My Favorite Mistake: A Tahoe Nights Story

by Karen Erickson

It was becoming an addiction, her Tyler-induced orgasms. He was just so damn good at making them happen.

  Tyler tensed at the moment her movements stilled and they looked at each other, their heads cocked toward the window. She swore she heard a car door slam, and he must’ve heard it too. It sounded awfully close. As if someone might’ve parked in the driveway.

  “You heard that right?” he whispered.

  She nodded, her grip relaxing on his cock. It sounded like someone was walking on the porch, their heavy footfalls echoing in her ears. At least two people from the sounds of it, she could hear muffled talking. A man and woman. She waited for the sound of a knock.

  It didn’t happen.

  Tyler withdrew from her completely, grabbing his eyeglasses from the bedside table and slipping them on. He stood stock still, his gaze locked on hers, and she could only stare at him in return.

  “Do you think they’re gone?” she whispered.

  He shook his head and went to the closed bedroom door, rested his head against it. “I swear to God they’re inside the house.”

  “What?” Julie quietly shrieked, hopping out of bed. No way was she meeting her demise while naked in bed. That was the biggest cliché in all the horror movies.

  “Sssh.” Tyler pressed his index finger against his lips and resumed his listening at the door. “The voices sound familiar.”

  She heard them too. The murmur of conversation. The sound of footsteps as they came closer. She glanced wildly about the room, looking for an article of clothing, anything to cover her nakedness, and she found his shirt. Tugged the T-shirt on so it fell almost to her knees, covering her completely.

  Thank God.

  “It’s your parents.” Tyler’s gaze met hers once more, his mouth drawn into a firm line, worry written over his face. “Did you invite them to come up here with you?”

  “Of course not. I told you I never see them. Why would I ask them to come up on a Sunday? I’m leaving this afternoon.” She threw herself on top of the bed, flung her arm over her eyes. “Holy crap, I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “Julie? Julie, honey where are you?” she heard her mother call. Her arm dropped away from her eyes, and she scrambled off the bed, straightening her hair as best she could.

  “Yeah, Mom. Hold on okay? Let me get dressed. I just woke up.”

  “No need to get out of bed, hon. We brought breakfast. McDonald’s. Your favorite.” Her mother’s voice sounded from the hall.

  Tyler shot her an amused glance, and she glared at him in return. So what if she loved the occasional sausage biscuit more than life itself?

  “I’ll meet you in the kitchen, okay?” Damn it, she needed some pants or shorts but she couldn’t find anything. “Give me a minute.”

  “Oh stop fretting, Julie. We’re coming in.” The door swung open, obscuring Tyler from view since he stood behind it and her mother and father both stopped short at the sight of her standing by the side of the bed.

  She most likely presented quite the picture. Disheveled hair, man’s T-shirt hanging from her shoulders and nothing else on. Most likely she wore the just fucked glow too. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment, and she shuffled her bare feet. Her parents were going to know exactly what she was up to.

  How fitting that she felt like a teenager just caught doing it with her snuck-in, hot high school boyfriend. “Hey.” She gave a little wave, not knowing else what to do.

  Her parents stared at her until finally her mother spoke. “Well. I believe we’ve…disturbed you, haven’t we?”

  Julie shrugged. “Kind of.”

  “You have company?” Her mother’s brows lifted almost to her hairline.

  “Yes.” Julie’s cheeks heated with embarrassment.

  “Oh my,” her mother murmured at the same time her father clasped her by the arm. Julie noticed the McDonald’s bag hanging from her father’s other hand.

  “Come on, Clara. Let’s leave Julie alone for a moment while she collects herself. And her young man too.” Her father turned her mother around and led her out of the room.

  Julie ran to the door and slammed it shut, leaned against it with panting, excitable breaths. That was close. If they’d come a few minutes later, she and Tyler might have been too far gone to hear them. And her parents could’ve walked in on them and…

  Yeah. She didn’t want to go there with that particular image.

  “You didn’t even tell them.”

