Page 18 of Beautiful Distraction

“I’ve seen better guys out there,” I mutter.

“Then I’m calling dibs.”

“You don’t get to call dibs. I saw him first.” My head snapsto her. To my dismay, I realize she’s smiling. Oh, crap. Who says things likethat? We’re not sixteen anymore. I’ve just managed to sound completelyridiculous.

I begin to dab at my hair with the towel, as I consider howto rectify my words. “What I was trying to say is that he isn’t even yourtype,” I add quickly, but it’s too late.

She eyes me, amused. I can see her brain cells working. “Youlike him,” she states, smiling like she knows something that I don’t.

“No, I don’t like him.” I force myself to stare her down,even though my skin’s getting hotter by the second. “Trust me, no woman in herright mind could possibly like him. I don’t even know him but from what I’veseen he’s insufferable. Excruciatingly unbearable. Plain obnoxious.”

“And so your type.” She winks.

“Obnoxious is most certainly not my type,” I protest. “Infact, you can have him. He’s more your type anyway. He’s arrogant, vain,and…and…” My mind struggles to come up with more adjectives to describe him.But he’s in too close proximity, and faced with just how hot the guy is, wordselude me.

He’d beperfect—if it weren’t for his shitty character.

“I don’t believe you,” Mandy says.

“You should. I really don’t like him. In fact, I can’t standhim,” I say. “And now drop it. Talking about a guy is getting boring.”

Mandy keeps regarding me with a mixture of puzzlement andamusement. “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

“You should have heard him when I arrived,” I utter too lowfor her to understand.

“What?”

“If you think he’s so great, you should date him,” I sayinstead.

“So you wouldn’t mind if I flirted with him?” she asks,cocking her head to the side.

I force a careful shrug. “Why would I?”

“Interesting. In that case, maybe I will,” she whispers backand inches away from me, crossing her long legs in the process.

I shake my head and let out an annoyed sigh.

We barely arrived a minute ago, and she’s already on theprowl, ready to conquer the next male specimen we’ve come across. Maybe she’llflirt with him to get me to ask him out on a date. Or maybe she’ll do itbecause she thinks I’m not interested in him. With Mandy, you never know.Unless you specify loud and clear that the guy is yours, everything is a gameto her.

It sure helpsthat he’s handsome and not exactly the epitome of hospitality because she likesa challenge.

He probably won’t bemuch of a challenge for her.

And then my gaze settles on the only picture frame in theroom.

It sits on top of the fireplace, mirroring the slow dance ofthe flames.

I can’t help that I’m drawn to it like a magnet. With a peekbehind me to make sure he’s not watching us from the doorway, I head over andlift it up.

My body freezes and my eyes narrow.

Seriously, what did I expect?

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CHAPTER FOUR

I inspect the radiant smiles of a loved-up couple: he’s alldark hair and brooding eyes, arms wrapped around a blonde with sun-kissed skinand blue eyes that seem to come alive through the picture.

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