Beautiful Distraction (13 page)

“You sure?” He cocks one eyebrow. “You’re not saying that
because you have pity on him?”

“It’s over. Definitely. I’ve moved past him. To be honest,
I’m not even sure what I saw in that guy. It’s definitely a good thing we’re
over.”

Kellan’s hand moves up to my face and I hold my breath,
excited at the prospect that he’ll kiss me again. But he doesn’t. “I don’t know
who he is, but he’s damn stupid for letting a beautiful woman like you go. It’s
his loss.”

And then he withdraws his hand and gets up, his focus
turning to the window. “It’s about to start raining again. I have to get the
horses in.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you with the farm work. Is there
something else I can help you with?” I ask.

He runs his fingers through his hair and then shakes his
head. His expression is casual, his eyes two dark pools of emotions I cannot
read.

He’s unperturbed.

Whatever our kiss did to me, I’m not sure it had the same
effect on him. Or maybe he’s so good at hiding it because he does it so often.

The thought stings, but I didn’t expect anything else from
him. He’s made it pretty clear that he doesn’t date. He only ever fucks.

At least he’s honest—unlike my ex.

“You need to rest now. You’ll be okay to walk in a few
hours,” Kellan remarks. “I’ll be back this evening.”

He glances at me one more time before heading out. For a
moment, I stare at the empty space he just occupied, wondering how I could
possibly learn to read a guy who’s a closed book.

Kellan’s right. The pain in my ankle lessens over the course
of a few hours.

After our kiss, it seems that he can’t get away from me fast
enough. Or maybe he really is busy.

From the open window in the kitchen, I watch him take
Brenna, saddle and mount her, then kick her into a trot. His eyes meet mine. I
give him a short wave before he disappears with Sniper by his side. I stare
into the open space for a long time, alone with my thoughts, confused.

One moment, he tells me he doesn’t like me, the next he’s
expressing his readiness to beat up my ex.

He’s a man shrouded in mystery and contradiction.

Eventually, I sigh and hobble to my feet, giving up trying
to make sense of him.

I’ve no idea what to do with myself in this strange house as
I head through the hall to familiarize myself with all the rooms.

The space is huge. All the rooms are tastefully furnished in
a rustic style, but carry a male touch. The ensuite bathrooms are clean but
empty. Devoid of life. Like Kellan hasn’t had any visitors in a long time.

I inspect the contents of the fridge and decide to make us
ham sandwiches and salad for dinner, then head to my room to take a short nap.

It’s early afternoon when the sound of chopping wood and
hammering carries over through the open window. The dog barks a few times, and
Kellan laughs—the sound causing a strange jolt in my chest.

Even though I shouldn’t even be thinking about making an
effort, I apply a bit of lipstick and straighten my clothes before I head back
into the kitchen.

Kellan seems surprised when he sees me standing in the
doorway, juggling two plates and two glasses of lemonade.

“You didn’t have to.”

I shrug. “I wanted to. You’re kind enough for letting us
stay.”

He mumbles a “thanks” and we eat on the front porch in
silence.

“The mechanic is going to pick up your car later today,” he
says.

I swallow the last bite of my sandwich before I reply. “I
thought the landline wasn’t working.”

“It isn’t.” He gives me an amused glance. “But the one in
the barn is.”

“You have a working phone in the barn and didn’t tell me?”

“I never got the chance because you just took off.”

“You were rude.”

“I was.” He turns his head to me and playfully bumps his
shoulder against mine. “I need to apologize.”

“I wasn’t nice either, so don’t.”

“I knew the hill was slippery. It’s my fault you fell. How
about I make it up to you?” He takes another sandwich, bites into it, and chews
slowly.

“How?”

“I want you to stay for a few more days,” Kellan says.

“I’m not sure I can.”

“Because you know I’ll keep making passes at you?”

I shake my head. “No, that’s not it. I know you will. Strange
as it may sound, I think I’ve gotten used to you being annoying.”

A smile lights up his face. “Then stay. I want to see how
far I can go with you.”

“You don’t give up, do you?” I roll my eyes in mock
exasperation.

“Never.” He grins. “Wait here.” He gets up and rounds the
house, then returns with a pair of brown hiking boots. “These are for you.”

I take them out of his hands and turn them around to inspect
them. “How did you know my size?”

“I removed your shoes from you, remember?”

