The Sweetest Mistake (O'Brien Brothers #2)

by Susan Coventry

  “Are you nervous?” Julia asked on the drive over to her parents’ house.

  “Why do you ask?” he replied without looking at her.

  “Because you keep tugging on your collar and there are red splotches all over your neck.”

  “That’s because I’m too damn hot. I never should have worn two shirts.”

  Since he was meeting her parents for the first time, he’d ditched his faded jeans and long-sleeved t-shirt for a gray crewneck sweater with a collared shirt underneath and black chinos. This was as dressy as he got other than for weddings or funerals.

  “Whoa,” Connor said when he’d pulled onto the street leading to her parents’ house. They lived in an affluent subdivision in nearby Clarkston where the homes looked like manors set back on private heavily wooded lots. This was a neighborhood comprised of doctors, lawyers, and other business professionals who led a privileged life, and this was where Julia had grown up.

  “They’re just houses,” she said.

  “Yeah, right.”

  A few minutes later, Connor followed her up a brick walkway and onto an expansive porch flanked by impressive brick columns. This place was the exact opposite of his childhood home, which was a rambling ranch built in the 1970s and located on a dirt road with farms on either side of it. Glancing at Julia, he realized she was nervous too, which didn’t make him feel any better.

  “Mom? Dad?” Julia called when they stepped inside.

  Seconds later, an attractive middle-aged woman came bustling around the corner, wiping her hands on a black and white checked apron.

  “Hi, sweetie. I didn’t hear you come in,” she said and immediately drew Julia in for a hug. And then Julia turned toward him and said, “Mom, this is Connor.”

  “Debra Lee. It’s very nice to meet you, Connor.”

  “It’s nice to meet you too.”

  “Come on back to the kitchen. Dinner’s almost ready, and Dr. Lee should be here any minute.”

  He was surprised at Debra’s use of her husband’s title, but Julia didn’t react at all. He got the impression that this dinner was going to be much more formal than his own family gatherings. Growing up in a household with three rowdy boys, there’d been no room for formality. His mom considered dinner a success if he and his brothers kept their hands to themselves and none of them burped at the table.

  “Can I get you something to drink, Connor? A glass of wine, perhaps?” Debra said.

  Julia must have noticed the slight furrowing of his brows, as she jumped in to say, “Do you have any beer, Mom?”

  “Beer? Uh…no. Sorry.”

  “No problem. I’ll just have a glass of water,” Connor said.

  Looking relieved, Debra turned away to get him a glass of water, and Connor shot Julia a look that said, “See? I don’t belong here.”

  Just as Debra was handing him the glass, the door leading from the garage into the kitchen opened, and in walked Dr. James Lee. His serious expression morphed into a wide smile when he spotted Julia leaning against the kitchen counter, and after giving his wife a quick peck on the cheek, he walked over to greet his daughter.

  “Hi, Dad,” she said as he embraced her in a tight hug.

  At least she didn’t call him Dr. Lee, Connor thought.

  “How’s my baby?” her father asked.

  Baby? That cinched it. Everything Connor had perceived about Julia’s upbringing was coming true. The fancy house, the successful father, the doting mother. It was all there in black and white. There was no way that her parents would think he was good enough for their only daughter. Her dad still called her “baby,” for God’s sake!

  Instead of responding to her dad’s question, Julia said, “Dad, I’d like you to meet Connor.”

  Dr. Lee had acknowledged Connor with a brief nod when he’d first walked in, but now he let go of Julia and extended his hand.

  “Good to meet you, sir…I mean…Dr. Lee,” Connor said as they shook hands. He decided to use the title out of respect for Julia, at least until he got to know the man.

  Dr. Lee’s greeting was friendly enough, but the way he looked Connor over made him uncomfortable. Julia’s mom was Caucasian, but her dad was Asian, and he was quite a bit smaller in stature than Connor. Dr. Lee wore a business suit, and Connor was glad that he’d dressed up some, even though he couldn’t wait to change back into his jeans and T-shirt. Does Dr. Lee even own a pair of jeans? When Connor shook her dad’s hand, he couldn’t help but notice how smooth and pale it was in comparison to his larger, calloused one. The two men were as different as night and day—there was no way around it.

