The Best Mistake of Her Life by Aimee Carson Read Free Book Online

politician’swife. Going to her parents afterward to confess her relationship was over had been a mistake, because they’d simply said that marriage was hard, Dalton was a good man and to go back to her husband. In that moment, she’d never felt more alone. Brian’s company would have helped.
    Memphis had been a dangerous substitute.
    “I don’t know why I’m going along with this,” Memphis muttered as he stood in the center of the dressing room, as if unclear exactly why he was still here.
    Kate pushed the memories aside and crossed her legs. “Just start with trying on a few shirts,” she said. “It can’t be near as bad as hitting an air bag from a hundred-foot drop—”
    Memphis pulled his T-shirt over his head—cutting her sentence short—and tossed the garment aside. Kate was grateful she was already sitting. Now clad in nothing but jeans, Memphis’s form elicited a full-scale assault on her senses. The vision of a lean, muscle-adorned chest brought back a slew of powerful memories….
    Memphis, frowning as he finally relented to her pleas and claimed her mouth with his.
    Her, beneath him, clinging to his hard torso as passion drove away the years of loneliness.
    “Can I get you anything from the bar, Ms. Anderson?” the clerk said. Now that Memphis was shirtless, the woman’s voice sounded strained.
    Kate blinked, and the vision of a bare-chested Memphis returned. A drink? Absolutely. An alcoholic beverage was definitely in order.
    Kate sent the saleslady a beyond-grateful smile. “What do you have?”
    “Champagne.” The redhead’s gaze slid to Memphis, and she looked as if she needed a drink too. “We also carry a nice selection of wine and several imported beers.”
    “Wine,” Kate said. “Red, please.”
    The saleslady complied, and as she poured the drink Memphis said, “She’s a lightweight, so I wouldn’t be too liberal with my portions.”
    Kate shot him a look. Memphis obviously felt no need to send the saleslady away, and the clerk was clearly loath to leave. Kate was simply glad the woman provided a buffer, so she accepted the glass with a smile. After a sip that curled low in her belly, she took another—all in the name of fortification, of course—and sent the saleslady a bigger smile.
    “Have a seat and we can rate the selections,” Kate said.
    The clerk’s return grin was brilliant as she complied. “If you insist.”
    Kate glanced at the masculine chest on display and restrained the sigh. “Might as well enjoy your job,” she muttered.
    “Some days are definitely better than others,” the clerk murmured.
    Memphis headed for the rack, the corded muscles and sinew in his back rippling as he shifted through the selections.
    Eyes on the vast expanse of masculinity on display—and trying hard not to remember howlong she’d gone without—Kate picked up the basket of cookies, offering the clerk one. “If you can’t have wine, at least enjoy a baked good.”
    Kate turned and saw the clerk was just as pleased with the view.
    “I probably should,” the redhead said. “I think my blood sugar just dropped.” Her smile was wan. “I’m feeling a little woozy.”
    As if oblivious, Memphis turned and lifted his arms over his head, spearing them into the sleeves of a dress shirt, the muscles in his chest shifting. Kate heard the clerk catch her breath at the beautiful display that highlighted his athleticism, his power and his dedication to his job by how meticulously he maintained his physical condition. And with the sexily rumpled style of his brown hair, Memphis always looked as if he’d just climbed out of bed after enjoying a satisfying night….
    Kate briefly pressed her lids closed. Dear God, maybe that perception was more a reflection of her than him. She took another gulp of wine that her hit her empty stomach and burned, the warmth spreading lower.
    Shirt now buttoned, Memphis turned to face the two ladies, clearly underwhelmed by their participation to date.