Read Online His Best Mistake by Kristi Gold - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kristi Gold
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glanced up at Leah and smiled again. “Yeah. But I see a lot of her mother in her.”
She should probably thank him for that, but she was more interested in getting the move started before Carly began to protest her confinement. “My car’s full of her stuff, but I might have room for a few more boxes.”
Kevin straightened after kissing Carly’s cheek. “I’ve got enough room in my SUV for everything.”
Funny, as long as Leah had known him, he’d always preferred smaller, sleeker vehicles. “Since when do you drive an SUV?”
“Since I realized my two-seater doesn’t have room for a car seat.”
“Oh.” All Leah could think to say at the moment. The reality of Kevin’s role in Carly’s life—in her life—was starting to sink in. That reality would become more apparent as soon as she stepped into his house.
L EAH HAD EXPECTED his house to be nice. She didn’t expect it to be so incredible—from the soaring ceilings to the muted taupe walls to the polished hardwood floors. Yet nothing in the great room looked familiar. Not the overstuffed beige leather sofa and chair. Not the black accent tables and contemporary artwork. Especially not the photos of his family set out on the mantel above the stone fireplace.
It was as if he’d erased all evidence of his former life as a bachelor living in an upscale condominium sparsely decorated with hodgepodge furnishings. This place seemed much more refined. Better equipped for acouple, but not necessarily a toddler. No matter. She would be long gone before Carly reached that stage.
“What do you think?” Kevin asked as Leah stood in the middle of the room, taking in the scene.
She set down the diaper bag on the sofa along with the safety seat containing her daughter, who’d slept blissfully throughout the trip. “I think it’s amazing. Did you design it yourself?”
“With my brother-in-law’s help. He’s an architect so I told him what I wanted and he drew up the plans.”
“You mean Whit.” Clearly he’d forgotten she’d met him.
“Yeah, Whit.” Kevin looked around a moment as if uncertain what to do next. “Do you want me to unload the boxes now or do you want the grand tour?”
Blatant curiosity had been nagging at her since she’d pulled into the gated drive. “The tour sounds good.” She decided to first release Carly from the confines of the car seat and lifted her up onto her shoulder, careful not to wake her. “After you.”
They crossed the lengthy great room where Kevin paused at the adjacent kitchen. “The microwave gets the most use in here,” he said with a smile.
Such a shame, Leah thought as she studied the immaculate stainless-steel refrigerator and black-granite countertops. And such a waste of a double oven, not that she cared to volunteer to put it to good use. “Is that the laundry room?” she asked when she caught sight of a louvered door.
“That’s the main one. There’s another washer anddryer in a smaller room near the second master suite. I’ll show you that in a minute.”
When Kevin gestured her forward, Leah followed him past another living area that reflected some of Kevin’s former life. A curio cabinet housed his numerous journalism awards and a lot of sports paraphernalia—signed footballs and such. A row of theater chairs faced a massive flat-screen TV suspended on one wall.
Kevin turned toward her and continued to walk backward. “This is the den where most of the action happens.”
When Carly began to stir, Leah patted her back. “Action?”
“Where I watch all the games. I also have a media area adjacent to the master bedroom.”
She didn’t dare request to explore that area. “Where to now?”
“Your room.”
Kevin led her into a small corridor that ended in a lengthy hallway jutting out right and left. He paused and opened what looked to be the first of a series of doors. “This is the guest bath.”
Very lucky guests, Leah thought as she viewed the cocoa-colored marble
She should probably thank him for that, but she was more interested in getting the move started before Carly began to protest her confinement. “My car’s full of her stuff, but I might have room for a few more boxes.”
Kevin straightened after kissing Carly’s cheek. “I’ve got enough room in my SUV for everything.”
Funny, as long as Leah had known him, he’d always preferred smaller, sleeker vehicles. “Since when do you drive an SUV?”
“Since I realized my two-seater doesn’t have room for a car seat.”
“Oh.” All Leah could think to say at the moment. The reality of Kevin’s role in Carly’s life—in her life—was starting to sink in. That reality would become more apparent as soon as she stepped into his house.
L EAH HAD EXPECTED his house to be nice. She didn’t expect it to be so incredible—from the soaring ceilings to the muted taupe walls to the polished hardwood floors. Yet nothing in the great room looked familiar. Not the overstuffed beige leather sofa and chair. Not the black accent tables and contemporary artwork. Especially not the photos of his family set out on the mantel above the stone fireplace.
It was as if he’d erased all evidence of his former life as a bachelor living in an upscale condominium sparsely decorated with hodgepodge furnishings. This place seemed much more refined. Better equipped for acouple, but not necessarily a toddler. No matter. She would be long gone before Carly reached that stage.
“What do you think?” Kevin asked as Leah stood in the middle of the room, taking in the scene.
She set down the diaper bag on the sofa along with the safety seat containing her daughter, who’d slept blissfully throughout the trip. “I think it’s amazing. Did you design it yourself?”
“With my brother-in-law’s help. He’s an architect so I told him what I wanted and he drew up the plans.”
“You mean Whit.” Clearly he’d forgotten she’d met him.
“Yeah, Whit.” Kevin looked around a moment as if uncertain what to do next. “Do you want me to unload the boxes now or do you want the grand tour?”
Blatant curiosity had been nagging at her since she’d pulled into the gated drive. “The tour sounds good.” She decided to first release Carly from the confines of the car seat and lifted her up onto her shoulder, careful not to wake her. “After you.”
They crossed the lengthy great room where Kevin paused at the adjacent kitchen. “The microwave gets the most use in here,” he said with a smile.
Such a shame, Leah thought as she studied the immaculate stainless-steel refrigerator and black-granite countertops. And such a waste of a double oven, not that she cared to volunteer to put it to good use. “Is that the laundry room?” she asked when she caught sight of a louvered door.
“That’s the main one. There’s another washer anddryer in a smaller room near the second master suite. I’ll show you that in a minute.”
When Kevin gestured her forward, Leah followed him past another living area that reflected some of Kevin’s former life. A curio cabinet housed his numerous journalism awards and a lot of sports paraphernalia—signed footballs and such. A row of theater chairs faced a massive flat-screen TV suspended on one wall.
Kevin turned toward her and continued to walk backward. “This is the den where most of the action happens.”
When Carly began to stir, Leah patted her back. “Action?”
“Where I watch all the games. I also have a media area adjacent to the master bedroom.”
She didn’t dare request to explore that area. “Where to now?”
“Your room.”
Kevin led her into a small corridor that ended in a lengthy hallway jutting out right and left. He paused and opened what looked to be the first of a series of doors. “This is the guest bath.”
Very lucky guests, Leah thought as she viewed the cocoa-colored marble
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