  “If everyone wants to get seated, I’ll serve dinner,” Debra said, breaking the tension in the room.

  “Do you need help, Mom?” Julia asked.

  “No, sweetie. You just sit down with your…with Connor.”

  And there it was—the first hint that Debra was uncomfortable too. Once they were seated, Julia grabbed his hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. He squeezed back, but he kept his eyes focused straight ahead so as not to be accused of making googly eyes at the doctor’s daughter.

  “So, Connor. What do you do for a living?” Dr. Lee asked while Debra brought plates of food to the table.

  “Honey, Julia already told us. He’s in landscaping,” Debra said.

  She might have been trying to save Connor from having to answer, but something about the way she said it didn’t sit well with him.

  “I’m part owner of a landscaping design business,” he corrected, “along with my two brothers.”

  “Ah. I see,” Dr. Lee said, helping himself to a scoop of green beans. “Does that keep you busy year-round?”

  “Yes, sir. In the winter months, we have contracts for snow-plowing. Living in Michigan, that keeps us pretty busy.”

  “I’ll bet,” Debra said as she set a basket of rolls in front of them.

  “If you have some business cards, I’ll pass them out to some of my friends,” Dr. Lee said while cutting into a slab of steak.

  Usually, Connor would have welcomed the opportunity to gain more business, but Dr. Lee had sounded patronizing, and Connor didn’t want his charity.

  “Thanks, but I didn’t bring any cards with me,” he said and went back to eating.

  Sensing the tension in the room, Debra swept in and changed the subject, regaling them with tales from her husband’s office, where she worked as his receptionist.

  Connor smiled at Debra, thinking how much she reminded him of Julia. They were both petite and curvy, with warm smiles and deep brown eyes, but moreover, it was their personalities that shone. Friendly and open, expressive and engaging, they were quite the opposite of Dr. Lee, whose seriousness made him appear unapproachable and standoffish. Just then, the doorbell rang, startling them all.

  Dr. Lee glanced at his watch and then at Debra. “Are you expecting someone?”

  “No,” she said, “but I’ll go see who it is.”

  After Debra left, Julia stood up and started clearing the dishes, which left Connor at the table with Dr. Lee. Staring at each other across the table, Connor racked his brain for something to say to the man, but thankfully, he was rescued when Debra returned with their visitor. It was a lean young man who looked similar to Julia in that he was a mix of Caucasian and Asian, and Connor wondered if he was a relative. But when he glanced over at Julia, he saw shock and panic on her face and realized that this was nobody she wanted to see.

  Honing right in on her, the visitor said, “Hello, Jules.”

  When Julia didn’t reply, the man turned toward the table and said, “Good evening, Dr. Lee.”

  “Good to see you, Alec. I wasn’t expecting you,” Dr. Lee said.

  Ah-ha. So that’s why Julia looks so shaken. She’d told him all about Alec, along with the reason for their breakup. They’d been close to getting engaged when Alec had divulged that he didn’t want kids. That had been a deal-breaker for Julia, and as far as Connor knew, she hadn’t seen Alec since they’
d broken up almost a year ago. Perfect—the evening had just gone from bad to worse.

  Debra hurriedly said, “Alec. Meet Julia’s friend, Connor.”

  Roughly pushing back his chair, Connor stood to his full height, and he might have puffed out his chest too.

  “Connor O’Brien. Julia’s date,” he said pointedly.

  “I see,” Alec replied with a forced smile.

  Neither of them extended their hands, and Connor sat back down, thinking, He’s the intruder here, not me.

  Clearing his throat, Alec said, “I’m sorry to interrupt. I just stopped by to return the books you loaned me.” With that, he handed Dr. Lee the books he’d been carrying.

  “Thank you, but you didn’t have to make a special trip. We’re meeting for coffee next week, right?” Dr. Lee said.

