Boyfriend By Mistake

by Elana Johnson

  They dated.

  “Fine,” she said. “But do you really need fifteen dozen doughnuts?”

  “Party’s at six,” he said. “And no, how about just two dozen?”

  She wanted to throttle him at the same time she wanted to kiss him. The warring emotions inside her made her feel lightheaded. But at least she didn’t need to stay and make doughnuts anymore.

  “Bo’s house?” she asked.

  “Do you know where he lives?”

  “Yes.” She couldn’t believe she did, but she did. Bo had never left the island, and he owned and operated a company that provided unique ways of transportation around the island. In the summer, they had a limit on the number of cars that could be on Carter’s Cove, and most of those were taxis.

  Bo rented scooters, bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and golf carts out to travelers. He chauffeured them around if they wanted. It was a genius idea, and it wasn’t uncommon to find his bright blue scooters outside of The Heartwood Inn on a daily basis.

  “Six,” Shawn said, a smile in his voice.

  Alissa leaned against the metal door, a smile on her face as she said, “Six.” Her very next thought was What in the world are you doing?

  And honestly, she had no idea.

  Chapter Four

  Shawn’s nerves fired through him with the force of gravity. Lissa would probably take one look at him and the non-party at Bo’s house and stalk away. He could just see her doing it, too. And dang, if that image didn’t excite and terrify him at the same time.

  When he’d first arrived in Carter’s Cove, his goal was singular. Get Olympia Heartwood to sell. Why he’d thought he could actually do that, he wasn’t sure. He hadn’t known her well, as she was five years older than he and Lissa, well out of the house before Shawn even started high school.

  She hadn’t even remembered who he was until he mentioned his mother’s name. Olympia knew Julie Newman, as his mother made all the floral centerpieces for big events at the inn. Still. She had for years, and The Heartwood Inn had been her biggest client when Shawn was growing up.

  He’d been such a fool, coming here with that proposal. His phone rang, and Jason’s name struck fear behind his already clamoring heartbeat. He couldn’t ignore his boss’s call for a third time that day, though he wanted to.

  He hadn’t called Lauren yet either. Shawn wasn’t sure what they were, but he thought they were past a break-up over the phone.

  “Shawn Newman,” he chirped into the phone, hating the sound of his own voice in that moment.

  “Shawn.” Jason’s deeper voice carried all the fear it usually did, whether in person or not. “How are things going on the island?”

  Shawn hesitated, though he knew his boss hated it. “Not well, sir,” he said. “Olympia Heartwood refused to even discuss the acquisition of their inn and land.”

  “We need that land,” Jason said. “Or our sprawling island getaway won’t be so sprawling.”

  “I understand, sir,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to happen. The family has deep roots here.”

  “I don’t understand,” Jason said, and Shawn could just picture him standing at the wall of windows in his office, the ocean spread before him, the bodies on the beach mere dots below him. “You said money has a way of uprooting the deepest of feelings.”

  “I was wrong,” Shawn said. Jason appreciated it when someone admitted he was wrong. It was a tactic that had worked well for Shawn in the past.

  Jason sighed, the sound meant to convey his displeasure, frustration, and impatience for Shawn. Nerves skipped through him, but he didn’t know what to do about the situation. “I’m seeing a younger sister,” he said, unsure of where the words had come from. “But I don’t think it’ll go well.”

  Especially because Lissa had already said they’d never sell. He didn’t have plans to ask her again that evening during the non-party, but he couldn’t very well tell Jason what his plans were.

  He squirmed inside his own skin, wondering how he’d gotten himself into this situation. Arrogance, his mind whispered, and Shawn knew it was right. He’d been too sure of himself in the board room in Miami. But he didn’t want Hunter to come up here and try to bully the Heartwood family into selling.

  He’d volunteered, and he knew now that he’d known he’d fail the moment he opened his mouth in the meeting a month ago.

  He sank onto the couch as Jason started talking. He said, “Yes, sir,” and “Mm hmm,” in all the right places, but he wasn’t really listening.