The sound of tires hitting gravel carries over, followed by
Sniper barking.

“Here, boy.” Kellan grabs his collar and guides him to the
garage, locking him inside.

A moment later, Mandy calls out, “Are you guys decent?”

I roll my eyes at her and shoot Kellan an exasperated look. I
find him gazing at me, but his expression isn’t quite as irritated as mine.

Because he doesn’t want to be decent with me. He’s made that
part pretty clear. And because he’s not a guy who beats around the bush; he
seems to like to keep all women informed about his intentions.

“I can’t believe you just said that,” I say to Mandy as we
head back inside.

She shrugs and squeezes out of her jacket, tossing it at the
foot of the couch the same way she does back home. Kellan glares at the jacket
like it’s the poor fabric’s fault, but doesn’t comment.

So, he’s the tidy kind. I add that to my mental drawer of
information I’ve gathered about him.

“Did you find the town?” Kellan retrieves the jacket and
drapes it over the back of a chair.

Mandy freezes as she hears insistent barking, ignoring
Kellan’s question. “Wow. Is there a dog in there?”

“It’s Sniper,” I say.

Mandy watches us with a knowing smirk on her face. “Look at
you, guys. You already look like an old married couple.”

“Not a fan of marriage?” Kellan remarks, brows raised.

“Actually, quite the contrary,” I say, amused. “She finds
old, married people cute.” I grimace at him. “Don’t get her started, unless you
want a rendition of The Notebook with all its literary merits and its relevance
to today’s society.”

A blank question mark flickers on his face, and I smile.

He has no idea what The Notebook is.

 
If he continues
to be a big jerk, I’ll let Mandy unpack her all-time favorite movie, which I’m
sure is safely stashed in her suitcase because she never travels without it,
and dare him to watch it from the beginning until the very sappy ending.

“Did you know there’s a freaking western movie out there?”
Mandy ask and plops down on the sofa.

“She’s probably talking about the landscape,” I say and look
at Kellan, barely able to hide my smile. Something—is that
amusement?—flickers in his eyes.

He’s looking at me intently as he asks Mandy, “How far did
you get?”

Holy shit.

Is there something growing on my nose, or why the fuck won’t
he look away? If he continues to be so weird, Mandy will get all suspicious and
then will start drilling me for details, her dirty imagination making up things
that will never happen.

“I got as far as the next town,” Mandy says slowly.

“You drove all the way?” I ask incredulously.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Mandy retorts, slightly annoyed. “I wish I
hadn’t bothered though. All I found was a string of taverns glued together. And
get this. There are no shops. Not even a Starbucks. I don’t know how those
people survive. It was literally impossible to find a working phone. Or an Internet
café. Even the post office and the police station were closed.” She raises her
brows the way she always does when something strikes her as unbelievable.

“That’s probably the storm’s fault,” Kellan says patiently.
“Phone lines are often down during and shortly after bad weather. The main
roads are also blocked by uprooted trees. It takes a while to clean it all up,
which takes all the manpower the sheriff can get.”

“Yes.” Mandy draws out the word. “But that usually only
happens in movies. I need to get a manicure and make a very important phone
call. Not to mention the fact that I
really
need to check my emails. Maybe you could point me to the nearest hotel,
preferably one that has a spa and deluxe rooms. And I wouldn’t mind a well-stocked
mini bar. Anything to help me sleep through the days I’m stuck in the middle of
nowhere.”

“Of course.” Kellan winks at me. “The hotel’s down that
way.” He points out the window, in the direction of the barn, and I can barely
stifle a snort.

Now that Mandy thinks I’m interested in Kellan, she no
longer sees the need to pretend, so she’s basically returned to her true NYC
persona. Gone is the pretend off-the-grid nature fan she was about to morph
into last night when she thought Kellan and she might turn into an item…if only
for a night.

“I didn’t see it,” Mandy says.

“That’s because there’s nothing there,” I say.

Her eyes narrow on Kellan and me. I can see her little head
working. “Did you guys have fun?”

“She sprained her ankle.” Kellan points to my bandaged leg,
ignoring her question.

“Oh.” Mandy looks at me, disappointed. “In that case, we
can’t leave just yet.”

“I can walk around, though it still hurts a little,” I say.
“But my ankle’s not the reason why we need to stay. It’s the car. The mechanic’s
not been here yet, so I don’t know how long it’ll take to get it repaired.”

