Page 60 of Beautiful Distraction

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

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

He has no idea what The Notebook is.

If he continuesto be a big jerk, I’ll let Mandy unpack her all-time favorite movie, which I’msure 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 lookat Kellan, barely able to hide my smile. Something—is thatamusement?—flickers in his eyes.

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

Holy shit.

Is there something growing on my nose, or why the fuck won’the look away? If he continues to be so weird, Mandy will get all suspicious andthen will start drilling me for details, her dirty imagination making up thingsthat 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 Ihadn’t bothered though. All I found was a string of taverns glued together. Andget this. There are no shops. Not even a Starbucks. I don’t know how thosepeople survive. It was literally impossible to find a working phone. Or an Internetcafé. Even the post office and the police station were closed.” She raises herbrows 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 mainroads 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 onlyhappens in movies. I need to get a manicure and make a very important phonecall. Not to mention the fact that Ireallyneed 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-stockedmini bar. Anything to help me sleep through the days I’m stuck in the middle ofnowhere.”

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

Now that Mandy thinks I’m interested in Kellan, she nolonger sees the need to pretend, so she’s basically returned to her true NYCpersona. Gone is the pretend off-the-grid nature fan she was about to morphinto last night when she thought Kellan and she might turn into an item…if onlyfor 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 headworking. “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, wecan’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’snot 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 gesturesat Kellan like he’s not standing there listening.

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

“What?” She shrugs. “We need to check into our hotel. We’llbe 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 gazecemented 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 andforth between Kellan and me, like a ping pong ball, as she’s analyzing ourevery move and word.

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