Page 81 of My Favorite Mistake

Liza immediately spun around. “God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize—"

“L.,” Brennan said. “Are you—?” He cut himself off with a high-pitched whistle that made the cab pause as it was easing away from the curb.

Assuming Brennan was making the cab wait for her, Liza stepped off the doorstep, but Brennan held her arm. “Hang on just a sec.”

Fastening his fly and buckling his belt, he crossed the sidewalk and knocked on the driver’s window. He and the driver exchanged a few words, and then Brennan slipped out his wallet and handed him a thick wad of cash before the two men firmly but quickly shook hands.

Returning to the doorstep, Brennan held Liza’s elbow and nudged her inside the house. The young woman was still on the couch, and Liza turned to face a wall.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

She heard Brennan speaking in hushed tones to the woman along with the faint rustle of clothing as though they were both getting dressed, and Liza rolled her eyes at herself.

This was a horrible idea.

This entire day seemed to be rife withhorribleideas.

Eventually, Brennan walked the young woman out the front door, down the steps, and to the cab. From where Liza was standing next to the open door, she was able to see everything.

The young woman had a perfect figure; she was compact, yet voluptuous, dressed in a tight, short black dress. Brennan now had the white dress shirt on, but not buttoned. The two looked like a scene from a romantic movie as they said goodbye. Her shiny, black stilettos brought her just to the level of his clavicle, and Brennan cupped her face, his thumb drawing in a slow sweep across her cheekbone. He said something and kissed her forehead, then tilted her chin up so he could press a long, deep kiss to her mouth.

The way he kissed her was so intimate and tender that Liza couldn’t help wondering if this was a woman he had real feelings for, and she felt even more guilty for interrupting. After all, Brennan had told her point-blank that he didn’t do relationships. What if Liza had interrupted a pivotal moment for them? What if she’druinedhis chance at having something serious with this woman? After all, Liza had shown up unannounced, and Brennan basically kicked the woman out of his house, and thatdefinitelywouldn’t help whatever was going on between them.

After he broke the kiss, the woman looked up at him through big green eyes and smiled coyly. He slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close and slowly, sensually kissing her neck before releasing her. He held her hand as she lowered herself into the cab, and then he kissed her knuckles before closing the door.

The cab pulled away from the curb, and Brennan turned to march back inside. He closed the door and locked it, and then he turned to her with a somber expression. “What happened, L.?”

Liza’s jaw hung open as she skimmed her gaze all over the house and attempted to put words together. “I am so sorry. I had no idea that you were busy. I should’ve called. Or texted.” She glanced at the front windows. “I hope I didn’t ruin something.”

“You didn’t. And I know you wouldn’t have shown up here if something wasn’t wrong.” Brennan stood in front of her, hands on his hips. His shirt still hung open, exposing perfectly sculpted abs and a large, solid chest that belonged on a statue of an ancient Greek athlete.

Liza turned away from him, not wanting to accidentally stare. Instead, she looked over the interior of the house and let that momentarily distract her. The house was fit for southern royalty, complete with tall ceilings, elegant crown molding, a glittering chandelier, oriental rugs, heavy Edwardian era furniture, and even a shiny black baby grand piano in one corner of the front parlor. It smelled of cinnamon and clove, there were fresh floral arrangements in crystal vases sitting on marble-topped side tables, and priceless art tastefully hung in gilded frames on the walls.

“Your house is beautiful, B.,” she couldn’t help remarking.

“I know you didn’t come here to talk about my house either,” he said. His tone was somber and gentle, but Liza couldn’t help feeling like he was annoyed and expected her to get to the damn point given her interruption. “What happened, honey?”

Her stomach soured as she rolled Connor’s confession over in her mind, and then she turned back around. Her gaze was trained on her wedge sandals and Brennan’s shiny, black Oxford shoes.

“There wasn’t a girlfriend,” she declared, then found the gumption to look up at him. “Did you know there wasn’t a girlfriend?”

“With Connor,” he prompted. “Back then.”

She nodded, and Brennan began absently buttoning and tucking in his shirt.

“I did know,” he added, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows and then raking his hand through his tousled hair. “I’m assuming he told you that fairly recently.”

“Youdidn’t tell me,” she clipped. Not that it was his responsibility to tell her something like that. Liza knew she wasn’t entitled to information Brennan had just because he was Connor’s best friend. “I told you everything only a few weeks ago, and you said nothing about thisgirlfriendnot existing.”

“I’m sorry, L.” His mocha-hued eyes searched hers, and all Liza saw in his was remorse. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I didn’t know how, or even if I should’ve tried to clarify about that. I’m sorry if that hurt you.”

“Youdidn’t.” Tears were burning her eyes, and she shook her head. “You haven’t done anything wrong. But he was at my house, and we…and then afterward, he told me it was all a lie.” Her chin trembled violently. “We hadsex, andthenhe told me it was all a lie.” Her brows were knitted so hard that a headache threatened. “He didn’t really love me. It’s all completely clear now.”

Brennan’s features were suddenly as hard as etched granite. “He did, L. He loved you. He still does. The lie about the girlfriend doesn’t change that. Terrible shit was going on with him, and he reacted. I would tell you all of it in a heartbeat, but Ican’t, L. I can’t be the one to have that conversation with you. But if you’ll just give him some time,hewill.”

“You keep saying he’ll come around if I just give him sometime, and I’ve been here formonths, and look at us.”

“Yeah,look at y’all,L.” He pointed at the windows. “Look at you slow-dancing, and making out in the middle of a music festival, and going home together, and having sex.”

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