled and sexy. Her outfit of pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt wasn’t designed for seduction, but it was sure doing something for him. “I thought we should talk about today.”

Despite the thoughts tumbling through his head, he kept his face carefully blank, determined to follow her lead. “Guess so.”

“I think it’s best if we keep what’s between us quiet. I don’t want the kids to find out or your family. That could get really awkward.” She gave him a half-smile. “Already did, actually. Tara overheard me talking to Helen and Sophie just now. Sorry about that.”

What’s between us. So she definitely thought something was there—it hadn’t been just a onetime thing. He was so relieved to hear it that he didn’t think twice before he closed the distance between them, wrapping his arm around her waist and bringing her against him. His restlessness settled, replaced with a hum of desire.

“What did you tell Helen and Sophie?” he asked as he nuzzled her neck, getting a giggle from her.

“As little as possible.” She gave him a playful swat. “I’m not the kiss-and-tell type. And I wasn’t sure earlier after…

“After I gave you the silent treatment?” He wished he’d handled the situation better, and he wanted her to know that. He cupped her cheeks and looked her in the eye. “I’m sorry about that. I was trying to get my head around what happened.”

She pressed a soft kiss to his lips before speaking. “It threw me for a loop, too. I’d like to continue. Discreetly. Because it’s no one’s business…”

“Just ours.” He liked the sound of that.

“Exactly. There’s one more thing that we should agree on.” Her hands went to his shoulders, which put a little distance between them. He waited for her to continue. “This is for now only. No expectations. Okay with you?”

Well, that answered that. He could admit to himself that he felt a little disappointed—but it was probably for the best. The framework of their deal hadn’t changed. He’d protect her until she didn’t need his protection anymore…and then they’d go their separate ways. It was the plan that made the most sense, and this new aspect of their relationship wouldn’t change it. All it meant was that they would have something more to cherish in the time they still had together. “Works for me. We get to start tonight, right?” He was already steering her toward his bed.

She laughed as her arms linked around his neck. “In a hurry?”

“Can’t stop thinking about those cute panties you had on.” He tugged on the elastic waist of her pajama bottoms. “I want another look.”

“I have a different pair on now.”

“Are they sexy?”

---