The moment my eyes landed on Maddox, every subconscious hope and thought that the electricity from yesterday was nothing more than a figment of my imagination flew off the pier and landed right in Puget Sound.
He was gorgeous. Every part of him was delicious-looking.
And I doubted my ability to even bring up my proposal to him because I really wanted him without pranks or pretenses, but I couldn’t let my mind go there.
Maddox started walking in my direction. He was wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses, a loose-fitting pair of jeans, and a gray button-down shirt. It was impossible not to notice the way his muscles filled out his clothes, but his smile was the best of all.
It was as if seeing him made time sputter to a complete stop, and all I wanted to do was take in every ounce of him as he strode in my direction, his eyes staying on mine the entire time.
“Hey, beautiful,” Maddox said, his voice low and sexy as his smile widened when he reached me.
I laughed. “Well, you know how to make a girl feel good.”
Maddox stood in front of me, taking me in from head to toe, and all I could do was take a breath and pray that I wouldn’t do something I’d regret in the morning.
“You are beautiful. It’s not too tough to come up with the compliments.” He laughed and slid his hand over mine right when I saw a stranger by the waterfront turn around and glance in our direction.
He was too fuzzy to see, and I didn’t really feel like fumbling for my glasses at the moment, but the man looked like he was watching us.
I brought my gaze back to Maddox’s and noticed he was still looking at me.
“I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since last night.” He stepped closer.
My heart jumped, and my mind began racing all from one look from Maddox.
One very long, seductive look.
Could my Mr. Mistake actually be my Mr. Right?
No. He was going to be the Mr. Teach-My-Friends-a-Lesson man.
“Same,” I mumbled, noticing the man from the waterfront starting to make his way toward us. “Umm. Do you know that guy?”
Maddox pressed his lips together as if he wanted to hide an impossible smile.
“About that.” He paused and glanced in the man’s direction. “You might hate me for it, but I thought we should just get it out of the way right off the bat.”
“What out of the way?” I asked, wishing I’d just put in my contacts this morning.
Maddox’s grin only widened. “I wanted you to meet your intended Mr. Wrong. You have limited time to get it right—what, before your thirtieth next week, right?”
I froze.
“Dear God. You brought your brother.” My throat went dry when the man headed toward us. Sure, he had the same blue eyes that I remembered, but that was about it.
“Bringing him wasn’t actually on purpose. Just trying to make the best of it and act like I have things under control.” He shook his head, guiding his fingers through his hair.
“How do you even pick up a straggler like that?” My brows furrowed.
“When he found out I was going out with Tessa Berry, he kind of just invited himself.”
“Invited himself?” I shook my head, annoyed, confused, and worried that I’d have to make eye contact with the Morgan McKenzie any second. “How does that even work?”
And how do these two even know who I am besides a yearbook picture? I wasn’t popular by any means. Winter was the it girl, and I was merely her sidekick along with Arie and Samantha.
“He’s…” Maddox drew a breath. “He’s kind of like that rash you just can’t stop, and then he spreads.”
I giggled as Morgan came into clearer view, and I thanked the heavens above that my friends invited the wrong McKenzie.
“Well, this is kind of awkward and not what I expected for a first date,” I whispered as Maddox wove his fingers through mine.
“And I will spend an eternity making it up to you.”
I liked the idea of that, and it made my request even more natural to ask.
“He told me he wanted to visit one of his old girlfriends and was only going to say hi.” Maddox looked annoyed but resigned.
I laughed, wondering what else might be in store for the evening.
“Hey… Tessa Berry.” Morgan McKenzie strolled up to us, but the smell of alcohol reached me first. “Not the shy teenager from the old neighborhood any longer, huh?”
Morgan’s blue eyes connected with mine, and there wasn’t a sizzle, blush, or a flush to be had. All I wanted to do was hand him a breath mint. I glanced at Maddox, who looked as uncomfortable as I felt.
“He enjoyed the ferry’s fine selection of beverages,” Maddox whispered.
“When my brother said he was coming to Fireweed to take you out, I just had to come along for the ride.”
A year ago, I would have been flattered, maybe even excited, that Morgan McKenzie remembered me.
Because he was only a figment of my imagination.
A teenage figment.
This mess of a man standing in front of me couldn’t even be conjured up in a nightmare. I hadn’t a clue how he was related to his brother. I couldn’t even fathom it. Morgan’s dark, greasy hair was plastered to his scalp, his tattoos had faded along with his teenage charisma, and his sloppy outfit made me think he was spending more time on people’s couches than in his own bed.
Actually, I was pretty sure he didn’t have a bed to call his own.
Everything that screamed rebel of my youth screamed run away while you still can as an adult.
I was staring at my list come true, the very reason I’d made those vows so many years ago, looking right back at me without a care in the world.
“It’s a small world,” I barely squeaked out. “Do you still play in a band?”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “Too much time on the road.”
“He prefers to stay close to family,” Maddox said wryly.
