The Best Mistake of Her Life (7 page)

He narrowed his eyes in confusion, and she went on with a sigh. “Technically, this is my first date.”

His eyebrows puckered together. “I know, but it’s just like riding a bike. It’ll all come back to—”

“I’ve never been out on a date with anyone other than Dalton,” she blurted, and immediately felt ridiculous.

Memphis stared at her, and with the inspection came an increasing flush of discomfort.

“Never?” he said, disbelief in his expression.

She blinked back the churning emotion and shook her head, turning her gaze to the window and concentrating on the incremental shift in the view of the lights of downtown Miami, the restaurant oh-so-slowly spinning on its axis. She
could sense his gaze on her face and she closed her eyes. “Please stop staring at me as if I’m a freak.”

“If I’d known how momentous this occasion was,” he said. “I would have brought you flowers or something.”

“It’s not momentous,” she said. “It’s … It’s …”

She was twenty-eight years old. It was embarrassing.

Humiliating
.

“Awkward,” she finally went on.

“Kate,” he said softly, and she turned to look at him, seeing an expression of reassurance. “It’ll be okay. You’re doing great,” he said soothingly, and he surprised her when he placed his hand between her shoulder blades. “Now let’s just go enjoy our dinner.”

M
AYBE
he’d been too optimistic about enjoying dinner.

The food was delicious, each course more delicate and flavorful than the one before, but, as far as Memphis was concerned, it was a whole lot of trouble just for one meal. Because while the private dining room’s view of the city slowly changed as the restaurant revolved, the view for Memphis was the same. The couple seated across the table were two of the most self-absorbed people he’d ever encountered. And the pair had no compunction about sharing their opinionated ideas, either.

“I’m so glad you came tonight,” Tabitha Reed said to Kate, her green eyes sliding to Memphis, but he ignored the suggestive look.

“We didn’t think you would after what your ex-husband just pulled,” the lady’s husband added. Blond and blue-eyed, Jim Reed sported classic good looks, an apparent indifference for his wife’s wandering eye and a total lack of consideration
for others. “Especially with the whole town talking about the scandal.”

Kate sent the couple a polite smile they didn’t deserve. “There
is
no scandal.” Her tone was smooth, though Memphis sensed her discomfort. “The media just wants one in order to sell papers.”

As usual Kate oozed class and a reserved charm as glossy as polished marble. Her simple rose-colored silk dress was elegant, and her wheat-colored hair was coiled at the back of her head, a style that left too much tempting skin of her graceful neck exposed.

“But your divorce wasn’t final until three months ago,” Tabitha said, either oblivious or not caring she was making Kate uncomfortable. “And Dalton is already engaged to another woman.”

“We were separated several months before that,” Kate said.

“Hon,” Tabitha Reed said, brushing a chin-length strand of black hair from her cheek. “I don’t know how you can defend him.”

“I wish Dalton the best,” Kate said, her expression coolly genuine.

Tabitha raised a skeptical brow.

“I truly do,” Kate went on.

“Well,” Tabitha said, picking up her drink. “I think you’re way too forgiving.”

Memphis agreed. The insensitivity of the woman was beginning to grate on his nerves.
And how could Kate calmly sit there and take all their bullshit?

“Did you see the picture that was just posted on the reunion website?” Tabitha said.

The woman’s husband felt inclined to help out. “It’s in the then-and-now section,” he said. “A brilliant addition, by the way. Placing current photos of classmates juxtaposed to their high-school photos should help out at the reunion.” Jim Reed went on, “I wouldn’t recognize some of the people today.”

“I know,” his wife said, laying a hand on her husband’s arm. She leaned in, addressing their little end-of-the-table foursome conspiratorially. “Did you see the photo of Virginia Torrington? I mean, really,” she said, rolling her eyes. “As if she didn’t go under the knife for that new nose.”

Memphis had no idea who the lady was referring to, and he sure as heck didn’t care. As far as he was concerned, dessert couldn’t come fast enough.

“Great idea to get the website up, Kate,” Jim said.

“Kate’s done a wonderful job as chairperson,” Tabitha Reed gushed, but it was the kind of enthusiasm that left one uneasy.

“Thank you,” Kate said. “I’ve had a lot of help—”

“Memphis,” Tabitha interrupted, turning to address him. “You should have seen the fundraiser Kate organized for Dalton last year. It was the talk of the town and well-attended. I
don’t think I’ve ever seen the reception hall at the Samba Hotel look so beautiful.” The black-haired woman beamed her smile in Kate’s direction. “Everything Kate touches turns to gold.”

