Her Best Mistake (Novella) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Edition License Notes

  Author’s Note

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  More About Donna McDonald

  Excerpt from “THE WRONG TODD”

  Contemporary Books

  Paranormal/SciFi/Fantasy Books

  About the Author

  Her Best Mistake

  by

  Donna McDonald

  * * * * *

  Copyright 2012 by Donna McDonald

  Cover Art by LFD Designs for Authors

  Edited by Mary Yakovets

  Edition License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should delete it from your device and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is coincidental.

  This book contains content that may not be suitable for young readers 17 and under.

  Author’s Note

  Her Best Mistake was as previously published in a collection called Quickies Volume 1 which has since been removed from active sale so I could offer the stories individually. This version received more editing and has a fun new cover. Hope you enjoy it.

  Happy reading. ~ Donna McDonald

  Dedication

  This story is for my husband, Bruce. I wasn’t looking for a younger man when I found you, but my attraction to you is just like Lisa’s attraction to Finn. Many say that an older woman marrying a younger man is a mistake because the age difference can pull you apart. All that might one day be true for us, but mistake or not, saying yes to you is the the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.

  Chapter 1

  Finn Roberts tried to stand but quickly found his legs wouldn’t hold him up. Whatever intelligence allowed him to finish two masters and one doctoral degree before the age of thirty obviously did not extend itself to helping him make good decisions when it came to his wicked brother Eric.

  “What the hell was in those drinks?” Finn demanded. He grabbed the table to keep from pitching forward and falling on his face. Dizziness engulfed him and his head spun. Thirty-six hours of flying was finally taking its toll. Alcohol had only worsened the jetlag.

  Eric laughed, stood, and put an arm around Finn to hold him up. “Look at you, Finn. Two girlie drinks and your ass is all but on the floor. God, I’ve missed you. I wish you’d quit digging in the dirt and come home to Boston.”

  “Digging in the dirt?” Still feeling ill, Finn had to work to put the proper amount of outrage into his voice. It was matter of pride to keep up with the insult game about their chosen careers. “Well, at least it’s better than gambling for a living.”

  Eric laughed as he guided a grumbling Finn out of the bar.

  “What can I say?” Eric admitted. “All those people with money to invest and I just love helping them with it. It keeps me in BMWs and Italian shoes. What are you doing with all those college degrees of yours, pretty boy? T-shirts and sandals don’t exactly scream success, Dr. Roberts.”

  Finn snorted at Eric’s criticism. “The dig site is in a very remote location. There’s nowhere in the middle of the desert to wear a damn suit. I told you I hadn’t had alcohol in two years, yet you have me doing shots within minutes of my plane landing. How do I let you talk me into acting so insanely? You’ve been doing this to me all our lives. Lord, I think I’m going to be sick. I just hope I hit your expensive Italian shoes when I spew.”

  “Don’t you dare. I like these shoes,” Eric said as he laughed harder. But he halted just outside the lounge to let his brother rest. “Okay. Stop walking a minute. Get your breath.”

  Finn stopped, closed his eyes, and took a few deep, steadying breaths. When he opened his eyes again, Eric was still there holding him up, eyes full of both love and mischief.

  And that’s how he always did it, Finn decided. His brother wore him down with a wicked smile and love in his eyes.

  “Just remember that I’m bigger than you. If I fall, I’m taking you with me,” Finn warned.

  “Come on, Dr. Roberts. Let’s get your inebriated ass to the room so you can sleep this off. My condo is still a renovation construction zone, so I went all out and booked you a suite here at the Copley under my name. I’m sure it won’t have the ambiance of your desert tent, but it comes with a few perks I think you will appreciate. In the morning, I’ll come by and take you to breakfast if you’re up to it. If not, we’ll make it lunch.”

  “Why didn’t you get a double room? Where are you spending the night?” Finn demanded.

  “You’re such a worrier, Finn. I have plans to sleep elsewhere,” Eric explained, favoring his serious sibling with a knowing grin. “Besides, there’s only one bed in the suite. I’m not pulling out the sofa, even for you.”

  Laughing at Finn’s careful steps as they staggered across the lobby, Eric patted his chest as they stopped at the front desk.

  “Hold up, bro,” Eric said to Finn on a laugh. “Hey, Cindy. Got my room ready?”

  “Hey yourself, Eric Roberts,” Cindy said with a welcoming smile.

  She lifted her gaze from the computer to stare at the pair of handsome males leaning on the check-in counter. Twins. Now that gave a woman wicked ideas. Both were tall with reddish-brown hair and mile-wide shoulders. Her interested gaze took them in as she bit back a sigh. She needed her job too badly to hit on hotel guests, which was really, really too bad.

  “You never said you were a twin,” Cindy teased, swallowing her disappointment as she made the men a key card.