“I know how much you all missed me while I was touring.” He smiled, and I realized he actually failed to hear the sarcasm in Maddox’s voice. “Anyway, Lucy’s got dinner going for me. I won’t meet you at the ferry tonight, Bro. See you in the morning back at the house.” Morgan winked at his brother and turned to me, blowing me a kiss, and I had to stop myself from giggling.
Or gagging.
How in the world did my teenage self think that a kiss from Morgan McKenzie meant something? All I wanted to do now was jump in Puget Sound and scrub myself off. Those lips did nothing for me.
Not a single thing except remind me why I didn’t mind being alone.
Because if waking up to Morgan McKenzie was what my friends had in mind, ugh.
Honestly, had they called the correct McKenzie brother, I wouldn’t need to teach them a lesson. Morgan would have done that for me.
I shivered a little as I watched Morgan trundle away looking thoroughly, totally, one hundred percent like Mr. Wrong, and not in a fun way. Seeing him actually made me wonder how I’d gotten so much wrong so early in life. Yes, I’d made a vow with myself to never date a rebel—a bad boy—to protect my heart… because I had been so very attracted to the bad boy, Morgan McKenzie.
The moment his brother was far enough away not to hear us, Maddox turned around and smiled sheepishly.
“I’m so sorry.” He grimaced. “So, so sorry.”
I giggled and shook my head. “It actually really upped your chances. No offense to your brother meant.”
Maddox’s smile only grew as my hand fell from his. “What? Not what you expected the rock star of our generation to turn into?”
I laughed. I was walking a very tight rope here. I certainly didn’t want to offend Maddox, but I was stumped as to what to say.
“So, he’s here visiting an old girlfriend?” I asked, surprised that he had any.
“He tends to visit women when he needs something because his family won’t fork whatever it is over.” Maddox shook his head. “He’s like the ghost
of relationships’ past with these women. You just can’t shake the guy, and he pops up at the worst possible times.”
I chuckled.
“You think he might need something?”
“When doesn’t he?” He shook his head. “Morgan has a real way of inserting himself into everyone else’s lives so he doesn’t have to make one for himself. I doubt the guy has ever had to pay rent.”
“Really?” My brows shot up.
“Really.” His lips pressed into a straight line. “He’s actually staying at my house at the moment, which was how he found out about us.”
“Yeah, I caught that.”
“He’d been living at my parents’ home before that, and before that some girlfriend from who knows when.” Maddox glanced in his brother’s direction. “Amazing what fifteen years can do to a person. Fifteen rough years.”
“Does he have any interests?” I asked.
Maddox scratched his chin. “He really enjoys talking about the good old days.”
“Which were when?”
Maddox let out a heavy sigh but his lip curled. “Junior and senior years of high school, I believe.”
I laughed, feeling slightly guilty. “Well, the guy did have it pretty good. I think most girls wanted to sleep with him.”
“I think most girls did sleep with him.” He rolled his eyes and laughed.
“Not me,” I said proudly, waving my hand frantically.
“So, I can rest easy that you’re not just seeing me to get at my brother.” His dimple reappeared, and I wanted to squeeze his cheek.
This man was gorgeous yet humble. I honestly thought that mold had been shattered to smithereens before my generation.
A wicked laugh escaped my lips, and I blushed. “No worries there.”
He glanced toward one of the small cafes up the street from where we stood. “Ready for dinner?”
“So ready.” I nodded as he clutched my hand in his.
It had been so long since I’d done something as simple as holding hands with a guy, but I can guarantee that holding hands with a man had never produced this flood of feelings.
I glanced at him as we walked toward the sidewalk, and I could tell he was thinking about something.
“I love this place. In fact, I already know what I’m having. Pasta primavera,” I announced.
He laughed but didn’t say anything.
“It really was okay that your brother tagged along.” I smiled as he opened the door, and we walked into the tiny café and took our seats. “I have to confess that I’m kind of glad we got it out of the way.”
“What, in particular?” he asked, unfolding his napkin.
“Your brother.” I looked out the window before turning my attention back to Maddox. “I probably would have wondered what he’d turned out like and then you might have gotten weird about it if I asked or—”
He whipped his gaze to me and observed me. “That is the most honesty I’ve heard in a long time. There’s not much you hide behind, is there?”
“Not too much.” I smiled, feeling a look of admiration come from his direction, which puzzled me.
“That’s refreshing.”
“Isn’t it funny how drastically things can change from high school?” I asked, still trying to wrap my head around the reality of Morgan McKenzie. It was a little too much realism.
He reached across the table and took my hand in his. “I don’t think much has changed at all.”
I tilted my head slightly. “What do you mean?”
“You’re still as charming and beautiful as you ever were.”
“I just can’t believe I never ran into you or anything.” I laughed.
He nodded, and his lip curled slightly. “You did, actually. You just don’t remember.”
“Refresh my memory.”
The server brought us water and took our orders.
“I played baseball.”
My brow arched in surprise. Winter’s brother played baseball, and we wound up going to most of his games.
“What position?” I asked, trying to rack my brain.
“Catcher.”
“Well, that’s not fair. You had a mask on.”
His face lit up. “You were at the team’s last party my senior year. My brother was playing in his band…”
I rolled my eyes, and my cheeks flamed red. It was a wild night, or as wild as things could get with a bunch of teenagers. “I remember that party.”
