by Wendi Zwaduk
Table of Contents
Legal Page
Title Page
Book Description
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
New Excerpt
About the Author
Publisher Page
My Favorite Mistake
ISBN # 978-1-78651-116-4
©Copyright Wendi Zwaduk 2016
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright December 2016
Edited by Sue Meadows
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2016 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 2.
MY FAVORITE MISTAKE
Wendi Zwaduk
She’s always known who she wanted. Now she needs to find the strength to make him see they’re more than a mistake.
Molly Neff creates promotional art for companies with confidence and her working partner is sex on legs. Austin Dean is sexy, smart and everything she’s wanted in a man since the moment they met. They’ve slept together a couple of times, but things haven’t worked out between them. When another woman enters the picture, can Molly convince Austin they belong together or will the relationship end up scrapped for a better idea?
As much as he likes working with Molly, Austin wants more out of life than creating advertising campaigns for others. He wants to be the star. Molly has always been his good luck charm—with her brains and charisma, she helps him make his dream come true. But his starring role comes with complications. He’s always sort of known he loved Molly, but another woman wants his attention. Will he choose Molly and a simple life with her or the bright lights of fame?
Dedication
SM—I’m glad I get to work with you again. Yay!
CD—thanks for listening to me when I worked through the kinks in this. You rock.
JPZ—you’re not a mistake, but you’re mine.
Chapter One
“What are you talking about?” Molly Neff asked. “Say it again.”
“Please tell me you’ve got a good idea that doesn’t involve showing my ass.” Austin leaned back in his chair and propped his feet on the edge of his desk. “The clothing company wants something that’s simple and chic—that’s your strong point, but I still don’t see why you think I could be good for this.”
Molly sighed and drummed her pen on her notepad. She’d worked with Austin for the last five years and still he managed to surprise her. The ad campaign they were working on didn’t have to involve him showing his ass, as he’d put it. He didn’t have to show up in the campaign at all. But what if she went with her initial idea and used him in the advertisements?
She stared at him. Austin Dean personified sex. From his perfectly cut dark-blond hair to his muscles and the way his clothes always fit just right, he could model. When he smiled, she melted—and so did just about every other female within a hundred-mile radius.
Molly picked up the shirt box and flipped up the lid. The T-shirt wasn’t anything that special, but on the right body and showcased to its softest advantage it would sell well. Pair it with the boxer briefs and put the model in a casual situation…yeah, she could see the clothes selling well. Hell, she could see the posters now with Austin as the model.
“What are you thinking?” He moved his feet from the desk and leaned forward. “The wheels are turning. I see them.”
She shook the shirt out and smoothed it across her notebook. If she wanted him to model, she’d have to tell him sooner rather than later. “Okay, so here’s what I’m thinking. Aura Sportswear wants the clothes to look easy to live in. They’re going for casual and fun. What if we did a series of photos of models in those clothes?”
“Isn’t that the plan anyway?” He frowned, but his blue eyes twinkled. “Go on. What’s your vision?”
The tips of her ears burned. He loved to tease her about her methods for coming up with the ideas for the different advertising campaigns, but the visions, as he called them, almost always worked. “I’m seeing black-and-white images. Casual. Like, the male model stretched out on the bed, wearing glasses maybe, and dressed in the shirt and boxers. He’s reading the paper. Another one is the same kind of guy, but on a balcony. Maybe it’s sunset and he’s got coffee. Bare feet, backside shot. Hot, but not overly grossly sexual.”
She met his gaze and hoped the heat on her cheeks wasn’t evident. When he laughed, she knew he saw everything.
Austin didn’t answer right away but kept laughing. “Backside shot. Who says that?”
“I do,” she muttered. She saw him as the guy on the bed, engrossed in the paper and debating what to do with his stock portfolio. He’d be damn sexy. She could probably make a mint off the posters alone. “The clothing is made for lounging. It’s supposed to look soft and inviting, but sporty. Like this.”
Molly placed the tablet in front of him. She pointed to the image she’d cobbled together on her photo manipulation software.
He stopped laughing and sobered. He laced his fingers together. “You used my face.”
“It’s the back of your head.” She shrugged. She should’ve regretted her decision to photograph him, but it was too late now.
“Where is this?”
“I took it a couple hours ago while you were staring out the window. Your pose was perfect and the lighting was even better. I cut your body out and put the clothes in. Your body is the plastic mannequin body.” She gripped the pen again, needing something to do with her hands. She’d crushed on Austin for almost ten years, but every time she’d tried to make a move, he hadn’t been available. They’d only made love a couple of times because he’d wanted it. Her mild obsession with taking his picture was going to get her into trouble.
