Page 40 of My Favorite Mistake

“I’m…” she started to say, then cast an incredulous glance at the door. Brennan had to be the most considerate man alive. “I’m okay. I’ll be right out.”

She washed her face and patted it dry, then opened the bathroom door to find Brennan waiting in the hall holding a glass of clear soda.

He offered it to her. “Sprite. It should settle your stomach.”

Liza took it without protesting and sipped from it while she leaned against the wall. “Thanks.”

“I’m not trying to be nosy,” he said quietly. “I was getting Scott’s laptop charger from the office and heard you…um…not feeling well, so I thought your blood sugar might be low.”

Subtle guilt caused her stomach to sour a bit more. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m having…a day. I guess. Earlier, Connor and I—” Her words halted as she met Brennan’s eyes.

This was one hundred percent thewrongtime and place to verbally agonize over the fact that she’d kissed Connor.

“I should get going,” she amended.

Brennan looked at her with a kind expression. “Okay. As usual, I’m happy to listen if you feel like talking.”

He started to step away from her, and she spoke up. “B.”

He stopped and turned to look at her.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but if anything keeps me in New Orleans, it’ll be you.”

His casual, kind expression faded into something that she couldn’t identify. A serious, yet mildly alarmed look, like hehadtaken it the wrong way.

“I just mean you’re really nice,” Liza clarified hastily. “People as nice as you are rare. I would stay here just so we could stay friends.”

A half smile tugged one corner of Brennan’s mouth. He glanced toward the entrance to the living room, and then approached her again. Dipping his head, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and then he lifted his face to look at her. “Not taken the wrong way at all.”

Brennan lifted his palm as if gesturing for her to go ahead, and she pushed away from the wall and made her way back to the living room.

“You all right?” Connor asked quietly, taking a step closer to her.

Liza nodded without making eye contact with him and then set her glass on a coaster on the coffee table. She looked at Ophelia, who was now seated in a large, cushy chair. “It was really great meeting you. Thanks for having me.”

Ophelia grinned widely and waved both of her hands in a friendly manner. “Likewise. Feel free to swing by whenever. We’ve always got a slew of neighbors hanging around here.”

“Thank you.” Liza approached Scott, offering her hand, and he shook it. “Thanks so much for doing the follow-up.”

Scott gave a nod as she released his hand. “It’s my pleasure. I hope it’s the first of many I get to write about his wild success.”

Liza folded her arms across her chest as she perceived Connor take another step closer to her. “I’m going to put together a press release this week, and I’ll forward that to you.”

Scott slipped one hand in his pocket. “Perfect. I’ll include it at the end. Do you still have my email address?”

“I do.” Liza stepped sideways toward the door. “I’ve got your card.” She reached for the knob and pulled the door open. “You guys have a good weekend.” She nodded at Connor but fixed her eyes on his torso and not his face. “Bye, Connor. See you Monday.”

All he did was wave. Just like the last phone call from ten years ago, he didn’t even say goodbye.

10

Algiers Point, New Orleans

Connor stared at the front door as Liza pulled it closed behind her and watched her through the lace on the front windows as she crossed the lawn and approached her car.

“Nowsheis pretty, Connor,” Ophelia said. “She seems sweet, too. And obviously has her shit together. Maybe you should—”

“Ophelia,” Scott warned, because Connor had this particular conversation with him shortly after Liza had come on the scene. “No.”

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