  “Yes, I’ll let you know. She’ll be here soon.” Shawn got off the phone, because he hadn’t lied. Lissa would be there soon, with twenty-four doughnuts they could never finish. Shawn did love a good doughnut, and he’d shared many of them with Lissa while they were in high school.

  She wasn’t the same girl now that she’d been then. For one, she’d filled out in all the best ways possible. And number two, she didn’t look at him with stars in her eyes. He wanted her to, but he liked that he had to work for it too.

  Sighing, he picked up his phone again and dialed Lauren, hoping to smash the device into the wall afterward.

  “Hello, darling,” she said, and Shawn wanted to stab out his own eyeballs. She was probably on the beach or beside the huge pool in her daddy’s mansion. He thought of Alissa, and wondered how in the world he’d ever been attracted to Lauren.

  “Hey,” he said brightly. “Listen, I hate to do this over the phone, but I just wanted to make sure we’re…cool.”

  “Cool?” Lauren asked.

  “You know, just friends.”

  A lengthy silence followed. When she finally said, “Of course. I’m going to dinner and the theatre with Seth tonight. So we’re cool,” he couldn’t tell if she was angry or not.

  Shawn blinked. “Seth Rotherberg?”

  “That’s right.”

  “You said you were just friends.”

  “Well, now I’m saying we’re just friends.” Lauren didn’t sound apologetic. Or upset. “Have fun in Carter’s Cove, Shawn.”

  The line went dead, and Shawn stared at the device as the call faded from the screen. “Seth Rotherberg.” The man worked for the Tremmel Group, of course. Most of Lauren’s boyfriends did. Shawn knew that; had seen her date a few men before locking onto him.

  Foolishness ran through him again, and he hung his head. “You’re so stupid,” he whispered to himself. What Lauren had thought he could do for her, he wasn’t sure. But it had to be something, just like Seth could get her into all the sports functions around the city, because his brother was the quarterback for the Florida Falcons.

  She’d already moved on. For all Shawn knew, she’d been snuggling up to Seth one night and going out with him the next.

  He couldn’t help feeling…something. Upset, maybe? Taken advantage of? Definitely foolish. Why he’d thought his relationship with Lauren was authentic when he’d been able to tell her others weren’t, he wasn’t sure.

  Wishful thinking, he told himself as he silenced his phone. But now, he didn’t have to feel guilty about his feelings for Lissa.

  He couldn’t even believe he had feelings for Lissa, but as soon as he’d seen her in that kitchen, dripping wet and red-faced, he’d started questioning a lot of his life choices.

  A lot of them.

  The doorbell rang, and Shawn jumped to his feet. How long had he been sitting there, thinking about Lissa Heartwood?

  Too long, and he hurried to get the door. The star of his recent fantasies stood there, and wow, she was a vision straight from heaven. She wore a short little pair of white denim shorts with a navy blue top that hugged her upper arms and left her shoulders bare.

  He could only stare, his mouth dry and his thoughts somewhere near the soles of his feet.

  “Can I come in?” she asked, glancing over both of his shoulders. “Am I early?”

  He stepped back quickly, coming to his senses. “Yeah, come in.” The fruity scent of pineapple and mango came with her, a
nd Shawn worked hard not to take in a deep breath of it as she passed.

  “And funny thing,” he said. “There’s no party.”

  She turned back to him, her wedged sandals bringing her closer to his height. “There’s not?”

  “No,” he said, deciding to get everything out in the open between them. “And I’m not seeing anyone in Miami, and I just wanted to…talk.” Oh, he wanted to do so much more than that, but he could wait.

  He’d have to wait, if the fear and surprise on Lissa’s face was any indication. After taking the doughnuts from her and putting them on the kitchen counter, he faced her and gave a nervous chuckle. “So the party is just me and you.”

  “That’s not a party,” she said, folding her arms. “That’s called a date.”

  “Okay,” he said. “Whatever you want to call it is fine with me.”

  “I am not going out with you.”

  “We’re not going out,” he said quickly. “You brought the doughnuts with you.”

