Page 72 of Beautiful Distraction

“Sounds like you’re no-nonsense.”

I glance at him to take in his expression. He’s seemshonest, serious. “I am. I always try to uncover the truth. If you dig hardenough, you’ll find that most companies have secrets, but some are shadier thanothers.”

His brows shoot up in interest. “Yeah? Like what, forexample?”

I shrug. “Like writing off charity donations when the charity’sjust some bogus company. Or a company cutting employees’ pension funds whileraising their board members’ salaries.” We resume walking. “Josh mentionedbrothers,” I start, ready to shift the focus on Kellan. “How many siblings doyou have?”

Kellan hesitates, but only for a moment. “One sister. Two brothers.”

“Must be nice to have a big family,” I say. “I’ve alwayswanted siblings.”

“You can always borrow mine.”

I laugh. “Only if they’re nice. So, what were you doing backin NYC when your life seems to be here?” I can feel him tense before I’ve evenfinished the question.

He doesn’t pull his hand back, but his grip loosens, thesoft butterfly strokes on my skin ceasing.

For a moment, he’s perfectly still, his eyes hooded, hisexpression cagey.

“Business,” he says matter-of-factly and clears his throat.“Montana’s beautiful, but not the only beautiful place in the world.”

A tactical change of subject. It’s not even a subtle one.

The feeling he’s hiding something is stronger than before.

As soon as I get back home, I know I’ll be trying to find outas much as I can about Kellan Boyd.

That’s a promise to myself.

I nod, sensing the usual ‘one day I’ll take you there’ BSguys always dish out. But it never comes. I take off down the dimly lit road,unsure which direction to take.

“You said you wanted to show me around. This is yourchance.”

His laughter echoes behind me a moment before I feel hisarms on my body again, guiding me into what looks like a deserted dark alley.

“And I was planning on using it. There’s definitelysomething I need to show you.”

I peer around me, unsure what exactly we could possibly seein the dark. My confusion intensifies when he opens a gate leading intosomeone’s back yard and pulls me inside, closing the gate behind us.

“We’re trespassing,” I hiss.

“Are you afraid of being caught?”

“No,” I say slowly. “But someone’s not going to be happy.”

“Well, that someone isn’t going to be me.” Kellan laughs andpushes me against the gate, capturing my hands in one of his and raising themabove my head.

Holy shit!

We’re in someone’s back yard, and Kellan has me pinnedagainst the gate, his mouth inches from mine as his other hand begins to roamover my body.

“I’ve waited so long for this,” he whispers, his hot breathsending an electric tingle down my spine. “Do you have any idea how much myhand hurts?”

The sudden memory of him jerking off pops into my head, andwow, it’s hot.

“I know what you did last night,” he whispers. “While youwere taking care of yourself, I was imagining myself replacing your fingerswith mine.”

My breath halts. The shock is short, but sweet.

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