His Best Mistake Read Free

whether he lived with someone, namely, a woman.
    Frankly, what Kevin O’Brien did or didn’t do wasn’t any of her concern. He could live with ten women, for all she cared. He didn’t matter to her anymore…at least that’s what she thought until he walked out the front door and came toward her.
    As hard as she tried to ignore the impact Kevin still had on her, Leah couldn’t. Couldn’t ignore his steady, self-assured gait, his aura of strength—it had captured her attention the night they’d met in a premier Houston nightclub on one of the very rare occasions when she’d been out on the town. She surely couldn’t ignore the longer length of his hair or the shading of whiskers on his normally clean-shaven face, although those unexpected aspects didn’t detract from his incredible looks. But she had to remember her mission. Remember thatwhat had once existed between them had ended in the span of a three-minute phone conversation almost a year ago.
    Kevin paused a few feet before her and hooked his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans. “Hey,” he said in a voice that sounded almost remorseful.
    Leah mustered all the fortitude she possessed, using recollections of their last verbal exchange to bolster her courage. “Hello, Kevin.”
    He sized her up with one lengthy, slow visual excursion. “You look great.”
    So did he. Nothing better than a sexy man dressed in white T-shirt and faded jeans. But she didn’t plan to pay him any compliments, even if she did intend to be coolly polite. “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
    “I’m all yours.”
    At one time, Leah had honestly believed that. But not now. Not ever.
    When she noticed a few people milling around the front lawn next door, she decided the last thing she needed was an audience when she lowered the boom. “Can we go somewhere more private?”
    “We can go inside,” he said. “I’ll give you the grand tour.”
    “I wouldn’t want to bother anyone else who might be inside.”
    Kevin frowned. “I’m the only one here.”
    “You don’t have a roommate?”
    “Nope. It’s just me.”
    At least that answered her question. Still, she didn’tdare spend a moment alone in a house with Kevin O’Brien. Particularly in a house with a bed. Or a sofa or a floor, for that matter. “I’d prefer the front porch.”
    “It’s a lot cooler in the house, Leah.” He studied her through narrowed eyes. “Or are you afraid I’m going to make a move on you if we’re alone together?”
    Yes, and equally afraid she might forget that he’d trampled her emotions and make an inadvisable move on him. “That wouldn’t be a first, Kevin.”
    “You know me well enough to know that I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do, Leah.”
    Aside from breaking her heart. “I still think remaining outside would be better.”
    His expression showed a hint of impatience. “Could we at least go into the backyard and sit in a chair under some shade?”
    That sounded like a solid plan to Leah. Kevin might need a chair once she was done. “Okay.”
    He gestured toward the drive to his left. “Right this way.”
    “Just a minute.” Leah returned to the car, opened the door and grabbed a bag from the backseat. A bag that contained two items representing her reasons for the spontaneous visit.
    After slipping the strap over her shoulder, she walked with Kevin down the lengthy drive, keeping a reasonable berth between them. Even a brush of arms would bring about old memories she didn’t care to relive, although at times she had relived them in her mind. Each wonderful, exciting and heartbreakingmoment. She’d foolishly been bowled over by his easy charm, intrigued by his complex personality. Completely drawn in by his expertise as a lover. She’d learned quite a bit about him in their eight months together. Clearly she hadn’t learned the most important detail before she’d fallen totally in love with him—he wasn’t in the market for a permanent