Kate’s expression didn’t change, but Memphis could feel the tension rolling off her now. It had started out as slight, but the longer they were held captive in this couple’s conversation, the more strained her smile became. And the more he had trouble keeping his mouth shut.

“You’re too kind,” Kate said, her voice smooth.

Kind? Memphis shot Kate a questioning look, but she ignored him. There was nothing benevolent about Tabitha Reed. The smile on the woman’s face didn’t reflect the light in her eyes.

“Oh, please,” Tabitha went on. “Everybody wanted to be Kate Anderson in high school. You were the most popular girl, you had a famous family
and
you dated Dalton.” Tabitha’s tiny laugh sounded forced. “I had such a crush on him back then. Even I was a little jealous of the girl who had everything.”

And Memphis finally realized what this conversation was about, the subtext clicking into place. There was no well-meaning sympathy from this woman regarding Kate’s recent difficulties, and Tabitha wasn’t simply being an insensitive ass. Instead, she’d corralled Kate at the end of the dinner table with every intention of venting years of resentment and envy.

And Kate was politely going along with her
plans, but Memphis’s patience was growing thinner by the second.

Even her husband was beginning to look uncomfortable. “The message board on the reunion website has been hopping with activity,” Jim Reed said, as if trying to change the subject. “Based on the numbers so far, I bet we get better than a twenty-five-percent attendance.”

“I know,” Tabitha said. “Did you see the number of people that confirmed after Deena posted that wonderful picture of Kate and Dalton?”

Kate froze, and Memphis leaned in, prepared to tell the woman to go to hell.

But Kate laid a discreet hand on his knee, as if to hold him back. “What picture?” Kate asked.

“Your shining moment of course, silly. It’s of you and Dalton being crowned at the Prom,” Tabitha said, her smile too wide to be believed. “Isn’t that ironic?”

A muscle in his jaw knotted as Memphis struggled to keep his mouth shut. He’d promised himself he’d try to make Kate’s first date enjoyable. Cussing at their table companions probably wouldn’t achieve the goal.

Kate’s voice wasn’t as strong as usual. “I didn’t realize that had made its way onto the photo album.”

“It was posted yesterday morning,” Tabitha said. “And since then we’ve had a fifteen-percent hike in our attendance confirmations.” The woman’s bobbed black hair shifted forward as she leaned in, clearly excited. “It’s fantastic news.”

Fantastic.

As if Kate should be thrilled.

Memphis’s patience ground to a complete halt. “Who knew a public divorce could come in so handy?” His voice was hard, his expression way too unforgiving to be mistaken for humor. Kate’s fingernails gently bit into his knee, and she sent him a sideways glance intended to get him to hold his tongue. But he went on anyway. “Perhaps Kate should get married and divorced all over again. All in the name of a better attendance rate, of course.”

“Memphis,” Kate said, her voice strained.

But Memphis had had enough of her yielding to Tabitha’s every malicious whim.

Kate straightened her shoulders and sent their table companion a gracious smile. “I’m simply pleased that—”

“The dinner was so delicious,” Memphis finished for her as he stood. “Unfortunately, we have to go.” His smile lacked even a hint of warmth. “I hope you enjoy your dessert.”

Silently fuming, Kate didn’t resist when Memphis held her elbow as he escorted her out of the crowded restaurant, the tension heavy between them. When they reached the empty bank of elevators, Memphis finally spoke.

“Damn it, Kate,” he said. “What the hell was that all about?”

Kate pulled her arm from his grasp. “I’m the one who should be asking you that question.”

Memphis ignored her response as he stabbed the down button for the elevator. “That woman maliciously droned on and on and you just rolled over and played dead.”

“Listen, hot shot. Being confrontational doesn’t make you brave. What purpose would it have served if I’d challenged her?”

“For starters it would have gotten her to shut up and leave you alone,” he said as they entered the elevator. The door closed behind them, and he cocked his head, almost as if he was disappointed in her behavior. “And where was the spunky new Kate Anderson tonight?” he went on. “You know, the one with the backbone?”

Kate inhaled slowly, struggling to hold her temper. “Someone had to remain calm and rational. And as the former wife of a state representative, I’m accustomed to—”

“Is that all you’ve been doing these past few years?” He folded his arms across his chest. “Training to be nothing more than the well-behaved wife?”

“Dalton and I were a team, a team I
chose
to belong to.”

His brow crinkled with impatience as he drawled, “You have a lot more to offer the world than simply being the senator’s compliant daughter and the dutiful spouse of a state representative.”