  Tyler’s tight, angry voice caused her to look up. “What? What’s wrong?”

  He pushed away from the wall, his walk downright predatory as he approached her. “You didn’t tell them that your guest was me.”

  “I—I didn’t get a chance to tell them.” She figured they could walk out together to the kitchen and explain themselves then. Her mother was going to be beside herself. Her father was going to be thrilled too. He’d always though highly of Tyler Nichols.

  But she needed to remember this was most likely nothing. Just a weekend fling, a way for the two of them to scratch each other’s itch for a few days before they went back to their busy lives.

  He glared at her, the expression on his face almost as if he didn’t quite believe her. Which made her hackles rise because come on, when did she have the chance to tell them? It was bad enough what had been implied. The bed a mess, she a tousled mess and God, was that the scent of sex that lingered in the air?

  She was beyond mortified that her parents had seen her this way.

  “Listen, I’m not trying to hide you or whatever you’re implying,” she said, going to the dresser and yanking out a pair of pajama bottoms. She slipped them on, hopping around on one leg and most likely looking like a dork. She didn’t care. She wasn’t trying to impress him any longer. She was too pissed. “So stop glowering like that and come out with me.”

  His dark brows furrowed. “Come out with you?”

  “Yes, come out there with me, and we’ll greet them together. Let them wildly speculate and ask all the questions they want because I’m warning you, they’re going to ask a ton of questions. Especially my mother.” She rested her hands on her hips. “What do you say?”

  He looked stunned. Did he really believe she’d be ashamed of him? That she would hide him away and not want her parents to know they’d been together. It was already too late, they’d figured out she’d brought some man up to the cabin. At least let them see it was Tyler.

  That would earn their approval, no doubt. And Tyler already had her approval.

  Even if he was pissed off. She studied him, realized he looked damn sexy when he was mad. The narrowed, glowing eyes, the tense stance that seemed to showcase every muscle in his very well muscled body. His arms were crossed in front of his bare chest, biceps bulging. One delicious hunk of man flesh that only moments ago she’d had her hands all over.

  She wanted her hands all over him. Now. Again.

  Hello! Parents waiting out in the kitchen.

  Disappointment flooded her, but she went to him anyway. Smoothed her hands over his forearms, let them trail up to curve around his biceps. “Don’t be mad.”

  His gaze softened the slightest bit as he looked down at her. “I’m not mad.”

  “You were.” Her hands slid down his bare chest, and she shivered. God, he felt good. Solid and warm. “When they opened the door you were hidden behind it.”

  He nodded once. “True.”

  “And I couldn’t just blurt out your name because it would’ve been…awkward. And this is awkward enough right?”

  “Yeah, it is definitely awkward now that they’re here.” He nodded again.

  Her hands slipped down to wrap around the waistband of the underwear he must’ve yanked on when she wasn’t looking. “So go out there with me, we’ll present a united front and entertain them. Please?” She dropped a kiss to the center of his chest, felt his rapidly beating heart beneath her lips.

  “All right.” He touched her, big hands wrapping about her shoulders and tugging her
close. “Sorry I’ve been such an ass.”

  “It’s okay,” she whispered against his chest, pressing another kiss there. His skin was salty, delicious. Unable to stop herself she licked him.

  Groaning, he tugged her away. “Stop. I can’t walk into the kitchen greeting your parents with a hard on.”

  She giggled and stepped away, excitement bubbling up inside her. Normally she’d be full of dread. The very last thing she enjoyed doing was sharing her latest boyfriend with her parents. Their expectations were always high and her mother always had her married off to the poor guy immediately.

  But she wanted to drag Tyler out to the kitchen. She wanted her parents to gasp their surprise. She wanted to see their pleased expressions when they realized she was actually with Tyler. That she wanted to be with him for a long time, to see where this would take them.

  A sobering thought but true. Did he feel the same way? His angry reaction told her yes but he hadn’t actually said anything. Of course, maybe he thought he’d look like a damn fool for proposing something more serious between them. After all, they’d been together a whopping two days.

