My Favorite Mistake (15 page)

My mind swirled. If I introduced them, word would get back to Barry. If I didn’t, word would
definitely
get back to Barry, and on top of that, El en would probably write me off for being rude. I cleared my throat.

“This is El en Brant, the general manager of a local television network, and her mother. Ladies, this is, um…um…”

“Her neighbor,” Redford cut in and his voice had taken on a…
feminine
edge?

I swung my gaze to him, baffled.

He reached forward and shook the women’s hands with two fingers, his wrist as limp as a dishrag. “How do you do?
Love
those earrings.”

“Thank you,” El en said, rearranging her face from suspicion into a knowing smile. “Did you enjoy the show?”

“Oh, did I! It gets better
every
time,” he said, clasping his hands together, a wistful expression on his face.

My mind could not comprehend what I was seeing and hearing. Redford DeMoss, career military man and the most heterosexual man I’d ever met, pretending to be…
gay?
I

was stupefied.

“Wel , it was nice meeting you,” El en said to Redford. “Denise, I’l see you Tuesday afternoon.” Then she leaned forward and sighed near my ear. “Al the best-looking men are gay, aren’t they?”

I nodded and made sympathetic noises and wished them wel . Only when they had disappeared from sight could I bring myself to look at Redford, who wore an innocent

expression.

“
What
was that?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“What?”

“That bad impression of Steven Cojocaru.”

“Who?”

“A TV personality. He’s…flamboyant.”

Redford shrugged. “Just trying to help you out of a spot. You said the woman worked for a television station. I assume she knows your boyfriend?”

“Fiancé,” I corrected. “El en is his boss.”

He lifted his hands. “So…you’re welcome.”

My face burned when I realized why he’d done what he’d done. So word wouldn’t get back to Barry that I was out with another man—another
straight
man. “Thank you, Redford.”

He pressed his lips together. “I just hope he deserves you.”

I couldn’t speak. Deserve
me?
I was doing things behind Barry’s back.
He
deserved someone better than me. I glanced down and rubbed a finger over my engagement ring.

Redford sighed heavily. “But if you tel anyone what I did, I’l have to kil you.”

I looked up and laughed, shaking my head. “Al gay men don’t act that over-the-top.”

He shrugged. “I know, but I improvised. It worked, didn’t it?”

I pursed my mouth, then nodded.

He looked at me, then fingered a lock of my hair that had come loose from my ponytail, leaving a tingling trail across my skin. “You promised me a night view from the top of the Empire State Building.”

I exhaled and smiled. “Yes, I did.”

The Empire State Building was always a crowded attraction, but at this time of the day there were fewer children. And at this time of the year, people stayed on the observatory for less time, so the lines moved quickly. When we stepped out onto the observatory, I shivered in my coat—the air temperature at this height was breathtaking. Redford saw my reaction and put his arm around me. I didn’t object—I couldn’t imagine any mischief unfolding in the frigid air and blustery wind.

Redford was immediately riveted to the unending view—lights twinkling and moving across the city like Christmas tree decorations, buildings glowing as if they were atop a

Lite-Brite board. I pointed out landmarks as we walked al around the platform—the George Washington Bridge, the Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Reuters Building, the Woolworth Building.

“It’s like being on top of the world,” Redford said.

I nodded, then broached a subject that had been eating at me. “Redford, are you…seeing someone special back in Kentucky?”

He shook his head then looked back to the view. “No.”

I wet my parched lips. “Are women scarce in Kentucky?”

He laughed. “Not at al .”

Which meant he looked…as any normal red-blooded single man would do. I injected a teasing note into my voice. “I would think that you could have just about any woman you

wanted.”

His laugh was self-deprecating, but he didn’t offer a comment. For my part, I wished I hadn’t asked. Redford’s love life was none of my business…anymore.

A bitter gust of wind blasted us, and my teeth began to chatter. Redford pul ed me in front of him and shielded me with his big body, rubbing my arms briskly with his hands.

Suddenly his hands slowed and a few seconds later, he lowered his arms and crossed them over my chest. I felt his chest rise and fal with a sigh. I closed my eyes and eased my head back against him, then raised my hands to cover his. He hugged me closer against him, uttering a low moan that reverberated through my body.

