Free My Favorite Mistake by Stephanie Bond Page B

when Redford climbed in, his big body touched mine from knee to shoulder. I decided that pul ing away would seem prudish considering our former relationship, so I stared out the window as we drove away and racked my brain for something conversational to say.
    “The drive in wil at least give you a great view of the city,” I offered.
    “If I could take my eyes off you. ”
    I jerked my head around and, indeed, he appeared to be studying me, his dark eyes earnest beneath the brim of his hat.
    The left side of my body was on fire. “What’s the errand you need to run?”
    “Just a little business transaction,” he said easily.
    In my purse, my cel phone rang. I pul ed it out and glanced at the screen—Barry. My stomach dipped. We’d been playing phone tag for days. I inadvertently glanced at Redford,
    feeling panicky.
    “Don’t let me keep you from something important,” he said.
    The cabbie turned around to verify something on the piece of paper Redford had given him. When Redford leaned forward, I hit the connect button and put the phone to my ear.
    “Hel o?”
    “Hi,” Barry said. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
    Redford put his hand on my knee, leveraging himself to lean farther forward. I inhaled sharply and my panty hose-clad leg burned beneath his large hand.
    “Um, no,” I said into the phone. “I was just on my way to…lunch. How are things in L.A.?”
    “It’s crazy here,” he said. “We’re working ’round the clock to get a couple of local stations transitioned to our network in time for sweeps. Sorry I haven’t been able to cal .”
    “That’s okay,” I murmured.
    “But I spoke to El en, and she said you had a good meeting.”
    I frowned, my first thought being that he’d had time to talk to El en, but not to me, then gave myself a mental shake—he had probably talked to her numerous times about work. “I thought it went wel ,” I said. “She took the paperwork with her, so I don’t have the account yet, but I think it wil happen.”
    “That’s great news.”
    “Yeah. I owe you big-time.”
    Barry gave an evocative little laugh. “When I get back, I’l col ect.”
    The juxtaposition of Redford’s warm hand on my knee and Barry’s voice in my ear sent waves of guilt over me, and I had the crazy urge to blurt a confession right then and
    there…which, I realized a split-second later, would be disastrous. So I simply took a deep breath and said, “Okay,” somewhat woodenly.
    “Who are you going to lunch with?” Barry asked over a yawn.
    Redford leaned back in the seat and settled next to me with a sexy smile.
    I turned my head slightly away from Redford and held the mouthpiece close. “Um…no one you’d know.”
    “A client?”
    Wel , I was going to be advising Redford during the tax audit, so indirectly, he was a client of mine…sort of. “Yes,” I said, peeling my gaze from Redford’s long, thick, tanned fingers.
    “Then I guess I’d better let you go,” Barry said. “Do you have any big plans this weekend?”
    “Not real y,” I squeaked. “I’l be in and out.”
    I glanced at Redford and he raised his eyebrows suggestively. Heat flooded my face and I was dimly aware of Barry saying something.
    “I’m sorry, what was that?”
    “I said have fun. I’l talk to you soon.”
    “Okay.” I wondered nervously if being engaged obligated me to a new, more gushy sign-off. “Bye…you.” I winced, my words sounding awkward and ridiculous even to me.
    “Bye,” Barry said, suppressing another yawn.
    I disconnected the cal and slid the phone back into my bag, as jumpy as a pussy caught between two toms.
    “Bad news?” Redford asked.
    I turned toward him, struck anew by the sheer maleness of him. “Hmm? Oh…no.”
    “You’re frowning,” he offered. “Is my being here an inconvenience?”
    I averted my gaze. “No, of course not.”
    “You’re fibbing,” he said. “You probably thought you’d never see me again, and then you get hit with this