  They’d known each other for years. She felt so at ease with him. And the sex was good.

  Beyond good.

  Beyond amazing.

  Smiling, she reached out a hand after he threw on an old T-shirt and shorts. “Ready?”

  His hand landed in hers, fingers entwining and squeezing tight. “Absolutely.”

  To say that Julie’s parents were thrilled to see him was an understatement.

  Her mother practically threw herself at him. And her father, Lou, smiled broadly as he pumped his hand in a vigorous shake. Despite the fact that they knew he’d just been in bed with their daughter, they looked pleased as punch. Clara had fussed over him, making him sit as she poured them a cup of coffee. She’d even forced Julie to split her sausage biscuit though he saw the disappointment written over Julie’s face when she reluctantly handed over his half.

  It made him want to laugh. It made him want to pull Julie close and offer her a reassuring squeeze about the shoulders.

  More than anything, the cozy domestic scene made him feel as if he belonged.

  He hadn’t been able to help the anger that swarmed him when her parents had burst into the room and she hadn’t even mentioned his name. He knew he was being irrational. He knew he was an ass for acting that way. But the emotions had come anyway, intense and old, harbored from a long ago resentment that he guessed he’d never fully shaken.

  When he’d been younger and felt like such an outsider. When he’d had such a terrible, agonizing crush on Julie that filled him with such longing his entire body ached. How he’d ached for her during those few summers. She’d been so elusive, almost like a dream that slipped through his fingers like sifting sand.

  Now he realized he’d put her too high on a pedestal. That she was a flesh and blood woman, a woman who lived her life the best she could. A woman who wasn’t as perfect and ideal as he’d believed she might be.

  But he believed her perfect for him.

  “So why did you guys come up here? Just for the day?” Julie asked. Her voice broke his reverie and he glanced at her parents who paused mid-eating.

  “I was worried about you,” Clara admitted, a grave expression on her face as she set down her breakfast sandwich. “I called and called but you never answered your cell, and you’re always on your cell phone.”

  Julie immediately looked contrite though she didn’t say a word.

  “Then my imagination started to get the best of me. Maybe something terrible happened to you. Maybe you were lost. Or maybe a bear attacked you.”

  She burst out laughing at that one. “Are you serious?”

  “Well, I wasn’t sure what happened! Don’t laugh. A mother’s worry is never funny,” Clara admonished.

  Julie sent a skittering glance in his direction then focused on her mother. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ve only checked my phone once since I got here and that was yesterday morning. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

  Her mother smiled and reached out to pat her hand. “It’s all right. Now that I know you were…otherwise occupied.”

  Everyone laughed though a bit awkwardly. Tyler was thankful the Lancaster’s approved of him. That they didn’t mind he was spending such—intimate time with their daughter. He wanted their approval. He wanted to be part of Julie’s life on a permanent basis.

  Did she want the same thing? He thought she might. But he wasn’t sure. And he was afraid to push, not wanting to get into too serious of a conversation and ruin the last remaining remnants of their weekend.

  “You know what we should do? We should take a walk,” Clara suggested, nudging her husband in the ribs. He set down his second breakfast sandwich and gave her an accusing look. “Around the lake. It’s a gorgeous morning. And heaven knows it would do us all some good to get some fresh air.”

  “I’ve gotten a lot of fresh air this weekend,” Julie said as she stood, gathering up all the garbage leftover from their breakfast and taking it to the trashcan. “But I think I’m up for a walk though I need to change first. How about you, Tyler?”

  “Absolutely.” It didn’t matter where he was as long as he had Julie by his side. “Let me go get my shoes on.”

  “Let me get changed first. I’ll be right back.” She cast a sweet smile at everyone sitting at the table then bounded out of the kitchen.

  They made small talk while she was gone, and Tyler realized he missed her. Completely irrational since she was just in the next room and he knew she’d be back in minutes. In fact, she was back in minutes, looking fresh and clean. Clad in a vibrant green tank top and black shorts that emphasized the length of her tanned legs.

