Page 80 of One Little Mistake

“That wasn’t mystery brew. That was a very expensive Irish whiskey. You just don’t know how to handle real drinks, man. Or appreciate them,” he smirks.

“I don’t drink. Except on rare occasions. What do you want?”

“Let me in and I’ll tell you.”

“It’s nearly midnight. What, Viv kicked you out?”

“I wish. She and the kid are out at the country house. I just happened to be in town for work. How’s Erin?” he adds, stepping into the apartment without waiting for an invitation. He heads straight to the kitchen, pulls two glasses off the shelf, pours a generous amount into each, and hands one to me.

“Why are you here, Logan? You and I having friendly drinks is a stretch. So just say what you came to say and get out,” I say wearily, dropping into a chair and clinking the glass against the table.

“Nadine’s not my daughter. Or… she is. Biologically. But not the way you think,” Logan blurts, then downs his entire glass in one go.

I stare at him, trying to process what the hell he just said.

“What do you mean, she’s not your daughter? She’s your spitting image. Even has your awful temper.”

“Vivienne used to be my brother’s mistress. When we met, she was already pregnant—with his kid. So technically, Nadine is my niece.”

Now that’s a bombshell. I don’t believe it. I stare at my neighbor, stunned, trying to wrap my head around what he just said.

He spreads his hands like that somehow explains everything.

“And you’re telling me this… why? You looking for confession hour?” I ask, no malice in my voice, as I pull Logan’s “brew” closer. I’d sworn I wouldn’t touch that stuff again—but tonight? I might make an exception.

“This isn’t a confession, Max. It’s help,” Logan replies, as if reading my thoughts.

I raise a brow, waiting for him to elaborate.

“I’ve seen the way you look at Erin. She means something to you, but the kid’s holding you back, right? Let me tell you something—when you really care about a woman, and you watch her kid grow up, reach for you, call you Dad… it doesn’t matter whose blood’s in his veins. You love him like your own. With everything you’ve got.”

“It’s not about Tim,” I cut in, still turning the glass in my hand. “Erin’s a good woman. I don’t want to mess with her head. She’ll get used to having me around, the kid will start thinkingI’m his father, and then, one day, I’ll head back out to sea, rethink everything, and decide I’m not cut out for this. I don’t want to hurt her, Logan. She’s already dealing with enough.”

“Then some other guy will swoop in and grab her. And chances are he won’t be as careful with her feelings as you are. Don’t you think Erin’s a grown, smart, and capable woman who can decide for herself if she wants to try a relationship with you? Don’t screw this up. You’ll regret it.”

“I’ve been married, remember?” I mutter. “And trust me, there’s nothing good about it. Ended in a screaming match, and my ex still won’t leave me alone—even though she’s the one who walked away. So no, I’m not looking for anything serious. And Erin? She doesn’t need a man who’ll be there for a few nights and then disappear.”

“You’re wrong,” Logan exhales, gaze drifting to the window. “Sometimes life throws us wild curveballs that bring the right people to our doorstep. I used to think Vivienne was a scam artist. Hell, I even tried to use her for my own gain. And now? I can’t imagine life without her or Nadine. Think hard, Max. A good woman’s not easy to find. And Erin—she’s smart, kind, independent, loyal. Exactly what a guy in your line of work needs.”

“With my job, it’s better not to have a family at all,” I say sharply—though, truth is, I think the opposite. I think about how I wouldn’t mind the sound of little feet running through this house, the echo of laughter filling up the space instead of the unbearable silence pressing in from all sides.

“In any case, it’s your call,” Logan shrugs. “I just wanted to show you from experience—sometimes happiness blindsides you. The real trick is not screwing it up when it does.”

I stay silent, leaning back in the chair, eyes fixed on the wedding band on his finger.

No one’s asking me to get married. Hell, it’s just a couple of walks, a few shared dinners. Testing something more than lingering glances doesn’t mean I’m signing my soul away. And Erin—if my gut’s right—isn’t in a rush to tie herself to anyone, either. She’s been burned, just like me. She won’t dive into anything again unless she’s damn sure.

But I like her. I’m drawn to her. I want to protect her, keep her safe. I want to get lost in her lips, trace every inch of her skin with my mouth, tear through the restraint that’s been chaining me back. Logan’s right about one thing—we’ve got a pull between us that’s hard to ignore, and we’re not kids anymore, too scared to figure ourselves out.

It’s all clear. One of us has to make the first move—and it sure as hell won’t be Erin. If she says yes, then we’ve got two months, tops, to figure out what the hell this is… and where we’re going from here.

CHAPTER 30

Erin

I absentmindedly examine the gerbera in my hand. It’s quiet and peaceful in my little shop. My son is asleep nearby in his stroller, and I’m working on a few custom floral arrangements. Right now, it doesn’t even feel like a real flower shop—just the bare essentials. Only what I need for today’s work and a few fresh roses. I haven’t found the courage to hire a nanny yet, so I work just a couple hours a day while Tim is sound asleep. That’s enough to make three or four hatbox bouquets—and they bring in a decent income.

Thankfully, I’m feeling much better now. Sure, I still get a little dizzy sometimes or feel my blood pressure dip, but compared to how I felt a month ago, it’s nothing.

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