Her Sexiest Mistake

Instead of being insulted, he just let out another slow smile.

More than her belly quivered now. A little surprised to find herself reacting so strongly to a mere man, she backed up a step.

He arched a brow.

'Mia?' Hope called from outside. 'You guys coming?'

Kevin didn't take his eyes off Mia. 'Are you coming?' he asked very softly, silkily.

'God, I hope so,' she murmured.

His eyes smoldered as he looked at her so directly, so deeply it also was too much. He touched her cheek. 'Right behind you,' he called out to Hope, then put his hand on the small of Mia's back to guide her out the door. 'Bad day?'

'Yeah.' She sighed. 'Work sucked.'

'Any more trash can fires?'

'No. But I almost strangled a coworker who thinks he's God's gift.'

'The one who got Tess fired? The same guy who's trying to step on your toes and take your account?'

She looked at him in surprise.

He shrugged. 'Tess told us. You should have seen Hope. She was pretty hot under the collar about your boss.'

'Really?' Mia sighed and rubbed her forehead. 'Maybe the kid likes me after all.'

'You think?' He looked at her for a long moment. 'You really do look beat.'

'Gee, I want you, too.'

'Oh, I want you.'

She stared at him, disconcerted by the way he disarmed her. She swallowed hard. 'Why do things seem so complicated right now?'

Another long, thoughtful look. 'Maybe for tonight, over pizza and beer and laughs, things can get a little uncomplicated.'

'Yeah. Maybe.' But she didn't believe it. Then, before she knew it, they were in Kevin's kitchen, with Mike pressing a beer in her hand and Tess regaling them with the story of her adventures of getting Cookie Madness on the map. One of Mia's contacts called her after Mia had left her this afternoon-and ordered two hundred pounds.

Over more pizza, they all marveled at that. Then Kevin told them about his hopes of catching his pot-head, thanks to Hope's rigging his gas burners with an alarm. 'Tomorrow,' he said smiling, 'is going to be fun.'

Hope laughed again, and Mia looked at her, feeling her chest tighten again. God, she loved that sound, and she put her hand on Hope's arm.

'What?' Hope asked, still smiling.

Mia just shook her head. She'd just wanted to touch her, maybe hug her, but she wasn't sure how to do that. Tess moved around, cleaning up, touching Mike, pushing Kevin, kissing Hope, being so easy and free with her emotions that Mia felt a little lost. A little out of place.

'Hey.'

She blinked, and Kevin was standing close, tipping her face up to look deep into her eyes. 'Where did you go?'

'I'm right here.'

Slowly he shook his head. Then he took her hand in his and led her to the door. 'We're going to get more sodas,' he told the room in general, grabbing the two helmets on the counter. 'Be right back.'

He didn't say anything on the walk to his bike or when he handed her a helmet. Or when he straddled the bike and waited for her to join him. She hadn't been prepared to press her body to his, but when she did, some of the odd tension left her.

And a new one gripped her.

He turned his head and looked at her, smiled, and then, with a rev of the engine, they took off. Wind in their faces, the hills whipping by… yeah. This was just what she needed. All too soon, they were stopping at a convenience store for a six-pack of sodas, then heading back.

Dusk arrived and the heat lifted a bit. They parked on the street and sat there for a moment, not moving. Mia could smell the azaleas, could hear the buzz of a lone bee. From far down the street she could hear the normal sounds of traffic.

A world away from where she'd grown up. There the heat would still be thick, too thick to breathe. Dogs would be barking, growling, fighting. Kids screaming. Adults fighting. The smell of meat frying would be overwhelming. And above it all would be the sounds of her momma and Sugar, in their deep, Southern drawls, planning out their big catch at the rec center barbeque.

Mia's universe couldn't be more different. She'd carefully cultivated it to be.

So why wasn't she happy? She'd blame it on the kid, or work, but that wouldn't be honest.

She had the sexiest man on the planet looking at her, making her knees weak without even trying, causing her heart to pitter-patter like a kid's; a man who claimed to want her, a man who wouldn't accept her cool, calm facade she'd always given the world.

And yet she'd hidden herself for so long she didn't know how to reveal herself to him, or-even more unnerving- she didn't know who she really even was.

Kevin remained quiet as he got off the bike and reached for her hand. 'Hey.'

'Hey.'

'Feel any better?'

'Is that what the ride was about?'

'It always works for me, so I hoped-'

'Yeah.' She smiled. 'It worked. I just got overwhelmed. You know… work, Hope, Tess.'

'You mean Mike.'

'Maybe him, too. Tess won't admit it, but she's been hurt, too much. Maybe you could tell him to move on now before it's too late. It won't be difficult. All he has to do is smile that smile and another woman will be falling all over herself to snag him.'

Kevin smiled grimly. 'I've had this conversation with him.'

'And?'

'And he wants Tess.'

'Damn it, Kevin.'

'Look, I've seen him with her. They were here this afternoon with Hope, baking. My brother, the hound dog, measuring sugar and cracking eggs.'

'So?' Mia shrugged, unimpressed. 'A guy'll do anything to get laid.'

Lifting a hand, he stroked a finger over her temple in the guise of tucking a stray strand of hair back. 'Only guys?'

She slapped his hand away with a laugh. 'Fine. Women do it, too.'

'You're upset at all the changes.'

'No, I'm-' She broke off, her eyes locked on his. 'Okay, maybe. I don't like change.'

'Of course you do. Look at your life and how you've changed it to suit yourself. Your job itself is a constant change. What you don't like is when you don't have the reins in your hands. When you're not sure of the outcome. You act all tough, but the truth is you're not much of a gambler if it's not a sure bet.'

'You make me sound like a control freak. I'm not.'

At that, he tossed back his head and laughed. 'Yeah. Okay. You're also not in denial.' He stroked a hand up her back and made her want to melt. 'It's okay, I've got your number.'

She hated how breathless his touch made her. 'Think so?'

Leaning in, he kissed right beneath her ear. 'Yeah,' he said on a soft exhale and made her shiver. Smiling against her skin, he bit her lightly. 'Now tell me what's really wrong, since you've danced around it.'

Wrapping her hands around him, she cupped his butt and squeezed. 'I've got a better idea.'

He grabbed her hands in his. 'I'm on board with that idea, trust me, but everyone is standing in my kitchen,