Page 93 of Beautiful Distraction

“Wow.” I grin at him. “You’re extremely generous.”

“Or a good host,” he says, his expression sober.

I give him a little shove. He laughs and lies back,squeezing his hands beneath his head. For a moment, I consider snugglingagainst his chest, but decide against it.

We stay silent.

The sky above us is a clear blue. Not a single cloud. Lyingback, I close my eyes and relax, soaking in the warm rays, the wind softlycaressing my skin.

“Will you miss me?”

His question knocks all air out of my lungs.

I turn my head to him and find that he’s pulled his cowboyhat over his face. The corner of his mouth tugs up. It’s only thing I can makeout, the only thing that gives away this isn’t as serious to him as it is tome.

“I guess so.” A hint of sadness seeps into my voice.

“Good.” His lips twitch. “When you leave me, I want to be inyour mind for a long time.”

You’re already in mymind and I haven’t even left yet.

There’s no way we can feel so much attraction and haveworlds separate us, and yet it’s happening.

Kellan draws his hat back. “You’re awfully silent.”

I avoid his eyes as my glance turns back to the lake.

“I’m just thinking how beautiful this place is. That’s all.”

That isn’t even a lie. This place is beautiful, but it wouldn’thold my heart if it weren’t for him.

He props up on his elbow, towering over me and shielding myface from the sun. And then he leans into me to steal the kind of kiss thatmakes me rip off his clothes, the kind that makes me forget we’re not a couple.

We’ll never be.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“Kellan,” I draw out the word as I drop the hayfork.“There’s something wrong with the horse. It looks sick.”

“Which one?” his voice bellows a moment before he stormsinto the barn.

“That one.” I point my finger to a huge, black animal withthe most bloated tummy I’ve ever seen. The poor thing’s so bloated, I wouldn’tbe surprised if people could smell it within a five-mile radius.

Kellan’s hand brushes over the horse’s head soothingly.“That’s a she. The mare’s about to give birth.”

I stare at the horse, completely dumbstruck.

“What?” Kellan laughs. “You thought she was overweight,didn’t you?”

“I don’t want to lie, but yes, I thought she was.” Which isa lie. But I’d rather let him think I thought the poor animal lacked physicalactivity than admit that I thought she was bloated. My hands fly to my throat,suddenly nervous and in fear of the animal’s wellbeing. “Shouldn’t you becalling the vet?”

“We’re in Montana. She’ll be done before he arrives.”Laughing, Kellan shakes his head and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You’readorable, you know that?”

More like stupid.

“I’m glad you think that because I definitely feel more likea fool,” I say dryly.

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