“Damn. And there’s no way we can borrow his?” She gestures
at Kellan like he’s not standing there listening.

“Mandy!” I give her my usual ‘don’t you dare’ glare. “We’re
already imposing.”

“What?” She shrugs. “We need to check into our hotel. We’ll
be losing a day.”

I shoot Kellan an apologetic look. “Even if we could leave,
the streets are still blocked.”

“What are your plans for tonight?” Kellan asks, his gaze
cemented on me.

He doesn’t want me to leave.

The realization hits me like a wall.

I shrug and look at Mandy, her attention jumping back and
forth between Kellan and me, like a ping pong ball, as she’s analyzing our
every move and word.

“What are your suggestions?” Mandy says. “Ava likes to go
out just as much as she enjoys an evening in.” Now she sounds like she’s in a
TV reality show and trying to get the guy to choose me instead of the two other
desperate floozies.

“I was planning on getting to bed early. You know, catch
some sleep,” I say.

Mandy shoots me a dirty look.

“What?” I mouth and frown.

“You’re a lost cause. I’m going to take a shower because I’m
most certainly not staying in tonight,” she mutters and walks out. She calls
over her shoulder, “And you’re not staying in either. There’s got to be
something remotely exciting to do in this town. And I’ll find it, dammit.”

“I think she wants you to go out with me,” Kellan remarks,
amused, as soon as a door slams down the corridor and we’re alone again.

“Yeah, she’s not very subtle at expressing her wishes.” I
brush my hair out of my face and look all the way up to meet his impossibly
green gaze.

That was a big mistake.

“Is there a bar somewhere around here?” I ask.

“Sure, there is. And it serves the best beer in the state.”
Kellan’s arms are crossed over his chest as he regards me with that challenging
flicker in his eyes.

Does
he
want me to
go out with him?

I can’t imagine a guy like him needing someone like me to
keep him company. And yet, his expression says it all.

He wants me around.

I heave an exaggerated sigh as I consider my options. I’m
not afraid of being on my own, but the idea of being stuck in my room with no
one to talk to isn’t exactly appealing.

Wherever Kellan’s going, there are bound to be people.

I won’t even have to sit at the same table.

Or talk to him.

I won’t even have to look at him.

Heck, I bet I can shut him out completely until I won’t even
know that he’s around.

“Let’s hit it.”

His brows shoot up.

“I mean the town.” I gesture with my hand. “You know the
saying.”

He shakes his head.

“Everybody knows the saying ‘let’s hit the town’,” I say. A
thought occurs to me—I don’t even know how old he is. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight. I thought you would have Googled me by now,”
Kellan remarks. I stare at him, unsure whether he’s joking or being serious.

Did Mandy say something? Because I swear to God his stunning
green eyes are twinkling with knowledge that yes, I tried to Google him after
our first encounter, even though I didn’t know his name.

“Not everyone’s obsessed with you,” I say through cringed
teeth, already regretting my decision to go out with him. But I can’t go back
on my word now, lest he think his words might carry a morsel of truth to them.

“Hmmm.”

That look again, like he knows more than he should and is
annoyingly smug about it.

I swear to God, I’m on the verge of saying something I might
come to regret to wipe that grin right off his face.

“I’ve never been obsessed with a guy, ever.”

“That is, until you met me, right?”

“No.” My tone comes out defensive, my voice conveying my
annoyance because he’s so damn right. “Honestly, you could own all the
nightclubs in the world, and I wouldn’t be interested.”

He shakes his head. “Like I said, you got the wrong Boyd,
baby. I’m just an investor in my brother’s business.”

I look up at him to see if he’s lying. Yeah, that’s what my
cheating, lying ex did to me.

Kellan keeps denying it, and his expression is honest, so it
must be true.

“I’ll leave you to get dressed,” he says and heads down the
corridor to his bedroom, I assume.

“What’s wrong with my jeans?” I mutter and grimace at the
air.

Of course guys like Kellan like a woman all made up and
probably wearing barely more than a piece of fabric to cover their modesty.

It’s what they’re used to.

If he expects me to turn into Mandy, then he’ll be
thoroughly disappointed. Not in the least because I don’t own Mandy’s
wardrobe…or long legs to show off. So I refrain from squeezing into clothes
that will only accentuate my shortcomings.