His Best Mistake Read Free Page A

commitment.
    Once they rounded the corner of the house, Kevin opened a black iron gate that provided the entry through a white brick wall surrounding the backyard. When he motioned her forward, Leah stepped into what she would deem a perfect oasis, right down to the rock waterfall feeding into a crystal-blue diving pool and a state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen adjacent to a small cabana.
    “Wow.” That was the only thing Leah could manage around her surprise.
    “Pretty great, huh?”
    She turned and caught Kevin’s smile. Big mistake. That smile had been the death of her determination to resist him on more than one occasion. After a brief mental pep talk, Leah said, “It’s very nice. Great for entertaining.”
    “Yeah, but I haven’t had a chance to do much entertaining yet. I’ve only been here a month.”
    As if she really believed a month wasn’t enough time for him to entertain various bikini-clad beauties. “Corri told me you’d only recently moved in.” The only solid information his sister-in-law had provided when Leah had worked up the nerve to contact her.
    His smile faded into a frown. “Is that how you found me?”
    “Yes. I called her after I stopped by your loft and discovered you’d moved.”
    “Didn’t she give you my new phone number?”
    “She did, but I decided we needed to speak in person.” She’d actually considered delivering the news by phone, affording him the same non-courtesy that he’d afforded her when he’d ended their relationship. Instead, she’d opted to be an adult and engage in a face-to-face meeting, although at the moment she questioned her wisdom.
    But she was here now, so she might as well get down to brass tacks. On that thought, she asked, “Can we sit down now?”
    “Sure.” Kevin guided her to a table situated beneath a copse of pines and oaks and pulled out a brown-striped chair.
    Leah took the designated seat while Kevin chose the chair across from her, thankful for the table that put much-needed space between them. She set her bag on the ground at her feet and tightly clasped her hands on the glass surface. “These trees help with the heat.” At least from a meteorological standpoint. Noticing all of Kevin’s finer details didn’t help Leah’s internal heat in the least. It seemed he’d lost some weight, but he’d undeniably gained some muscle. He’d always been in great shape, but his biceps looked larger. His chest looked broader. His abs looked tighter beneath the T-shirt. And if she knew what was best, she’d keep her eyes off his attributes.
    “The Houston heat in June’s always brutal, especially at four in the afternoon,” he said, drawing her attention back to his face.
    “I had a busy morning, otherwise, I would have been here much earlier.” She’d spent the better part of the day engaged in an internal debate, until she’d forced herself to stop procrastinating.
    After another brief bout of silence, Kevin asked, “How’s your fellowship going?”
    Though she was avoiding the news she’d come to deliver, Leah saw no reason not to be civil. “It’s going well. The hospital rotations can be tough, but I work part of the time in a clinic.”
    “Which means more normal hours,” he said.
    Odd that he remembered all the details they’d discussed during their time together. Then again, he had been very attentive, both in and out of bed. “I’m really looking forward to finishing in August so I can finally start utilizing what I’ve learned.” She would have been finished now had she not taken a necessary break in her hometown before returning to Houston two months ago.
    Kevin brushed a leaf from the table with a sweep of his hand. “Have you decided where you’re going to practice?”
    In some ways, that decision had been made for her. “I’m going home to Mississippi. Since my fellowship has focused on healthcare for the indigent, I plan to work part-time in a free clinic, and possibly open my own practice to pay the