Page 59 of Beautiful Distraction

“It isn’t.” He gives me an amused glance. “But the one inthe 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 hisshoulder 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. Howabout I make it up to you?” He takes another sandwich, bites into it, and chewsslowly.

“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. Strangeas 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 howfar I can go with you.”

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

“Never.” He grins. “Wait here.” He gets up and rounds thehouse, 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 inspectthem. “How did you know my size?”

“I removed your shoes from you, remember?”

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

“Here, boy.” Kellan grabs his collar and guides him to thegarage, 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. Ifind 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 thatpart pretty clear. And because he’s not a guy who beats around the bush; heseems to like to keep all women informed about his intentions.

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

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

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

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

Mandy freezes as she hears insistent barking, ignoringKellan’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 atyou, guys. You already look like an old married couple.”

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

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