Page 44 of Beautiful Distraction

I am a city girl. I love shops. For the life of me, I cannotimagine living far away from civilization.

However, my mouth clamps shut.

It’s the nicest thing he’s ever said to me. His words pleaseme, probably because he’s been a jerk so far.

He’s warming up to me. For the first time, I’m enjoying ourconversation. He sounds like a decent guy when he’s not trying to rip off myclothes with his spectacular eyes or verbally bring me to orgasm.

Or so I think…until he turns around and starts walking,calling over his shoulder, “Well, let’s see how much you can handle. It’ll beinteresting to see if you still think the same once the farm work begins. Now,let’s hurry, woman, before the next storm catches us and we have to spend thenight in the barn, naked and huddled together for warmth.”

“You didn’t just say that.” I lunge forward to smack hisshoulder, but he’s faster, almost two steps ahead of me. “Speaking of farmwork, where are we going?”

He throws me a glance over his shoulder. “Why are youasking? Are your feet hurting? Do you already need me to carry you?”

My chin juts out defiantly. “No. I can perfectly carrymyself. Thank you.”

That’s so not true.

“It’s not too far. We’re almost there.” He grins and then wewalk some more.

He remains silent as we ascend the hill. Once we stop, I seewhat he’s so excited about.

At the foot of the hill is a huge barn with open fields toeither side. A tall fence stretches around it. The red-painted wood panelsbuild a beautiful contrast to the gray-blue sky and the dark woods behind it.

Woods the color of a storm intermingled with magic.

Just like Kellan’s eyes.

A tingle shoots through my abdomen, settling in a deliciouspull between my legs. Suddenly I’m reminded that I haven’t been laid in way toolong, and all I want is for him to touch me.

Oh, fuck, what is it with this guy and my sexual attractionto him?

It’s not like I haven’t been attracted to others before. Itmust be the setting—cut off from the world with what looks like a guy whoknows how to survive out here. It’s all so primeval, it probably talks to me ona primitive level.

I roll my eyes at the strange direction my imagination’staking and recall the chick-magnet sports car he drove back in NYC.

Primeval, my ass.

Kellan is a player who’s probably had more dips in thedating pool than there are fish in the sea.

That’swhatattracts me to him. He’s standoffish, bordering on rude.

Taming the bad boy is probably every woman’s secret fantasy,and I’m most certainly no exception. But my head’s screwed on pretty tightly.He’s more Mandy’s caliber anyway.

Whatever happens, I’m not going to let him sink his hookinto me—even though I know I might have trouble stopping myself fromthinking about it whenever he’s around—particularly after three months ofobsessing over him and seeing him taking care of himself.

“Still want to help?” Kellan asks as we reach the barn.

I stare at the bright, red-painted building with white trim.Up on the hill, the barn looked big, but standing in front of it, it looks huge—muchlarger than his house, almost as large as an airplane hangar. I definitely knownow what he meant when he said I’d need extra energy.

The hike has already drained me, and we haven’t even startedwork yet—whatever that may entail.

God, a waffle would be delicious.

In spite of the mud caking my boots and my aching muscles, Iset my jaw and peer all the way up into his striking green eyes. “What do youthink?”

A soft smile tugs at his lips, and his brows shoot up withwhat Iknowis the slightest hint ofadmiration. The knowledge makes me smile, proud of myself. Kellan’s stilllooking at me, and for a moment, he opens his mouth, as though to saysomething, but swiftly changes his mind.

“We’ll have to inspect the damage first,” he says casually,turning away from me. “Storms around here aren’t particularly kind.”

---