“I thought I was a little tighter in the back and ass section.” He swiped the screen to another image and paused. “Did you take this?” He snorted. “What am I saying? Duh, you took this. It’s your tablet.” He turned it around. “Is this me, too?”
She shrugged again. Yep, her tendency to photograph him was definitely going to get her into hot water. “It was the lighting and your expression.” He’d looked so damn cute and puzzled. “Sorry.”
“For what? I want a copy so I can use it for my business cards or something.” He leaned back in his seat again and crossed his arms. “Moll
s, I don’t know why you got into the advertising game. Your photography is too good not to be shared.”
“Nah.” She picked at the tip of the pen. She’d considered working professionally as a photographer, but she liked creating advertising spreads. Truth be told, she craved the time she spent with Austin. They’d probably never get together as anything other than collaborators, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t dream about a romantic relationship with him.
Austin scratched his forehead then pushed away from the desk and stood. “What if—? What if we did this? The ad campaign. We pitch the idea of the black-and-whites and see what Aura says? I’ll do it, but only if you take the pictures. Yes?”
“You mean manipulate them together? Sure.” She nodded. “I’ve got a couple of shots of you I can put with the clothing and cut and paste into a good composition.”
Austin rounded the desk and sat on the edge of hers. “No, I meant we actually shoot me in those clothes. Well, you do the photography and I’ll pose. We can get a hotel room or something. I’ve got points we can use for it, or we could expense it once we get the account.” He swung his foot and bobbed his head. “We could make a night of it. Room service. Order a movie… I’m in. What about you?”
She stared at him, unable to process what he’d just said. A hotel room? Seriously? Making a night of it? Uh, yeah, she wanted to, but probably not in the same way he meant.
“Molls?” He tipped his head to the side and his eyes widened. “What do you think?”
She wanted to strip him naked, ride him into the sunset and forget about the ad campaign—that’s what she thought. “Are you sure?”
Where in the hell had that come from?
“Why wouldn’t I be sure?” he asked. He stopped swinging his foot. “I don’t trust anyone else to take my picture.”
“Oh, yeah. That.” Definitely not thinking the same as she was… “If you want real pictures, then sure. I’ll take them.”
“Get that overnight bag you keep in your car and meet me at the Madison House Inn. They’ve got the exact room we want for this.”
“Sure.” She paused. “I’m thinking more candid shots for these. Like the girlfriend taking the picture. Thoughts?” She shouldn’t be hoping for more, but she did. Was she wrong to want to be the woman in his life and not just be his collaborator?
Austin nodded. “That’s smart.” He grinned and kissed her on the cheek. “This is why I only work with you.”
She warmed from her head to her toes. She balled her hands to keep from reaching for him. Wanting him was so foolish, because he’d never see her as anything other than his friend, but still. A vision of him in bed with her, him kissing her and making love to her, came to mind. She pressed her knees together and bit back a sigh. Naked, clothed, she’d didn’t care—she wanted him.
“I’ll meet you in the lobby in ten.” Austin smiled and trailed his fingers over the back of her hand. The flirt. He packed his tablet and leather-bound notebook into his messenger bag then strolled out of the office he shared with her.
Once alone, she sighed and rested her head on her folded arms. Photographs, a room together, him in form-fitting clothes—she was so screwed, and not in the way she wanted. She should’ve used another head for the mock-ups, but she hadn’t been able to resist. The thought of Austin modeling those shirts and shorts was too tempting.
She stuffed her own tablet and notebooks into her shoulder bag then tucked the box of shirts and underwear beneath her arm. She was going to spend the night with the man of her dreams, taking pictures of him. She could do this.
Ten minutes and three trips back to her desk later, Molly finally stepped into the elevator. She leaned against the back wall and sighed. What was she thinking? She should have turned him down. He had to know how she felt about him. Good God, they’d been friends for so long and she’d admitted she liked him at least twice after she’d had too much to drink when they’d slept together before.
The elevator car stopped and the doors opened. Austin stood in the lobby, but he wasn’t alone. Her heart sank, along with her spirits. She’d talked herself into turning him down, but she hadn’t expected him to turn her down first.
Austin widened his stance and smiled at the petite blonde woman. He laughed at whatever she’d said and seemed entranced by her.
Molly pressed the button to close the elevator door. She’d seen this too many times and knew exactly where he’d take the evening. He and the blonde would end up spending the night together. He’d come into work the next day and tell her all about whatever it was they’d done. A movie, dancing, hanging out at a basketball game, going to an art gallery opening—whatever. She’d play the role of the trusty friend, listening and being supportive.