  Connor saw Julia stiffen, and it was obvious she’d had no idea that her ex-boyfriend and her father were still seeing each other socially. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to get up, grab her hand, and stalk out of the house. But he waited for Julia to take the lead.

  “Yes, sir. But I was in the area, so I’d thought I’d drop by,” Alec replied smoothly.

  Asshole! Doesn’t he realize how awkward this is? Just leave!

  “That’s okay, Alec. Connor and I were just leaving,” Julia said tightly.

  “You don’t have to leave on my account,” Alec said.

  “It has nothing to do with you. We have plans this evening,” she said and shot him a piercing look.

  Connor had left the table to stand beside her, and he slid an arm around her waist for added support. It didn’t hurt that Alec noticed the move too.

  “Don’t you want to stay for dessert?” Debra asked, sounding distressed.

  “Yes. And Alec can join us,” Dr. Lee added, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the room. Or at least, Connor hoped that was the case. He couldn’t accept that her father was doing this on purpose.

  “Actually, we have a movie to catch,” Connor said. “But thank you very much for dinner.”

  “Oh. Well, let me walk you out, then,” Debra said.

  “Have a seat, son,” Dr. Lee said to Alec, and the ass, that’s exactly what he did.

  Dr. Lee stood to say his goodbyes, but Julia motioned for him to sit back down. It was obvious she was just as anxious to leave as Connor was.

  Placing his hand gently on the small of her back, Connor guided her out of the kitchen, with Debra following behind them.

  Once they were out of earshot and Connor was collecting their coats from the coatrack, Julia turned to her mom and hissed, “Why is he here?”

  Sighing, Debra said, “You heard him. He just wanted to return some books to your father. We had no idea he was coming.”

  “How often does he come over?” Julia asked, her voice shaking with anger.

  “Not often,” Debra whispered.

  In the meantime, Connor was practically shoving Julia’s arms into her coat sleeves, and he’d turned her toward him so he could zip up her coat.

  Placing a hand on Julia’s arm, her mom said, “Your dad is just helping Alec with his studies.”

  Then she turned to Connor and said, “Thank you so much for coming. I hope we’ll see you again sometime.”

  Nodding, Connor gave her a half-smile and then herded Julia out the door. It wasn’t until they were in his Jeep and had pulled out of the neighborhood that she spoke again.

  “I am so, so sorry. I had no idea they were still seeing Alec. If I’d have known he’d show up tonight, I never would have brought you there.”

  Connor gripped the steering wheel tightly, and a vein was pulsing on the side of his neck. Struggling to control his emotions, he said, “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.”

  When they arrived back at her townhouse, it was still early, and under normal circumstances, he would have wanted to come inside. But he didn’t have it in him tonight. Not after all that had transpired at her parents’ house.

  “Aren’t you coming in?” Julia asked.

  “Not tonight,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “Are you upset about Alec showing up?”

  “Shit happens.”

  “That’s all you have to say?”

  Turning toward her, he growled, “Trust me, you don’t really want to hear what I have to say.”

  “Yes. I really do.”

  Stubborn woman! Connor sighed and scratched the back of his neck. “Look, Julia. I don’t know about this.”

  “Don’t know about what?”

  “This. Us.”

  She gave him a hard stare, but he averted his eyes and continued. “Maybe you were right to stay away from me at the beginning. Maybe this is a mistake.”

  “You don’t mean that. You’re just saying that because of what happened tonight. But that doesn’t have anything to do with us, Connor.”

  “You’re wrong. It has everything to do with us.”

  “Why are you doing this? Why are you being such a coward?”

  He’d been called worse things, but hearing her accuse him like that flipped a switch inside him. “Go home, Julia.”

  But she didn’t seem fazed by his harsh words, nor the fact that he wouldn’t look at her.

  “I’m not going anywhere until we finish talking.”

  “We are finished. Go home,” he repeated firmly.

  “You don’t want to talk right now—fine! But we’re not done, Connor. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” And with that, she shoved open the door and stepped out, glaring at him one last time before walking away. He waited for her to go inside and fought the urge to go after her. But once she’d closed the door, he backed out of the driveway and sped off.

