Her Sexiest Mistake

I want Tess.

Kevin stared at him, saw the real regret and honesty and frustration in his brother's eyes, and for the first time felt a true surge of hope. What are you going to tell her?

The truth, for a change. That I've been working my way through any woman I could get my hands on, trying to feel better about myself and my screwed up life. That until she came along I never felt whole.

Kevin nodded, thinking how much he'd love to hear such things from Mia. You might have to be patient.

I'm willing to put the time in. Mike smiled, then walked off the court, leaving Kevin to wonder if he'd really get his happily-ever-after.

Or, for that matter, if Kevin would. He grabbed his bag, and when he turned around, his gaze locked on Mia.

She stood on the other side of the fence, on the path that would take her to her house, wearing some knockout business suitdress that made his tongue waggle and his heart hurt.

She looked like a million bucks, even as her eyes narrowed on him, her mouth opening in a little O of distress as she came through the gate. 'What the hell have you done to yourself?'

He touched his lip and his fingers came away bloody. 'Just a little cut.' He bent to pick up his duffle bag and then whimpered unmanly when the pain stabbed into his ribs.

'What's the matter?' she demanded and put a hand on his arm.

'Nothing.' He managed a smile, and sweating all over again-and not entirely because of his injuries- he headed out the gate, dragging his bag instead of picking it up.

Dragging his ass, too.

Her heels clicked on the asphalt as she followed at his side. 'You're hurt.'

'Part of the game.' She smelled like heaven. He wanted her, of course; he always wanted her. But oddly enough, while dragging her into the woods and shoving up that hot, short skirt had plenty of appeal, he wanted other things, too. Her smiling, for one. Her happy, talking, laughing. Just being. With him.

Idiot. You can't fix… 'You're dressed up.'

'I worked a new job today.'

'That's great,' he said and meant it. 'What-' He broke off when he tried to shoulder his bag, because the sharp pain stabbing into his ribs made it impossible to do anything else.

She made a soft sound of distress as she reached for him, but he gritted his teeth and shook his head. 'I'm fine,' he managed, not wanting her hands on him. That would only make things worse. 'Nothing a shower can't cure.' He lengthened his stride ahead of her, gritting his teeth as he took the three stairs toward his front door, each jarring his ribs.

'Kevin-'

'Yeah, I gotta go. I'll see you, okay?' He shut the door, dropped the bag and the pretense, and sagged back against the wood.

Chapter 25

Mia stared at Kevin's front door. He'd dismissed her. Unbelievable. Well, guess what? She was done with being dismissed. She'd spent the afternoon working Cookie Madness for all it was worth, and she'd kicked some serious ass. She had big news and- other than Tess, who already knew-no one to share it with.

At least no one to get naked and share it with.

That's when she'd had her epiphany-and better late than sorry, right? She'd been wrong to hold back, wrong to let her past and fears stand in her way, and she wanted Kevin to know it.

Damn it.

She lifted her fist to knock, but decided the hell with that. They were way past knocking, so instead she turned the handle and pushed. She felt a resistance, then heard a pained 'Oomph.'

'Hello?' She pushed again, then realized Kevin himself must be leaning on the door. 'Kevin?'

'Yeah.'

Slipping inside the crack, she found him sitting against the wood, pale and sweaty. 'Damn it.' She put her hands on her hips rather than hover over him like the worried hen a small part of her wanted to be. 'Let's go. Now.'

'Sorry, honey.' Brow damp, he shot her a weak smile. 'I don't think I can do you right now. I've got to-'

'Doctor,' she said through her teeth. 'I meant I'm taking you to a doctor.'

'Not necessary.' Getting up very carefully, he moved to the base of the stairs, then just stared up at them in dismay.

'Oh, for God's sake.' She dropped her briefcase and moved forward, slipping a hand around his waist. His skin felt hot to the touch, and damp. 'Did you break a rib?'

'Nah.'

He was holding his breath as they took the stairs, she noticed with concern, and now looked a little bit green. 'I still think we should-'

'Wow, I must have hit my head, because I thought you just said we.'

'Kevin-'

But he just walked through his bedroom and into his bathroom, slowly pulling off his shirt. 'Start the shower?' he asked her.

She cranked it to what she knew was his personal favorite-scalding.

He kicked off his shoes with the slow, purposeful movements of the very drunk or the very injured, and she got mad again because mad was easier. 'Damn it, Kevin, you need a doctor.'

'Shh,' he said, then toed off his socks.

'Look, I'm dragging your ass straight to the ER.'

He shoved off his shorts, then stood in front of the mirror inspecting his lip.

Because she was human, her gaze took a tour of his rock hard body. Long, powerful legs. Fantastic ass. Lean hips. Smooth, sleek back.

Coming up behind him, she put her hands on his already bruising ribs. Beneath her hands, his muscles leapt. He hissed out a breath.

She met his gaze in the mirror. 'Sit.' Gently pushing him onto the closed commode, she grabbed a towel, wet it, then dabbed at his lip.

He winced.

She scowled, and dabbed some more. Damn it, she was not good at this coddling shit. She dabbed again and his hand came up and caught her wrist.

'I'm fine,' he said.

She tossed the towel aside in frustration and glared at him. 'Great. You're fine.'

Slowly, holding his breath, he stood again and put his hands on her arms. 'And you're not.'

Hey, she was perfectly great, just because apparently she couldn't even show him how she felt. What was wrong with her? How was it she'd not gotten the gene to do this-to