Page 21 of Beautiful Distraction

I barely have time to digest the news before Mandy opens hermouth. “We’re going to—”

“A road trip.” I shoot her a venomous look that instantlyshuts her up. As much as I love Mandy, I willnotgive off the impression that I’m in Montana to visit a stupidgig. And most certainly not that I’m a fan, and most certainly not a groupie,no matter how many chicks out there think Mile High’s great.

Mandy replies with a shrug, as though it’s something we doall the time, “Montana’s always been at the top of my places to see before Idie.”

Which is a blatant lie, but out of her mouth, it comes sosmoothly even I almost believe her.

“Really?” Mr. Hot Guy—Kellan—doesn’t sound tooconvinced. “Judging from your shoes, I would have thought Club 69 was more yourambience.”

His statement sounds more accusatory than nonchalant. If Iwere Mandy, I’d feel insulted by the fact that he thinks he can judge me by theshoes I’m wearing. She might be more the urban type, and Club 69isher ambience, but she has a hugeheart for animals and the environment. She’s definitely not some airhead. It’snot something a nice guy would imply, but to my astonishment, Mandy just laughsand lets his comment slide.

Wait a sec!

What the fuck did he just say?

It takes a second or two for the penny to drop. I spin myhead so quickly, a surge of pain shoots through my neck. I narrow my eyes toregard him, ignoring the fact that he’s staring at me with the same irritatingfrown on his face.

Club 69.

Mandy said the Boyd brothers own a string of nightclubs. Hisname is Kellan Boyd and he’s an investor. I might be jumping to conclusions,but that sounds like he’s an investor in his brother’s club.

Which would explain why he was driving away from the club ona Friday evening rather than arriving to party the night away.

I bite my lip hard, unsure how to respond.

Kellan keeps staring at me, one brow raised, as though he’swaiting for my confirmation that I know who he is. But it’s obvious from theknowing look in his magnetic eyes that he doesn’t need it. Maybe it’s a test tosee whether I realize that he’s half-famous or something. His oversized egoprobably demands that every woman on this planet know his name and pant it inher sleep. I may not know him, but the two encounters we’ve had so far have ledme to draw my own conclusions of the kind of person he is.

Bedroom perfection.

Arrogant prick.

Every woman hasthatone guy she’d like to fuck.

Well, he’s mine. In my fantasies, that is.

However, I can’t deal with someone like him. He’s tooconfident. Too sexy. Too experienced. And he’ll see right through the fact thatI’m deeply, truly, madly attracted to him, even though he’s absolutely not thekind of man I’d ever go for.

Ever.

I don’t want him to know that I couldn’t stop thinking abouthim.

“Do you like your drink?” he asks. His eyes are on me. It’sclear the question is directed at me.

“It’s good,” I say.

The sudden change in topic has made me wary. My tone doesn’tescape Mandy. Her gaze shifts from Kellan to me and then back to him, the bigproverbial question mark etched on her forehead. It’ll only be a matter of timebefore she sees the connection, and when she realizes he’s the guy I told herabout, she won’t be able to keep her mouth shut.

“I’m a huge fan of Club 69, by the way,” Mandy says. “Ivisited the new opening three months ago.”

“You did. Was she there, too?” Kellan asks with a glint ofamusement in his eyes.

“No!” I exclaim.

“Yes,” Mandy says in that same moment, adding, “she droveme.”

“Makes sense. That’s why I remember her.” Kellan’s smileturns into a grin. “She looks just like someone whose car bumped into mine.”

I choke on my drink.

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