He laughed. “I tried everything to get your attention.”
I giggled, feeling a warm sense of nostalgia wash over me. “Like what? Name one thing.”
“I was the first guy to cannonball into the pool.” He nodded. “I also rode my motorcycle to the party. I thought that alone would get your attention.”
“I do remember a whole bunch of people jumping into the pool.”
“Courtesy of me.” He patted his chest.
“And I thought Morgan rode the motorcycle.”
Maddox shook his head. “Nah. He rode it, but I drove it. He hugged my waist like a freaked-out caterpillar. He’s not much for living on the edge, contrary to popular belief.”
“No way. The rumor was that he owned a motorcycle.”
“All me.” His eyes locked on mine.
“Interesting. Okay. So, one party…one cannonball and a motorcycle.” I took a sip of water, feeling heat roll up my body as his eyes remained on me. “Give me another example. That doesn’t cut it.”
“Your graduation.” He smiled. “I was there for my brother’s as well, but I handed you a white rose right before your family slammed into you with even more flowers.”
My expression froze.
He laughed uncomfortably. “The moment had been kind of lost as you got swallowed by your brothers and parents and everyone else.”
“That was you?” My voice went hoarse as a wave of emotions ran through me. “The white rose? The white roses all year long?” And I was suddenly unsure whether Maddox McKenzie was the right person to ask the question that had been burning into me since last night.
Chapter Six
“I feel like such an ass.” I shook my head and swirled my fork in the plate of pasta. “How did I not pick up on it? You handed me a white rose, for crying out loud.”
“Don’t beat yourself up.” His voice was husky and low. “It was a bit of a stretch. I got way too caught up in poetry during my first year of college. I fully blame my professors.”
“The rose was very poetic.” I smiled, completely baffled by how I might have missed the most amazing thing that could have happened to me in my romantic career.
“Gotta love Liberal Arts degrees.” He chuckled. “After my failed rose attempt, I switched to a marketing major.”
I laughed, shaking my head.
“I figure I probably won’t get many chances to impress you, so I’d better lay out all my cards right now.”
“How so?” I tilted my head.
“I get the feeling I might be on borrowed time with you and that bet you made with your friends. Don’t you only have like a week or something to find Mr. Right?” His blue eyes twinkled like the water surrounding Fireweed Island.
Dear Lord, I think I might have found him.
“And I already started out as a mistake, so…” He smiled, and I took a bite of pasta.
“The best mistake my friends have ever made, might I add.” I grinned.
“Now, if I remember correctly, you have a habit of dating men who are a little uptight.”
Looking into his eyes put me in a trance, so I looked down at my plate and stared at my pasta.
I refused to get all googly-eyed in front of him, especially on a first date. It wasn’t like I had decided to sleep with him, so I needed to gain control and stick to the mission.
“Uptight is one way of putting it.” I grinned and took a bite, hoping to avoid this topic.
He shook his head, and the sunlight caught his eyes. “I really don’t see you with someone passionate
about their pastels and plaids.”
“You listen well.” I drew a breath. “Well, now that I’m quickly approaching thirty, it’s coming to me that maybe I’ve never been attracted to those types of men or something would have come of it.”
Maddox gave a quick nod. “I understand that. The less effort you put into a relationship, the easier it is to dismiss. The more you date men you’re not attracted to, the easier it is to let them go.”
It was like the man had me completely mapped out.
“When you put it that way, it makes it sound like I’m emotionally unavailable and doomed to be single for the rest of my life.” I chuckled, realizing how easy it was to be myself with this man.
“I could be describing myself a little too,” he confessed.
“Really? You have that issue when dating men as well?” I teased.
He laughed, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles and shaking his head.
“Truthfully, I like my life. I like living on Fireweed, love what I do for a career, and enjoy my freedom. I don’t know why my friends can’t get a handle on that.”
“Nothing wrong with knowing what you want or don’t want.” He nodded. “I love my life too. Can’t imagine wanting to change much about it.”
A comfortable silence fell as we ate our pasta, and I wondered how different life could have been had I stopped to notice something as simple as being handed a rose at graduation.
“You know I’m a teacher. So, what is it that you do to fill your days?” I smiled. “Besides showing up to random parties and impressing girls.”
“Are you impressed?” His dark brows arched slightly.
“Getting there.”
“Good.” His blue eyes darkened, and it felt like enough heat was exchanging between us that we could start a fire on this side of the café. “Because I’m not going to screw up my chances again.”
“You never screwed them up.” I grinned, getting the familiar flutter that he produced with a mere glance. “You were just dealing with an oblivious teenage girl. I’m not so oblivious any longer.”
“Good. I still think I’ll take the direct approach with you.” He winked, and my heart filled with happiness. There was something so very intriguing about this near-stranger, yet I felt like I’d known him forever. “About my days…” His smile grew. “They are pretty packed. I run an ad agency and PR firm, mostly for local businesses.”
Mr. Mistake: A Fake Marriage Romance (Mr. Mistake Series Book 1) Page 6