  Confusion puckered Lissa’s eyebrows. “So that’s it? We’re eating two dozen doughnuts?” She took a step toward him, and it felt dangerous. He actually braced himself for the confrontation, his pulse rioting through his veins.

  “I didn’t eat dinner, because there’s usually food at a party,” she said. “And we’re not going to be a thing.”

  “No?” He watched her, enjoying the indecision this time. “Why not?”

  “You have a girlfriend in Miami.”

  “False,” he said. “We broke up about an hour ago. In fact, I’m not even sure we were dating. She’s going out with Seth Rotherberg tonight. She’s probably been seeing him a lot.”

  Compassion filled her lovely eyes, but Shawn didn’t need that. He shrugged, hoping the twinge of hurt wouldn’t show. Just because he hadn’t liked Lauren all that much didn’t mean her betrayal didn’t hurt. At the same time, they’d have had to been dating for her to betray him at all.

  “We’re not—you live in Miami. You’re only going to be here for a few weeks.” Lissa sighed and stepped over to the doughnuts. “You know what? I do need one of these.” She plucked a glazed doughnut from the box and took a big bite.

  Shawn’s hormones went nuts, and he’d been hoping to keep them subdued tonight. But watching her lick the glaze from her full lips? He was practically drooling—and not for want of a doughnut.

  “Maybe we can just have fun for the next few weeks,” he said. “No strings attached.”

  “I don’t sleep around,” she said. “I don’t do flings.” She took another bite of the doughnut, but her eyes never left his.

  “That’s fine,” he said. “Neither do I.”

  Lissa chewed and swallowed, using that tongue to lick her lips again. The temperature was nearing astronomical though the air conditioner was pumping away. “Great.” She walked over to the couch and sat beside Gentleman. “Hey, doggo.” She ran her hands behind his ears, and Gentleman closed his eyes in bliss.

  “Okay.” Shawn couldn’t believe that had gone that well. Something told him Lissa had some feelings for him too, and he snagged his own doughnut and sat on the other side of his dog, plenty of space between him and Lissa. Too much space.

  “Remember when we ate all the doughnuts during the kid’s carnival?” he asked. “Mrs. Goldman was so mad.”

  Lissa smiled and shook her head. “She should’ve been mad. There were four rounds of kids who couldn’t do the doughnut contest because of us.”

  Shawn chuckled. “I’ll take her that second dozen and apologize.” He took a bite of the doughnut, a moan starting way down deep in his gut. “Liss, this is so good.”

  She grinned at him, that spark in her eyes she’d had when they were younger. “I can’t believe you were going to make me make five more dozen of them.”

  “Sorry,” he said after swallowing. “I won’t do that again.” He polished off his treat and stood up. “And hey, I found a bike for the parade. Want to see it?” He extended his hand toward her, actually surprised when she put hers in it.

  A thrill ran through him as he pulled her up.

  “I just want to say I zoned out a little yesterday,” she said. “I didn’t actually hear you ask me to ride in the parade with you.” She squeezed his hand. “You realize that was our first date, right?”

  “I’m aware,” he said, gazing down at her. Before he could think too hard, he leaned down and touched his mouth to hers. Sparks and shocks traveled through him—and then he found himself stumbling back

  She’d pushed him away.

  Actually pushed him.

  “Don’t,” she said, her voice angry now. “I can’t believe—you broke up with your girlfriend an hour ago.” A growl started down in Lissa’s throat, and Shawn needed to rectify his blunder quickly, before she stomped out of his life for the second time.

  Chapter Five

  Tears pressed behind Alissa’s eyes, but she would not show them to Shawn.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, his electric blue eyes open wide. He seemed sorry. “I just lost my head. You look so beautiful, and I was just…I wasn’t thinking.”

  “This is not a date,” she said. “You’re not my boyfriend. You don’t get to kiss me.”

  “Got it.” He nodded. “Sorry, Liss.”

