Her Sexiest Mistake Read online

  “Easier said than done.”

  “Know what you need? A ride.”

  Her tummy quivered. “Is your house empty?”

  He stared at her, then let out a low laugh. “I meant on the bike.”

  Damn it. “I knew that.”

  He shook his head and took her hand. “Let’s get out of here before I forget why we have to.”

  “Yeah, about that…” She dragged her feet. “Kevin, what are we doing?”

  “Getting some food, and hopefully some laughs while we’re at it. Sounds like we both need it.”

  “I meant more generally than that.”

  “I know. Just come out with me tonight. Let’s see where it goes. No plan, no media blitz, no campaign, no expectations.”

  She had to smile. “Yeah, okay.”

  They rode over the canyons toward the ocean, and as always the experience was both visceral and sensual, almost overwhelmingly so. Mia leaned into Kevin with every turn, her breath catching with wonder at how it felt to have such power between her legs, the utter exhilaration of being so exposed to the elements.

  Not to mention the feel of the man she clung to. Every inch of her legs brushed his, his broad back making a perfect resting spot for her breasts and belly.

  And, God, he smelled seriously dee-lish. It should be illegal to smell that good. The evening wind was warm from the long summer day, and the sound of it almost tuned out the rest of the world.

  They ended up at a small outdoor café in Malibu, where they shared a finger salad and a huge club sandwich. With the ocean pounding the surf as the sun set, Mia sighed with an odd comfort. “Teaching seems like an odd vocation for a rebel,” she said and picked up an olive.

  “A rebel.” He grinned. “You only say that because of the bike.”

  “Yeah, I like the bike a lot,” she admitted. And the man on it…

  He bit into his sandwich and, watching her, chewed thoughtfully. “If I’m a so-called rebel, it’s only because rules don’t seem to agree with me much. Or authority, for that matter.”

  “But to be a teacher and not respect authority…”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t respect it,” he said. “But I do believe in showing these kids, or people in general, that it’s okay to have your own thoughts, to do things your own way. As long as it’s legal,” he corrected and shook his head. “We’re still working on that in my classroom. And my house.”

  “Yeah, about your brother. You two live together. Have you always?”

  “Wait.” He cocked his head. “Was that…a personal question?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Maybe. But it’s for Tess, not me. Are you two close?”

  He smiled. “Better be careful there, you’re going to get to know me.”

  “Funny,” she said. “Now answer the question. He’s had trouble keeping jobs.”

  “Some.”

  “So you help him out.”

  “Yeah. People discriminate against him for his hearing loss, you know? He pretends it doesn’t matter, but it does. And, yeah, I help him out.”

  “Does he appreciate it?”

  “Sometimes.” He laughed roughly. “Actually, mostly no.”

  “Ah. So you gather and collect the needy,” she said. “Whether they like it or not. Is that it?”

  “No. That’s not it.” He stuffed another bite in, chewed some more. “Okay, maybe,” he conceded after swallowing. “Actually, we just fought about this very thing. About you, actually.”

  She straightened in immediate defense mode. “Me? Why?”

  “Mike thinks I tend to put people in my life that need fixing. People that don’t want to be fixed. Himself included.”

  Mia connected the dots and felt a frown gather. “Well, he’s right there. I don’t want to be fixed, so don’t even try.”

  He lifted his hands as if in surrender. “Wouldn’t even think of it.”

  “Because we’re just…you know. Releasing steam.”

  “Right.” He nodded sagely. “Nothing else. Not friendship, or affection, or more.”

  Her breath caught, jammed in her throat. “Well, maybe a little bit of that.”

  Leaning over, he pulled off her mirrored sunglasses.

  “Hey,” she protested.

  “The sun is down. Your retinas are no longer in danger.”

  But what about her heart?

  “That’s the first time you’ve admitted we’re more than bed partners. I wanted to see your eyes.”

  Her stomach jangled. “I said a ‘little’ bit more. You heard that part, right?”

  He laughed softly. “Were you always like this? So independent? So…closed off?”

  “You think I’m closed off?”

  “Definitely not in bed. But out of it, yeah.”

  She stared at him, then looked away, where the waves hit the beach with a rhythm that soothed. “I have not been plied with enough alcohol for this.”

  Without missing a beat, Kevin lifted a hand, gestured to the waitress for another beer.

  When she brought it, Mia took a long sip and said, “I have no idea why my guard is always down around you.”

  He smiled, looking quite pleased with himself. “I’ve worn you down.”

  “This isn’t funny. I don’t like to think about my past, about where I came from.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it reminds me that I was once nothing. Less than nothing. It makes me feel vulnerable, like in a blink of fate I could find myself there again.”

  “Seems to me, Mia, we make our own fate. You’ve certainly made yours. You know exactly who you are. No one can take that from you.”

  But she didn’t know. Not that she could admit that. “I’m sorry.” She pushed away the beer. “I lied. I’m not ready to do this, not even with all the alcohol in the joint.”

  Accepting this with his usual easy grace, he easily moved the conversation on, in no time enthralling her with the antics of his students, whether it be climbing out the windows or their fondness for the burners in the back of the classroom.

  “Tell me it wasn’t Adam,” she said of his mysterious pot smoker.

  Kevin shot her a long look.

  “Shit. Why couldn’t it be someone nice and sweet lusting after Hope?”

  “She’s smart, she’ll figure him out. There’s also another kid who likes her. The one I told you about, Cole.”

  “Terrific.”

  “Cole’s a good guy.”

  He spoke quietly and from the heart. The kids meant a lot to him, all of them, she could tell. “I bet you’re amazing at what you do,” she said softly.

  “The best,” he agreed and made her laugh. He did that a lot, she noted, and they continued to talk over ice cream, where she discovered he’d gone to UCLA as well.

  “I went to junior college first,” he said. “And then into UCLA poorer than dirt.”

  “I’ve been poorer than dirt,” she said without thinking and then stared at him. “There I go again. What is it about you that makes my mouth run?”

  He just smiled and let her think about it. Afterward he paid for the bill even though she reached for it, and then took her hand to walk through the restaurant. She excused herself to go to the restroom, and when she came out, saw him waiting for her in the reception area, which had gotten crowded. He had his back to her and was talking to a tall, willowy, gorgeous blonde. The same one who’d been at the teen center, the one who’d practically screamed old money. As Mia moved closer she heard the woman say, “I’ve changed my wicked ways. I won’t leave claw marks this time, promise.”

  Whoa.

  “Beth.” Kevin let out a low laugh and shoved a hand through his hair, a gesture Mia recognized as discomfort. “I can’t.”

  “What is it, another woman? Who could be more important than your ex-wife?”

  Mia absorbed that with a little shock of jealousy, which was not only stupid, but made no sense. The ex. The one he’d married when he was eighteen. The one who’d broken his hear