  It’s better this way, he told himself. She’s too good for me. We’re too different. It’ll never work.

  But here it was a few months later, and they were still together. Julia had forgiven him for driving off in a huff after that night at her parents’ house. And he’d forgiven her for calling him a coward, although it still stung whenever he recalled it.

  He didn’t want her to see him like that. He wanted to be a man she could be proud of even though he’d never be a doctor like her dad or that asshole Alec. No. He’d always choose beer over wine, and a small house in the woods over a mansion in a subdivision. He’d always prefer jeans to dress slacks. But, that didn’t make him a lesser man.

  He was successful in his own right. He was good at what he did, and not just the physical labor. His favorite part of the job was the design aspect. He found satisfaction in transforming a tangled, weedy, overgrown area into a work of art. He excelled at formulating designs that his customers were happy with. And then, when those plans came to fruition, he felt proud of the hard work he’d done.

  Of course, his brothers played a vital role too. Finn was an expert businessman, keeping meticulous records and making sound financial decisions that propelled them forward. Their younger brother, Liam, excelled at building customer relations, marketing, and selling O’Brien Brothers Landscaping to anyone who’d listen. All three of them possessed the brains and the brawn to get the job done.

  So, Dr. Lee could look down his nose at him all he wanted. He could have his fancy house, his designer suit, and his professional title. Connor was perfectly content with what he had—a reasonably sized house on ten acres, his Jeep four-by-four, a job that he loved, his family, and a beautiful woman by his side.

  Now all he had to do was figure out a way to keep her there.

  Chapter Seven

  Julia showed up early to Connor’s house only to find that Cam had beat her there. When Julia peeked in through the screen door, she saw the three of them sitting on the living room floor in a tight circle—Connor, Cam, and Ava. Connor and Cam were laughing as Ava knocked over a stack of blocks, and then Connor built the stack up again.

  Since they hadn’t noticed her presence, Julia stood there and watched for a moment. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have thought she was ob
serving a happy little family. When Ava knocked down the blocks again, Cam placed her manicured hand on Connor’s arm and leaned into him.

  Okay, that’s it! Time to break up this happy little scene.

  “Hello. I’m here,” Julia announced as she let herself in.

  “Julia. Hey,” Connor said, rising to greet her.

  As he pulled her into a hug, Julia peeked at Cam over his shoulder and saw her glaring at them. But the minute Connor let go, Cam pasted a cheerful smile back on her face.

  Ignoring Cam, Julia crouched down, tugged on Ava’s foot, and said, “Hello, sweet girl.”

  Ava smiled and flapped her arms enthusiastically, at which Julia melted and Cam struggled not to frown.

  “She likes you,” Connor said. “But of course, who doesn’t?”

  I can think of one person.

  “Well, I guess I should go now,” Cam said somewhat reluctantly.

  “Yeah. I think we can handle it,” Connor said, giving Julia a wink.

  Cam had been sitting on the floor with her knees tucked underneath her, so Julia hadn’t seen what she was wearing until now. When Cam stood, she tugged on her denim miniskirt in a display of modesty. HA! The skirt was so tight Julia couldn’t understand how she’d sat down in it. Julia had forgotten how tall Cam was, and she was wearing four-inch wedges that highlighted her long, trim legs. When Cam bent over to say goodbye to Ava, she inadvertently (or maybe not) gave them a full view down her V-neck shirt. Finally, something Julia didn’t have to feel jealous about! Cam was taller and leaner than her, but she also had a lot less to show in the breast department. What little she did have was being propped up by a lacy pink push-up bra.

  Glancing over at Connor, it was obvious he’d seen down Cam’s shirt too. He was busy scratching the back of his neck, his nervous tell.

  Cam shot Julia a look of smug satisfaction as she tossed her long blonde hair off her shoulders and then turned her attention to Connor, who was trying to ignore the silent battle that was raging around him.

  “I’ll be back in a few hours. Call if you need me,” Cam said.