What the hell was my stepbrother, Brooks, doing here?
36
LEAH
The carbarely stopped before I pushed the huge teddy bear at Riley and worked my way through the crowds. Heading in the direction I'd seen Brooks standing.
It was definitely him; he'd locked eyes with me before turning and disappearing into the throng.
"Leah!" Connor called out after me. "What the hell?"
I stood on my toes, trying to see where he might have gone. By the time the Ferris wheel slowly made it back down, after stopping to let off others, he could be almost anywhere.
I thought I caught a glimpse of blonde hair through the press of people and started off at a trot.
"Leah!" Connor called out again. "Leah, stop!"
A hand caught my wrist and Connor pulled me back to his body.
"I saidstop," he growled in my ear.
I looked back at him, ready to argue, but he was sinking to his knees. He gestured to Riley, who put the teddy bear aside and helped me to sit on Connor's shoulders. Holding my legs carefully, Connor rose, pushing me up with him.
"There, whoever you're looking for should be easier to find this way," he said gruffly. "Are you going to tell me who it is?"
"If you promise not to beat the snot out of him," I said. "I thought I saw my stepbrother." I scanned the crowds, my vantage point on his shoulders allowing me to see over the heads of everyone.
"Your stepbrother?" Riley scooped up the teddy bear and held it under his arm. "What's he doing here? I thought you didn't get along?"
"We don't. I don't know why he's here," I said. "Possibly for the same reason everyone else is."
What were the chances his presence was a complete coincidence? I could chalk it up to that, but I didn't believe it.
He didn't look surprised to see me.
"If he's come to win you a teddy bear, I don't promise not to beat the snot out of him," Riley said.
I gave him a sideways glance. "I can guarantee he's not here to win me a teddy bear."
Brooks wouldn't waste his time with games of chance. He also wouldn't waste his time doing anything nice for me. Honestly, I was surprised he didn't try to find a way to get us stuck, so we'd spend the night at the top of the Ferris wheel.
There was no love lost between me and him.
"If he's here to make trouble, I still don't promise," Riley said, stepping closer, like he'd appointed himself my bodyguard.
"Neither do I," Connor said. "I'm not letting him fuck with Leah." He looked up at me. "Any sign of this dickhead?"
I shook my head. "I can't see him anywhere. If he wants something, he'll come out of the woodwork at some point." At the worst possible moment, knowing him. It was like he had a sixth sense for pissing me off.
Connor grunted something before lowering himself back to his knees and letting me climb down from him.
"Thank you." I took his hand and pulled him back to his feet before grazing my lips across his.
"Yeah. Didn't want you running." He gave a half shrug.
"That's very sweet." I wound my arms around his neck and gave him a hug, and a firmer kiss.
"That's me, sweet." He smirked.
