Beautiful Distraction(32)

CHAPTER ELEVEN





Last night’s rain has stopped, but a strong gale is still blowing. Mud cakes my boots and sticks to my jeans as I trudge after Kellan for what feels like miles. The ground is one giant bucket of sludge that seems to slow down my pace and make my usual walks around Central Park seem like an afternoon stroll through the backyard to water the plants.

My legs have never hurt so much in my life. In fact, my thighs are burning, and I consistently feel like I won’t be able to take another step. But somehow my groans and huffs keep me going.

Or is it my ego that just doesn’t want to admit defeat?

Or is it the fact that he warned me my boots weren’t suitable for hiking, yet I wanted to prove him wrong?

Sure as hell, Kellan doesn’t seem to break a sweat. It’s frigging cold outside, but he’s adamant he doesn’t need a jacket. From behind, his shoulders look magnificent—broad and strong, the muscles barely contained by his shirt. His thighs are built like tree trunks, and for a careless moment, I imagine myself sitting on his lap, my legs wrapped around his narrow waist, his green gaze piercing mine as he cradles me against him.

But the sexiest thing about him is his tight ass. I wonder if it’s as hard as his biceps. It sure looks like it’s been carved out of stone.

“Ava?” His voice pulls me back to reality. I clear my throat, thankful that his back’s still turned on me and he can’t see the telltale heat of a major blush creeping up my face.

“Yeah? What did you say?” I manage to croak.

“I asked whether you’re from NYC, too, or just your friend.” He seems to be having a great time, all cheerful and buoyant as he strikes up a conversation.

“Yep.” My voice sounds so strangled, I might just be on the verge of having an asthma attack.

“What really brings you to this part of the world?” He says it like Montana’s the Antarctic.

“A road trip,” I say because that’s about all I can squeeze out through my taxed lungs.

Kellan shoots me an amused look over his shoulder. “Just finished college?”

As if.

I’ve worked my ass off since I turned sixteen.

I roll my eyes. “No, I finished college two years ago. Like I said, just a road trip.”

His laughter rings through the air, taking me by surprise. It’s so deep and rich and full, I trip over my feet and barely manage to avoid taking a tumble facedown into the mud—which I’m sure he’d very much enjoy.

“Okay, if you must know, we’re here to see Mile High.” He stops and turns around, waiting until I catch up to him.

“Really?” he asks, resuming his walk.

“Yeah, really,” I say in the most bored tone I can muster.

“You don’t sound excited.”

“Sorry, I can’t help myself. I’m not really a fan.” I shrug, feeling the need to apologize. “I just don’t get all the hype about this band.” I peer at him sideways, surprised to find that he’s listening intently, holding my breath as I try to catch his expression. There’s nothing on his face.

“So I gather the trip wasn’t your idea.”

I shake my head, more out of irritation with Mandy for coming up with her grand plan than out of need to confirm Kellan’s statement. “I’m just doing my best friend a favor. If it were up to me, I would have sold the tickets and enjoyed this road trip, but Mandy is a big fan. She’s like a sister to me. And then there’s my job.” He glances at me, and I feel the need to clarify. “I’ve been offered an investigative position with a business magazine. That’s been my dream for ages. But it’s demanding work. There won’t be much time left for friends and family. Mandy had it all sorted out, you know, see a bit of the world before we get stuck behind a desk for the rest of our lives, so I went along with her plan.”

“Sounds like an optimistic outlook. What happened?”

I grimace. “She took a shortcut.”

“In the middle of a storm? In your old car?” He sounds incredulous, which is an understandable reaction, given that he doesn’t know Mandy, or how durable my car was…before we entered Montana and the engine failed.

“In her defense, I’ll have to stress that it wasn’t raining when she decided to cut through God knows where. But she definitely knew that a storm was on the way.” I cannot help but feel a bit defensive of her.

“Now you’re stuck here.” Kellan stops and turns to regard me. To my surprise, I find that his smile is genuine, maybe even kind, as though he understands that the trip hasn’t been a pleasant experience so far.