Screw support. She was tired of being the best friend.
Just before the doors shut, Austin rushed up to the car. “Where are you going?”
“Back upstairs. I forgot my purse.” She’d lied, but she hoped he couldn’t see the gigantic bag dangling from her arm.
“Molls.” He stuck his arm between the doors. “You’ve got everything. Might take you a dozen trips, but you never come downstairs without it all.”
“Guess so.” She averted her gaze. “Look, Austin, this won’t work.”
“What?” He stepped into the car and pressed the button for the top floor. He leaned against the wall beside her. “Talk to me.”
“Nothing to say.” She couldn’t meet his gaze. “When—when are you and the woman out there leaving?”
“Huh?” Austin tapped the emergency stop button and crossed the car to where she stood. “You mean Iris? I’m not spending time with her tonight. That’s what I was trying to tell her down there. She’s convinced we’d be a good team. Probably, but I already promised you we’d get the job done.”
“Iris?” As in Iris Sommerville, the owner of Aura? The woman who wanted her and Austin specifically to do the ad campaign? Shit. She probably wanted special treatment and Austin in her bed. Molly closed her eyes. She’d just played right into Iris’ hands and was about to deliver photos of Austin in Iris’ brand of clothes.
“Hey.” Austin curled his fingers under her chin. “We’ve got a job to do and we’ll get it done. We’ll have a good time doing it. Promise.”
She didn’t doubt they’d have fun, but she did doubt he wanted to spend the night with her. Work or not, he wasn’t known as a playboy for nothing.
“You’re finally tired of me, aren’t you?”
“No.” She wriggled away from him and pressed the button to start the elevator up again. “We need to get this done. Let me do some magic on the computer. I’ll have the stuff ready for Monday’s presentation.”
“I don’t think so.”
The car stopped a second time, but when she looked up at the display she noticed they were on the ground floor. She shrugged past him and into the cooler air of the foyer. God, she was screwing this up all on her own.
“Hey.” Austin caught up to her. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but we’ve got a job to do. We’ll do it.”
“Yeah,” she said and choked back tears. She’d built up the evening in her mind and ruined things before they’d even begun. She blew out a ragged breath. “Let’s go.”
A muscle in Austin’s jaw tightened. He didn’t say anything as he escorted her to the parking garage. He didn’t have to talk. She knew the play. Meet at the Madison House Inn.
“I’ll see you in a few.” She unlocked her car and dumped her things onto the back seat. “Meet in the lobby?” He didn’t answer, so she glanced around the garage. “Austin?”
“In here.” He opened the driver’s side door for her. “You’re driving.”
“Oh.” She shut the rear door and settled onto the front seat. Sure enough, Austin was in her car. He’d ridden with her plenty of times and hung out with her plenty more, but there was something different between them.
“We might as well take one car. We’re coming back here in the morni
ng anyway.” He rested his arm across the seat back. “Josh and his working Saturdays rule. The guy is nuts.”
“He knows what he wants out of his workforce.” She switched on the engine and managed to back out of the spot without hitting anything. She didn’t know how she’d accomplished the feat, seeing as her hands wouldn’t stop trembling.
She peeked over at Austin a couple of times as she made the short drive across the city to the lakefront. Working in Avondale, Ohio, had its plusses—traffic, but not awful and a great view of the lake. Stores were within a decent distance and the cost of living was reasonable. Besides, Avondale had the Madison House Inn. Every room faced the lake and resembled a homey bedroom rather than a stuffy hotel room.
She turned onto the freeway and merged. Austin hadn’t said anything since the garage. She drummed her thumbs on the steering wheel.
“There’s a couple of T-shirts, three pairs of boxer briefs, a button-down shirt and a tie. Not sure why Aura didn’t send over pants,” she said.
“Aura makes jogging pants and base layers.” Austin toyed with her ponytail, tugging her hair lightly. “Or the selection is their way of throwing us a curveball.” He laughed. “They’ll love the way we’re going to lob that ball right over the left field wall.”
She bit back a chuckle. Austin and his baseball analogies—what would she do without him?
“This is the exit.” Austin sat up straighter and moved his arm. “I haven’t been to the Madison in forever.”
“I’ve only been there once.” She stopped from elaborating on that visit. She doubted Austin would remember her being at the company Christmas party two years back. He’d come in long enough to say hi then left with his date.
“The party two years ago, right? I wished I could’ve stayed longer. Gigi wanted to leave. She hated large crowds.” Austin tugged his wallet from his coat pocket. “Let me off at the door and I’ll get the room.”