  “Twin? This guy? You’re kidding, right? This is just some drunk I picked up in the hotel bar. But since I’m feeling sorry for him, I’m going to let him sleep it off in my room,” Eric stated, snorting over Finn’s low ‘duplicitous bastard’ comment. No other male he knew could swear as poetically as his Harvard professor brother.

  Cindy giggled before sliding a room key through the scanner. She handed it over to Eric, laughing softly. “Here you go.”

  “Give me two more and something to write on,” Eric requested.

  “Okay,” Cindy said, sliding two more key cards. Really they were only supposed to give out two total, but this was Eric Roberts. He was a regular at the hotel. Not that he was ever lacking for company when he came around, but a girl could always dream.

  “Why do you need three keys?” Finn demanded, cringing on the inside. Oh, shit. Surely he didn’t.

  Eric grinned and patted Finn’s chest. “Not now. Thank me later.” He turned back to Cindy behind the desk. “There’s going to be a beautiful brunette walk in here later and ask for a key to my room. I want you to give it to her for me along with this note, okay?”

  Finn watched as Eric passed the note he’d written, a key card, and a twenty to Cindy.

  “No problem at all,” she promised, winking at his grin.

  Finn rolled his eyes as he let Eric resume dragging him across the lobby. Once in the elevator, he leaned back against the wall, hoping it would stop his head from spinning long enough to make his case.

  �
�Eric, tell me you did not fix me up with one of your booty calls. I was jet lagged when I got here, and now I’m drunk too. Even if I was interested—which I am not—I would be of no use to any woman until I acclimate to being back in Boston. My body is still on Egypt time.”

  Eric turned and put his hands on Finn’s shoulders. “I love you, Finn, and I know you. You’re still living like a monk out there in that desert you call a job. Alicia is fun and uncomplicated. You’ll like her. She doesn’t mind being the one in charge, so it won’t matter if you’re not a hundred percent.”

  “Damn it, Eric—”

  “Don’t worry, Professor, I didn’t use your name. Pretend to be me for once and see how a real man lives,” Eric ordered.

  “You’re disgusting, and yet I know women fall all over you. I don’t get it. Call and stop her from coming, Eric,” Finn demanded.

  Eric sighed dramatically, shaking his head no. The elevator finally stopped at the top floor. He put an arm around Finn again as they exited into the hall.

  “Please, Eric,” Finn begged, not caring that he sounded pathetic. “Call off your friend. I really don’t want to deal with one of your fix-ups today. I need to shower and then sleep; otherwise, I’m going to be seriously sick. I’m really, really tired.”

  Finn watched Eric studying his face, which he knew had to be showing the wear and tear of his long flight, plus all the work he had done on the plane.

  “Okay.” Eric conceded. “Maybe this weekend before you leave, eh?”

  Finn sighed but nodded, trying to look as disappointed about not scoring as his brother would expect him to be. He knew Eric well, and knew that he had to at least pretend to go along with next week in order to get out of today.

  Chapter 2

  When her cell phone battery failed for the hundredth time, Lisa chastised herself for not letting her assistant order her a new one. Trying to make sure she hadn’t missed him, she resorted to just looking in the hotel restaurant and bar, even though she didn’t see Eric Roberts waiting as he promised.

  She and Eric had met a few months ago during a conference at the Copley. They had clicked about business matters that day and gone to dinner once since. She hadn’t been surprised when he’d called and invited her to meet him there for a drink today. He’d said something about his brother maybe joining them, but she didn’t remember the details.

  Since the Copley was within walking distance of her office, she’d agreed hastily without really thinking about whether it was a good idea or not. The date hadn’t really peaked her interest much, but Eric Roberts was handsome, charming, and mostly good company when he wasn’t distracted with his phone. She had concluded that either his business was demanding, or he was one of those people who had more of an online social life than a face-to-face one. After their one date, she hadn’t learned enough to judge his true character, but she also hadn’t learned anything that made her not care either.

  In the last week, she had gone over and over why their date had not exactly left her pining to see him again. She probably should have said no to drinks, but since she was already here at the Copley, she might as well make the best of it and put out an effort to find him. It was the least she could do since her phone wasn’t working. For all she knew, Eric could be trying to reach her right now. She frowned and sighed in frustration.

  After ten minutes of checking everywhere she could think to look in the hotel, Lisa decided she’d had enough. On the off chance Eric had had an emergency and left unexpectedly, she went to the front desk to check for any messages for her.

  “Hi, my name is Lisa Dennison,” she said, smiling at the desk clerk who smiled back. “I’m supposed to be meeting Eric Roberts here for a drink, but I can’t find him. Did he maybe leave a message for me at the desk?”

  Cindy looked at the tall, mostly red-haired woman, laughing that Eric had called her a brunette. What did the man see in this one, she wondered? She was obviously older than Eric, but also much older than the typical dates he brought to the hotel. Even though the woman wasn’t bad looking, she also wasn’t the sleekly groomed model type either. The woman looked like every other businesswoman in Boston in her black dress pants, bright green cardigan set, and black pumps.