“Denise,” he whispered against my temple. “I—”

I didn’t let him finish. I lifted my mouth to his for a desperate, jarring, upside-down kiss. His lips were warm and firm, his tongue strong and determined. I sighed into his mouth and strained against the awkward angle. He broke the kiss long enough to turn me in his arms, and I met him again, wil ingly.

My mouth remembered his—every texture, every flavor. Our teeth clicked and our tongues danced, sending white-hot desire shooting through me. I pushed my hands into his

hair and kneaded the back of his neck, pul ing his mouth closer, deeper. His arms tightened around me and even through my coat, I could feel his urgent desire for me. My body leapt in response, also remembering that magic wand of his. The way his face contorted with pleasure when he thrust deep into me…heaven…

I pressed my body against his erection and he groaned. His hands slid down my back and underneath me, pul ing me against him. I gave in to the thril of him and thrust my

hands through the opening in his coat to wrap my arms around his warm back, pul ing him closer. I lowered my hand to stroke the thick knob of his shaft through his clothing, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

The sound of persistent throat-clearing reached my ears—and apparently Redford’s. We lifted our heads to see a security guard standing a few feet away trying to look as if he

hadn’t noticed us. I realized other people around us were doing their best to ignore us, and I flushed with embarrassment. Making out in public—was I sixteen years old?

“Let’s go,” I murmured, my ragged breath coming out in white puffs.

Redford tried to take my hand, but I pul ed it back and stuffed it deep into my coat pocket. His mouth tightened, but he didn’t press me. Our walk back to the elevator bay and the ride down were quiet. I assumed his mind was as chaotic as mine…or perhaps not since he didn’t have as much at stake. For Redford, a weekend fling would simply be a pleasurable reunion. For me, it would be going back to a place where my body overrode my mind, and I couldn’t live the rest of my life that way. I had a good, logical life waiting for me, with Barry…a man whose ring I wore, whose proposal I’d accepted mere days ago. What kind of woman was I that I could be tempted into an affair so soon after taking a man’s ring?

That
kind of woman…carnal…reckless…rash.

No!
I would not barter my long-term happiness for short-term gratification.

When we exited the building, the wind had kicked up, howling around us, sending litter twirling in the streets and making it nearly impossible to talk. I wanted the wind to pick me up and twirl me into next week. My eBay auction would be over, the IRS audit would be over and I’d have El en Brant’s business. My life would be back to normal…better than normal because I would be a content engaged woman with a fat bonus in the bank, and a wedding dress in my closet.

And Redford would be a memory.

His dress shoes sounded against the sidewalk with military precision, the wind whipping the legs of his slacks. At the curb Redford hailed a cab and we slid inside. I huddled

against the door inside my coat, Redford staring out the window, occasional y pul ing on his chin. A couple of times, he started to say something, but changed his mind. When the cabbie neared my building, I leaned forward. “Let me out at the next corner, please.”

“We’l both get out,” Redford said.

“You can go on to your hotel.”

“I’l walk to the hotel,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

I alighted from the cab, steeled for the argument I knew was imminent. When Redford paid the cabbie, he turned to look at me and jammed his hands on his hips. “Denise—”

“I’m sorry, Redford,” I said, my voice clipped. “I made a mistake kissing you back there.”

He was quiet for a few seconds. “Are you saying you don’t have feelings for me?”

His question startled me in its directness. For a few seconds, I was flustered, then irritated. “Redford, how can you ask me that? I’m
engaged
to another man.”

“A few minutes ago, you weren’t thinking about your boyfriend.”

“Fiancé.”

“Whatever.” He stepped closer to me and tipped my chin up with his hand, forcing me to look at him. His eyes glittered in the shadow of a streetlight. “Denise, I was on the

receiving end of that kiss. Do you have feelings for me?” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Did you ever?”

