The Best Mistake Read Online Free PDF Page A

back outside. Howard and Ran were already talking about the upcoming Colts season, standing by the grill with their beers in hand, while Lacey had joined the women at the table. She was an elegant contrast to Christine’s flamboyance in a pale blue sleeveless blouse and beige shorts, her legs long and lightly tanned, her sandals simple and comfortable. She wore her hair loose around her slender shoulders, the sun catching the golden glints in the chestnut strands. He had no illusion that she wasn’t conscious of her beauty, but she didn’t see a need to flaunt it.
    “Here you go.” He set the glass down on the table in front of her, was wise enough to avoid eye contact this time, and checked to see if anyone else needed a refill. The announcement he was going to get the grill started was met with appropriate enthusiasm, and Ran offered to put some music on.
    “I’ll help you bring out the food,” Christine offered, getting up and brushing past him deliberately to precede him into the house.
    Rick shot his sister a sardonic look and mouthed thanks a lot .
    She just grinned unapologetically and took a sip from her beer.
     
    It had been paradoxically both worse than she’d thought it would be, and not as bad, to come face-to-face with Rick after what had happened the other night. Not as bad because it was amusing to watch him try to deflect his sister’s not-so-subtle friend the entire evening, and Lacey wasn’t the only one who thought so. Ran found it funny too, she could tell. By the time Christine and his sister departed, Rick’s face held an expression of undisguised relief.
    But worse, because Lacey was just so very aware of him now. The way he moved, the quick flash of his smile, how his dark hair curled against his neck…Ran’s eyes were dark but Rick’s were gray with dark flecks in the irises.
    The trouble was, he was aware of her too. The way he’d looked at her when they first got there was almost as if he’d held up a sign saying I Remember What It’s Like To Be Naked With You.
    She remembered too.
    “Tell Aunt Helen I said your potato salad is better than hers.” Ran lounged back in his deck chair, his grin lazy. “Act like I think you made it. I dare you.”
    “And risk my life?” Rick snorted, one arm on the table, his long fingers toying with the label on his bottle of beer. “Yeah, right. I’ve actually tried to make it once before from the recipe she gave me and it tasted like shit. I swear, even with her own son, she left out one of the ingredients on purpose. Rather than point out that maternal love should extend even to secret recipes, I’ve just asked her to make it ever since. That way, everyone is happy. She can keep her recipe to herself, and I don’t have to mess with fixing it.”
    “Make a note, Lace,” Ran drawled. “Request no recipes from Aunt Helen. For that matter, my mother is no better. You know those special chocolate brownies she only makes at Thanksgiving and Christmas with the white stuff in them? I think that recipe is kept in a vault somewhere.”
    “I love those brownies.” Rick laughed. “What the hell is that white stuff anyway?”
    “No clue.” Ran shook his head. “Who cares? It tastes damn good.”
    “Exactly.”
    Lacey had to say something. She’d been very quiet and knew they were both aware of it “You are such men .”
    “God, I hope so.” Ran grinned at her.
    Rick quickly took a sip of beer and didn’t look at her. That seemed to the theme for the evening.
    The other couple had departed earlier. Howard was also a resident at the same hospital as Rick and had an early shift the next morning. That left just the three of them. It had cooled into a clear night, the insects chirping in the trees, just enough of a breeze to keep the patio pleasant. The house was in an upscale older neighborhood, and Ran had told her the whole family thought his cousin was crazy when he bought it. It had been in pretty bad shape, but Rick had a good eye. The