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

susceptible to the bold, too-large-for-life Memphis.
    Finally, the clerk said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes to check on you.”
    His gaze shifted briefly to the woman. “I’d prefer that you didn’t,” he said, and Kate’s bellyburned at his frank words. His eyes returned to hers, and the tension in her insides reached levels that interfered with her ability to breathe as he went on. “Ms. Anderson and I will come find you when we’re done.”
    A sensual heat and heart-thumping anticipation swelled so acutely it pushed the breath from her lungs and filled every available space in her stomach. As the salesclerk turned on her heel and exited, neither of them moved, their gazes engaged in a duel.
    Once the lady pulled the door shut behind her, Kate took a deep breath and gathered her strung-out nerves, feeling woozy from the wine and the man. “Memphis, let’s just concentrate on finishing.”
    He didn’t move. “That’s what I’m doing.”
    A crackling electricity hit her body and spread. “No, you’re not,” she said. “You’re intentionally trying to make me uncomfortable. And that isn’t going to help us complete our task,” she said, and she turned to head for the rest of the shirts.
    Memphis wrapped his fingers around her wrist, preventing her departure from his side, and her heart rate surged into overdrive as she reluctantly faced him.
    His gaze was relentless. “Maybe that’s not the task I’m trying to complete.”
    Oh, God. She wasn’t ready for this.
    She would
never
be ready for this.
    Desperate to delay the inevitable, she said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    But she did, she just couldn’t admit it, because right now his skin on hers reminded her of just how long it had been since she’d been touched by a man.
    Fingers wrapped around her wrist, Memphis took a step closer. “Do you remember what you said the last time we made love that night?”
    Kate’s mouth went dry and her throat constricted, cutting off her breath. The heat of his palm was but a small reminder of the fire this man had the ability to create. It was several moments before she could answer. “No.”
    His eyes told her he knew she was lying. “You need a little more practice telling the truth, ex-Mrs. Worthington,” he said, his deep voice rumbling up her spine. His tone was infused with the insatiable need they’d shared so long ago.
    Along with a generous dose of frustration.
    Memphis had always come with a tangle of emotions that had been impossible to unravel—some of them good, some of them bad, but none of them had been lukewarmly felt. Right now intense desire and a rising anger of her own was making rational thought difficult.
    He was wrong for her. He’d
always
been wrong for her.
    “Memphis,” she said, struggling to stay calm despite the lack of oxygen. “I’m not—”
    “You promised me the morning,” he said smoothly.
    Her heart tripped in her chest. “That was a long time ago.” She pulled her hand free and tooka step backward, trying to distance herself from the memories and all she’d done with this man,
to
this man, and the consequences. “And during a turbulent time in my life.”
    He went on as if she hadn’t spoken, stepping forward in her direction even as she continued to back away. “And then I woke to find you gone.”
    Guilt, her ever-present companion, reared its persistent head.
    “I was upset.” She hated that her words came out weak. “And confused …”
    As if that explained everything she’d done.
    He continued to slowly advance on her as she backed up, until her shoulders hit the door and there was no more room for retreat. “There,” he said softly, his gaze deliberately provoking her. “That will keep the overly helpful clerk out until we’re through.”
    “We
are
through.”
    “Angel Face,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’ve finally figured out we’re so far from done it isn’t funny.”
    Irritation drove her chin up. Memphis