A lump formed in my throat and my tongue felt swol en in my mouth. “Redford, my feelings…” I swal owed and tried again. “The feelings that we…that I…had for you…when we

first met.” I gestured vaguely. “I was caught up in you…in your sexuality…in your openness. I confused my physical attraction for you with…love.” I exhaled and brushed the hair out of my eyes. “So…yes, I’m stil attracted to you…obviously. But…” I pressed my lips together.

He dropped his hand and gave a little laugh. “So I’m only good for meaningless sex.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“It’s okay, Denise.” His shoulders lifted in a shrug, then he put his hands in his slacks pockets. “That’s not such a bad thing for a man to hear.” A sardonic smile came over his mouth. “I had a wonderful time with you today…and tonight. And if it makes you feel better, I promise to keep my open sexuality under wraps tomorrow.”

I shook my head. “Redford, I don’t think I should go upstate with you.”

He cocked one eyebrow. “Oh, come on, I’m not
that
irresistible. Besides, I thought we were going to go over our tax files.” He gave me a teasing grin. “That should pretty much kil any inclination to…make a mistake…shouldn’t it?”

Standing there with his hands in his pockets and the wind ruffling his hair, he looked boyish and completely harmless. Like a rejected prom date, content to be friends. I sighed.

Kenzie would be disappointed if I didn’t go. And Redford and I did need to talk about our taxes. And it seemed that we
had
cleared the air of our inappropriate attraction. “Okay. What time should I be ready?”

He smiled. “I’l pick you up at eight. Bring some riding clothes.”

He was striding away before his words sunk in.
Riding clothes?
He couldn’t possibly mean
horse
riding clothes…although, was there another kind? “I don’t like horses!” I yel ed after him, but he only threw up his hand dismissively.

“I…don’t…like…
horses!
” I shouted at the top of my lungs, but the wind whisked my words away.

I frowned and walked inside my apartment muttering, “I don’t like horses.”

14

Sunday

Days left on eBay auction: 2

Bidding on wedding dress up to: $1653

Winning bidder: SYLVIESMOM

WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR
Sunday morning, Redford stood silhouetted in the early morning sunshine wearing faded jeans, a blue work shirt, a tan corduroy jacket and, of course, the hat.

So much for not being irresistible.

He gestured at my wool skirt and sweater. “Those don’t look like riding clothes.”

I set my jaw against an internal reaction to his outrageous sexiness, then crossed my arms. “I…don’t…like…horses. You and Sam are going to look at your stud. Kenzie and I…

aren’t.” I turned around and he fol owed me inside.

“Horses are the most beautiful animals that God created—wel , aside from women.”

I gave him a bland smile.

“At least wear some sensible shoes.”

I looked down at my suede clogs. “These are sensible.”

He clapped his hands together. “Okay. Ready to go?”

“I just need to get a bag of clothes I’m taking to Kenzie. Oh, and would you mind helping me with the box of tax papers sitting outside the bedroom door?”

I went into my bedroom to pick up my purse and the bag. When I checked inside the bag, I remembered with a start that I’d included the sweater Redford had given me when

we’d first met. I entertained thoughts of keeping it, then told myself that getting rid of the sweater was for the best. I needed to get rid of al my Vegas keepsakes. I wasn’t sure what I would do with my lovely wedding band, but eBay was always an option. The thought of sel ing it online gave me a queasy feeling, but it was the logical thing to do. Considering I was marrying someone else, that is.

At the sound of footsteps behind me, I turned to see Redford standing in the doorway, holding the box of papers and staring at something off to the right. I fol owed his line of vision and my pulse blipped. Last night I had removed my wedding gown from the closet and hung it from the mirror on my dressing table, both to get it out of the way and as an extra reminder of where my head should be.

“Wow,” he said. “Nice dress. You’l be a beautiful bride, Denise.”

I shifted uncomfortably. “Thanks.”

His gaze was level and earnest. “I’m glad to see you plan to do it right this time.”

I looked away. I had thought the same thing myself, but hearing it from Redford was unsettling.

“We have a long drive ahead of us,” he said quietly. “We’d better get going. I’m parked il egal y.”

“Right.”

We walked outside and he put the box in the back seat of the monster truck. “Wait and I’l help you up,” he said across the expansive hood.