  She was beautiful. And if he had his say, she would be his by the end of today.

  He went into the bedroom next, casting an amused glance at the chaos. The room was normally neat and tidy and he wasn’t one for making a huge mess. He realized Julie was a little more on the messy side, surprising considering her success as a business owner.

  Oh well, everyone had their faults.

  After he finished tying his shoes he ambled down the hall, headed toward the front door when the quiet voice of Lou Lancaster stopped him in his tracks.

  “Can I have a word with you, son?”

  Tyler turned to find Lou sitting on the edge of the couch, his gaze focused directly on him.

  “Sure,” Tyler said slowly as he looked about the room. “Where’re Julie and Mrs. Lancaster?”

  “They’re outside waiting for us. It won’t take long, I promise.” Lou smiled up at him though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  Tyler approached him, suddenly wary. Lou looked downright uncomfortable, and he wondered what the man wanted to speak to him about.

  “What did you want to talk about Mr. Lancaster?”

  “Call me Lou.” He patted the spot next to him on the couch. “Sit down, son.”

  Tyler did as he asked, sitting on the opposite end of the couch. The two men stared each other down for a moment, as if they were having some sort of contest and finally Tyler looked away first, glancing down at his feet. He rested his elbows on his knees, clenched hands hanging in between them and damn it, he realized he was nervous.

  “I know this may sound formal and a bit old-fashioned but what are your intentions for my daughter?”

  Tyler cleared his throat, wanting to get it just right. “Well, I haven’t discussed it with her, but I’d like to continue our relationship. For the long term.”

  “I see. And how long have you two been seeing each other? I’m surprised she kept it from us. You’re an old family friend, I’m sure she realizes how thrilled her mother would be at the idea of the two of you together.”

  “We haven’t been seeing each very long, actually. And I think Julie was keeping it quiet in case…in case things didn’t work out.” Tyler shifted around, feeling bad for lying. He didn’t want to admit he’d only been w
ith her for two days and it had been a non-stop sex fest since they pretty much set eyes on each other.

  Tyler didn’t think her father would much appreciate hearing those sorts of details.

  “I think you two make a fine couple.” Lou smiled and nodded, and Tyler swore he caught sight of a twinkle in the older man’s eye. “You best do right by her, Tyler. She’s a good girl, a hard worker and I’m proud of the woman she’s become. But she’s also vulnerable. She doesn’t allow a lot of people into her inner circle if you know what I mean. So if she’s allowed you entry, you best be grateful.”

  Interesting. He had a feeling Julie was a private person who kept a tight circle of friends from bits and pieces of conversations they’d shared the last couple of days. Her father’s statement only confirmed it.

  “Thank you, sir,” Tyler said solemnly. “Your approval means everything to me. I would never intentionally harm Julie in any way. I—care for her a lot.”

  “That’s nice to hear,” Lou Lancaster said with nod. “Clara will be pleased too. She’s already pleased, but she has a way of getting ahead of herself.”

  Both men chuckled, and Lou stood, as did Tyler. “We best go outside and take that walk Clara insists upon. I’d rather take a nap in the hammock out back, but she has other ideas.”

  Tyler followed the man outside onto the front porch, where both women were sitting on the porch steps waiting for them. Julie leapt to her feet and went to him, seemingly oblivious to her parents standing right there watching them as she leaned up on tiptoe and brushed the quickest, softest kiss to his lips.

  “Everything go okay in there?” she whispered, concern lingering in her eyes.

  “Everything’s fine. Your dad is cool.” He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.

  She smiled and kissed him again, this time on the cheek. “So are you.”

  Clara Lancaster stared at the both of them agog. As if she couldn’t believe what she saw. Julie led the way, snapping her fingers as if to hurry everyone along. “Let’s take that walk. I need to burn some calories considering that sausage biscuit I just ate.”

  “You only ate half of it,” Lou mumbled as he fell into step behind his daughter. “You don’t have to be such a drill sergeant.”