  “Yes. Eric left a note for you and a room key.” Cindy said brightly, handing them both over with a friendly smile.

  Lisa looked at the room key in her hand with confusion, and then back at the clerk who just shrugged her shoulders. Unbelievable, she thought. This was only their second date and supposed to be just a quick drink in the bar and maybe meet his brother. He had seriously left her a hotel room key? Really?

  Shaking her head, she wondered what had happened to patience. Eric was attractive, but damn it, she wasn’t ready to jump into bed with him yet. Or at least that’s what she’d been telling herself since she saw him last. Hell, maybe she had been putting out a ‘desperate woman’ vibe without knowing it. There hadn’t been anyone since her divorce. But she certainly hadn’t meant to come across that way to him. She hadn’t really even been dating much when Eric asked her out.

  Looking down at the key in her hand again, Lisa figured this sideways play to get her in bed was probably just what she deserved for dating a younger man. She was too old for these games.

  Reluctantly unfolding the note, she sighed. Eric had the very nice, very legible handwriting a person would expect an investment banker to have, yet obviously he had the masculine sensibilities of every other male his age.

  My brother Finn, the great Harvard anthropologist, just got in from Egypt. I had a few too many drinks celebrating his return and decided I desperately needed to sleep it off. Didn’t want to completely miss our date so I stayed here at the hotel. Looking forward to being woken up by you. ~ Eric

  Well, it wasn’t a completely indecent proposition, Lisa thought, frowning over the note. Maybe she could just pop up to the room and wake him up. Maybe it would even be fun. Snorting at the idea, she rolled her eyes. Yeah, and maybe when he kisses me this time I’ll feel something wonderful instead of nothing.

  Lisa sighed over her inner bitching, trying to remember the last time a man had truly excited her with a kiss. That was why she’d said yes to Eric Roberts in the first place. She simply couldn’t remember the last time she was interested at all.

  Maybe she was just getting old. What other reason made any sense?

  A hot younger man was wanting to sleep with her, and here she was standing in the hotel lobby debating his blatant invitation to take things to the next level. The whole reticence thing she was doing was her most pressing problem.

  She was freaking forty years old and already losing interest in men and sex. Well, no. Hell, no. She wasn’t going to let that happen.

  Lisa marched over to the elevators and fiercely punched the button. Once inside, she chewed her bottom lip as the elevator climbed to the top floor.

  Use it or lose it, her OB/GYN had told her. What a lovely gift that had been for her fortieth birthday.

  “You heard the woman, Dennison. Get in that hotel room and wake the man. Use it or lose it,” Lisa chanted out loud as she walked down the hotel hallway.

  At his room door, Lisa took a deep breath and tapped softly. When there was no answer, she took another deep breath and slid the key into the lock. She made herself push the handle when the security light changed from red to green.

  Inside the room was absolute luxury. So Eric had booked an executive suite—which meant he wasn’t too tight with his money to enjoy himself. She looked around in admiration of the interior. Very nice, she thought, smiling as she stepped quietly through the door.

  In the sitting area that greeted her, there was a battered leather duffle sitting on the coffee table with several luggage tags hanging off it. Obviously that belonged to Eric’s brother, Lisa decided, worried a little now that she might be walking in on the two of them. But then why would Eric invite her to his room if his brother was staying here?

  Surely he wasn’t thinking o
f sharing her, was he? That certainly wasn’t her style. If it turned out it was Eric’s, then she would let him pitch his case and then leave with dignity.

  Taking a deep breath, Lisa moved quietly into the single massive bedroom, barely able to appreciate the polished woods and gleaming surfaces all around her. Instead her gaze was locked on the biggest, most luxurious bed she had ever seen and the miles of naked male flesh in the middle of it.

  If his complete nudity wasn’t a blatant sexual proposition, then she was definitely off her dating game. But at least there was only male, Lisa noted, so the brother must be safely elsewhere. Breathing out a sigh of relief that her wild imaginings hadn’t been the reality she’d walked into, she let her now considering gaze wander over the naked male again.

  She chewed her lip a moment wondering what Eric had done with his poor jetlagged brother, and then chastised herself for worrying about something that wasn’t her problem or concern. He was probably just in another room at the hotel since the bag was still in the sitting area.

  Frowning at her mind wanderings again, Lisa pulled her attention back to the matter at hand. Her sole concern should be whether or not she was going to wake up the sleeping man who had asked her to do so. She had to admit that he looked damn good without his clothes.

  Lisa smiled despite her irritation at his nerve in stripping off to wait for her. He was lying facedown with muscular legs spread wide, feet hanging off the end of the bed. She’d had the impression Eric was tall the other night but hadn’t really processed him as all that much taller than her. A guy had to be really tall not to fit a king-sized bed. Right?