Page 43 of One Little Mistake

Max’s words still sting. He knows perfectly well I didn’t do any of this on purpose. Sure, it’s not ideal having a stranger basically take over your home, but it’s not like I planned it!

Okay, maybe it’s a little bit my fault, but none of his friends seemed the least bit suspicious when a very pregnant “fiancée” suddenly appeared out of nowhere—so why should I have been?

I scan the lot for the cab, double-checking the license plate number, and reach for the door handle to open it, when suddenly, a hand slams the door shut, and an arm wraps tightly around my waist, pulling me back.

I jump from the shock, but the next second, the familiar scent of his cologne hits me, and the deep rumble of his voice confirms what I already know.

“Sorry, but you won’t be needing a cab anymore,” Max says, handing the driver a few bills through the open window, completely ignoring my pathetic attempts to protest.

I hiss under my breath, desperate not to wake the baby, and squirm in his grasp, shooting him a murderous glare. But he acts like I’m not even there.

“No, no, no,” I butt into their exchange, shaking my head furiously. “Don’t leave! I need that ride!”

The driver stares at us, confused, eyes darting back and forth between Max and me.

“Had a little argument with my wife,” Max says, rolling his eyes and giving the driver a lazy half-smile. “Women, right?”

“Ah, young people!” The driver chuckles, shaking his head.

To my shock, he rolls the window back up and starts the engine, getting ready to drive off.

“Hey, wait!” I lunge for the door handle, trying to stop him, but Max’s strong hands pull me back before I can even touch it.

“Easy,” he murmurs close to my ear. “Or he’ll think I’m kidnapping you.”

I stare after the black car as it pulls away, completely stunned. Did I seriously just get kidnapped by a stranger?

“You’ll thank me later,” Max says, steering me away. “My offer is way better than whatever you had in mind. Take a day to rest somewhere safe and think about your next steps. Tomorrow, I’ll help you find a new place. Dragging a newborn all over the city isn’t exactly a brilliant plan. Ask Vivienne to watch him for a few hours. Be smart, Erin.”

His warm breath grazes my neck, sending a strange shiver down my spine.

He smells like mint gum, just faintly masking the scent of tobacco. God, I hope he doesn’t smoke—if he does, there’s no way I’m letting him anywhere near my baby.

I want to turn my head toward him to meet his gaze, but when I do, his lips accidentally brush against my temple, and I instinctively jerk back, putting more distance between us.

“Sorry,” I mumble, feeling heat rush to my cheeks.

I’m breathing too fast, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. The spot where he touched me burns like it’s on fire. My hands are shaking. Something strange is happening to me.

The situation is saved by Tim, who wakes up and starts crying. At first quietly, then louder and louder, so much so that passersby begin to turn and stare at us, and I can’t seem to calm him down.

“There, there, it’s okay, my little one,” I coo, rocking him in my arms.

“Come on, Erin, don’t stand out here in the cold,” Max says evenly, gently steering me toward his car.

I want to cry. Just this morning, I had everything figured out, pulled myself together piece by piece, found a few housing options, thought through how I would handle work—and now I feel helpless again, letting Max meddle in my plans. But he’s right about one thing. I don’t have the money to pay rent. I would’ve had to go to him anyway to get my savings, and the baby’s things. No diapers, no bottles, no clothes—nothing.

Max opens the back door of his SUV. He helps me into the car; I avoid meeting his gaze, and he seems unusually tense and lost in thought. Luckily, Tim quickly settles down, closes his eyes, and drifts back to sleep. I carefully run my fingertip over his flushed cheeks, wiping away his tears. A tightness forms under my ribs from the overwhelming tenderness filling me, and for a moment, I forget where I am and with whom—until the man reminds me of his presence.

“Do you need anything from the store? Formula? Diapers?”

I catch his gaze in the rearview mirror and swallow the lump forming in my throat. His eyes are so unusual. I’ve never seen anything like them in my life.

For a moment, I get lost in them, then quickly clear my throat and try to pull myself together.

“Yeah, I’d really appreciate it if you could stop by a store,” I say.

“Text me a list. I’ll grab everything you need. You two can stay here,” he replies.

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