Irritation crept higher. “I played a part that I loved,” she said. “Dalton might be one of the youngest representatives ever elected, but he is
a brilliant politician, and I happen to know for a fact that he is committed to serving the people. His policies are ones that I care about, that I support. Which was why I volunteered to be in charge of his fundraising events.”

“But all you accomplished was to further your
husband’s
career.”

Irritation gave way to anger, complete and absolute. “It might not mean much to you, Memphis,” she snapped, stepping closer. “But I enjoyed what I did and I excelled at my job. Even with all of his faults, Dalton has
always
been more than generous in acknowledging my role in getting him elected.”

Two seconds ticked by before he responded. “Of course he did,” he said with a frustratingly calm tone. “Because you were supplying what he needed.”

Kate pressed her lips together, staring Memphis down as the elevator door slid open, and then she turned and exited.

Still fuming, she didn’t speak as the valet brought the car around, and she continued to stew on the drive home, furious at his words. And partially annoyed with herself. She knew most of the town thought the same thing, that there was little to Kate Anderson other than being Dalton’s ex-wife.

And a tiny part of her wondered if it was true.

Good God, wasn’t that a depressing thought? She closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead with her fingers.

“You okay?” Memphis said quietly, downshifting as he turned into Kate’s neighborhood.

She stared out the passenger window and gave a small nod, dropping her hand to her lap as the streetlights streaked by in the night. As trial dates went, this one had been a disaster. And while she realized the circumstances were unusual, and Memphis was pure trouble, a part of her doubted that time and a different man would have made any difference. She was normally confident, more than able to hold her own during a lively debate with a room full of political powerhouses. But put her alone with a guy with romantic intentions and she suddenly was as uncomfortable as an awkward teen.

“You know,” Memphis said, pulling her out of her thoughts. “You don’t have to go to this reunion. I don’t think anyone would fault you for skipping out.”

She turned to look at him, studying the masculine profile of his face. “I want to go,” she said firmly. Because it was the truth. “Organizing this event was the only pleasure I had these past months. And I’m not going to miss out on the fruits of my efforts just because of the Tabitha Reeds of the world.”

Memphis looked at her, his voice rumbling with approval. “Good for you.”

Her smile took on a self-deprecating touch. “I don’t know if it’s
good
for me, but I suppose it does make me out to be less of a coward,” she said.

Guilt trickled across his face, and he returned his attention to the road that glowed in the light of the headlights. “You’re not a coward.”

“That’s not what you just implied.”

The lines of regret in his brow grew deeper. “I shouldn’t have said that. How you deal with Tabitha is your business. And I shouldn’t have given you a hard time about not wanting to go to these functions alone. I can see now just how difficult the situation is for you, and how—” He looked as if he was struggling for the right word. “How complex it is.”

Complex? What an understatement. Especially given that the man she was taking to the events was the one guy she should be keeping her distance from.

She shoved away the thoughts and shifted in the seat to face him.

“It can’t be easy to have people judging you and talking about you behind your back,” he said.

She hiked a brow. “I wouldn’t know. I’m too busy dealing with what they’re saying to my face.” He let out a soft laugh, the sound full of ironic amusement, and she went on. “I’m not concerned with what Tabitha Reed thinks, or doesn’t think, about me.”

“You shouldn’t be. And …” he said, shoving a hand through his hair, “I’ve changed my mind about the reunion. If it will make it easier for you, I’ll attend the second reunion event.” Kate stared at him, but he kept his eyes on the road. “And while I’m apologizing,” Memphis said, his voice
turning rough. “I’m sorry I put down your role in your marriage. I shouldn’t have implied what you were doing held no value. Clearly you deserve credit for your help in getting Dalton elected.”

She blinked twice, trying to adjust to the turn of events before responding.

The rough-and-tumble, to-hell-with-the-rest-of-the-world Memphis James agreeing to attend both reunion events. And apologizing—minus the mocking tone.

It was hard to assimilate all at once, much less while she was feeling particularly vulnerable.

Don’t go there, Kate
.

She swallowed hard, hoping the large, rocklike object in her throat would prevent her from saying something stupid. “Thank you,” she said softly, and then she turned to face forward, quitting while she was ahead. Before she spouted something really ridiculous, like
hold me
. She’d begged him to do that once before. How could she get her life back in order if she stepped in that mess again?

Memphis turned into her driveway, and she felt, rather than saw, his glance at her from the corner of his eye. “What are you thinking?” he said.

“I feel …” Kate stared at the three-story, Spanish-style home Dalton had given her in the divorce settlement. “I feel lost.”