Page 92 of Beautiful Distraction

He frowns. “Just good?”

“Yeah, good. I couldn’t be better.” I smile at him to conveythat yes, I like both his home and his company. “You’ve been asking me thisquestion every morning.”

“Because I liketo know I’ve left my woman satisfied.”

I laugh again. “You do. You’re a good host, but…”

“But what?”

“You promised to teach me to ride and you haven’t.”

“As far as I remember, we did plenty of riding.”

“Except horses.” In spite of the relaxed conversation, Ican’t help but feel a little melancholy. “All in all, I’m happy and satisfied.”

“Good.” Kellan moves his arm around me and pulls me to hischest. “I’ve turned you into a country girl, then?”

“Fat chance. I still have a lot to learn.”

“Yeah? Like what.”

Like how to be what he wants and needs.

I shrug, as though my thoughts don’t matter. As though itdoesn’t matter that I wish we met under different circumstances, in a differentlifetime, with both of us ready for more than just a fling. “You still haven’tshown me around,” I say, implementing my own change in subject.

“I’d be happy to give you the tour.”

Except I’m leaving tomorrow.

That reminds me we have less than twenty-four hours left.We’ve barely spent a week together, and yet it feels like an eternity haspassed between us. Mandy was right. It feels like we’re an old couple. There’schemistry, and yet there’s no safety net.

I’mfalling withno safety net.

I don’t know what’s worse. Falling in love with a beautifulcowboy I’ll never see again or falling in love with a jerk I know will break myheart.

In the end, it doesn’t matter. Both outcomes suck big time.

We stay silent for a few minutes.

Kellan resumes the conversation first. “Why don’t you movehere?”

His question takes me by surprise. I look up to search hisgreen eyes. He averts his gaze as though he doesn’t mind saying the words buthe doesn’t want me to look into his soul while he says them.

“We could escape the madness of the past. Leave everythingbehind,” he adds. “We’d have all the time in the world. I could teach youeverything you want to know.”

I straighten, my heart thumping harder in my chest. “Do youwant me to stay?”

He shrugs. “I don’t think it’s bad here. And frankly, Ithink there’s a country girl somewhere inside you. I think deep down you wantto help me with the farm.”

He must be joking.

Stupid, crazy hope.

For a moment, I really thought—

I shake my head, my mood suddenly plummeting to a new low inmy life. “You wouldn’t pay me for my hard work.”

“Probably not. That’s because I already pay people to domost of the farm work.” He sighs. “But I’m a great cook, can offer you a warmbed, and let’s not forget, I’ll always make sure you come first.”

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