  She loved how he called her the old high school nickname. She’d liked the feel of his hand in hers. And fine, she’d thought about kissing him too. But she wasn’t actually going to do it. He’d leaned down and done it.

  The awkwardness between them settled, and she said, “You were going to show me a bike.”

  “Right.” Shawn practically jumped toward a door. “You’ll never guess what it is.”

  “I’m not even going to try.” She wanted to hold his hand again, but how would that look? Shove him away one moment, pull him in the next? She felt bi-polar and all over the place.

  He led her out the back door into the small backyard. It looked good right now, but as the summer wore on and the heat baked the island, it would likely brown up. In the back of the yard sat a shed, and Shawn headed toward it.

  He opened both doors to reveal an assortment of lawn tools—and a motorcycle.

  Alissa pulled in a breath. “Is it the same one we rode?”

  “Yes,” Shawn said triumphantly. “I left it for Bo when I went to college, and he still has it. He says it doesn’t run, and I haven’t tried it, but I thought we could look at it tonight.”

  “I wouldn’t have worn white pants if I’d known we were going to be getting mechanical.”

  “Oh, honey, those aren’t pants.” Shawn let his gaze drip down her gorgeous legs before looking at her again, one eyebrow cocked. “I’m sure I could loan you some clothes.”

  Her blood felt like someone had magicked it into lava. Heat licked through her whole body with the way he looked at her. He could certainly convey his interest without a single word.

  She ducked her head, that blonde hair falling between them until she tucked it behind her ear. Her face felt overheated when she faced him again. “I’ll hand you what you need.”

  “Deal.” Shawn got to work extracting the bike from the shed and watching him use those muscles was almost as exciting as holding his hand. Her fingertips touched her lips, the ghost of his kiss there.

  It hadn’t even been a whole kiss. Just a touch. A press, before she’d come to her senses and pushed him back. Maybe she’d pushed a little too hard. She honestly wasn’t sure what she was doing. Dressing up all cute, putting on lots of makeup and jewelry, and driving out into the suburbs of the island for a party that was really a date.

  Then she hadn’t left. She’d held his hand. No wonder he’d thought he could kiss her.

  He swung his leg over the seat and just him sitting on that bike was the sexiest thing she’d seen in a long time. She could barely get her lungs to expand as he tried to start the bike. After several failed attempts, he said, “Yeah, this isn’t going to start. Let’s take a look.”

  He grinne
d at her, and she couldn’t help smiling back. “Tell me what you do in Miami,” she said as he pulled a toolbox out of the shed too.

  “Okay, wow,” he said, exhaling. “I’m a real estate investor by title.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means I find undeveloped land in highly profitable places, buy it for the Tremmel Group, and they develop it. Make money on it.”

  “You had to know we wouldn’t sell.”

  “I didn’t suggest Carter’s Cove,” he said, arching one eyebrow at her before ducking his head to study the tools in the box. “When my associate brought it up, I volunteered to come. My boss let me, because I’m from here and he thought I could sway you.”

  “You knew you couldn’t.”

  Shawn straightened, that smile so sexy on his mouth. “I knew I couldn’t.”

  Lissa nodded, her emotions swelling and dipping all over the place. “Let’s check the gas tank,” she said. “Maybe it’s just empty.”

  “Doughnuts,” she announced as she entered her parents’ house the next afternoon. Her dad’s fishing boat was gone, which meant he wouldn’t be there, but her mom and her grandmother both sat in the kitchen, a stack of cards between them.

  “Alissa, dear,” her mother said while Alissa held the door for her two dogs to enter. “Will you grab that notebook on the sidetable before you come over?”

  Alissa detoured toward it and took it to her mom. “These are from yesterday, by the way. But they’re still pretty good.” Her non-date fixing the motorcycle with Shawn had been pretty good too. She hadn’t asked him anything else about his job, but he did tell her about Miami. She’d told him about her time in pastry school, and they’d eaten too many doughnuts while they laughed about the stupid things they used to do in high school.

  He hadn’t tried to kiss her good-night, though he had walked her all the way out to her car and held the door open for her while she got in.