Beautiful Distraction(46)

Does he want me to go out with him?

I can’t imagine a guy like him needing someone like me to keep him company. And yet, his expression says it all.

He wants me around.

I heave an exaggerated sigh as I consider my options. I’m not afraid of being on my own, but the idea of being stuck in my room with no one to talk to isn’t exactly appealing.

Wherever Kellan’s going, there are bound to be people.

I won’t even have to sit at the same table.

Or talk to him.

I won’t even have to look at him.

Heck, I bet I can shut him out completely until I won’t even know that he’s around.

“Let’s hit it.”

His brows shoot up.

“I mean the town.” I gesture with my hand. “You know the saying.”

He shakes his head.

“Everybody knows the saying ‘let’s hit the town’,” I say. A thought occurs to me—I don’t even know how old he is. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight. I thought you would have Googled me by now,” Kellan remarks. I stare at him, unsure whether he’s joking or being serious.

Did Mandy say something? Because I swear to God his stunning green eyes are twinkling with knowledge that yes, I tried to Google him after our first encounter, even though I didn’t know his name.

“Not everyone’s obsessed with you,” I say through cringed teeth, already regretting my decision to go out with him. But I can’t go back on my word now, lest he think his words might carry a morsel of truth to them.

“Hmmm.”

That look again, like he knows more than he should and is annoyingly smug about it.

I swear to God, I’m on the verge of saying something I might come to regret to wipe that grin right off his face.

“I’ve never been obsessed with a guy, ever.”

“That is, until you met me, right?”

“No.” My tone comes out defensive, my voice conveying my annoyance because he’s so damn right. “Honestly, you could own all the nightclubs in the world, and I wouldn’t be interested.”

He shakes his head. “Like I said, you got the wrong Boyd, baby. I’m just an investor in my brother’s business.”

I look up at him to see if he’s lying. Yeah, that’s what my cheating, lying ex did to me.

Kellan keeps denying it, and his expression is honest, so it must be true.

“I’ll leave you to get dressed,” he says and heads down the corridor to his bedroom, I assume.

“What’s wrong with my jeans?” I mutter and grimace at the air.

Of course guys like Kellan like a woman all made up and probably wearing barely more than a piece of fabric to cover their modesty.

It’s what they’re used to.

If he expects me to turn into Mandy, then he’ll be thoroughly disappointed. Not in the least because I don’t own Mandy’s wardrobe…or long legs to show off. So I refrain from squeezing into clothes that will only accentuate my shortcomings.

I sigh and head for my room, where I change into a dark blue pencil skirt that reaches down to my knees and a white button-up blouse—my usual work attire. I top it all off with ankle boots and a thin jacket.

It’s all very demure.

It’s all rather suited to an office environment.

I stand back, disappointed.

I look like a secretary or a librarian.

Regarding myself in the mirror as I apply a thin layer of red lipstick, I’ve no idea why I packed the kind of clothes I did. But it’s too late to ask Mandy for help because a knock raps at the door. Before I can answer, Kellan’s voice bellows, “I’m leaving in two minutes. Don’t be late, woman.”

Without a doubt, he’s piling on the caveman charm.

I swiftly roll my hair into a bun, then, deciding that it might be too much, I let my hair cascade down my back in a waterfall of brown, messy waves.

“I thought I might have to drag you out of there,” Kellan remarks as soon as I join him in the hall. There’s an easy smile on his lips as his gaze brushes over me, his eyes narrowed, expression veiled.

My hands turn damp and my skin begins to tingle just a little bit.

Damn!

I have no idea what he’s thinking, and it makes me nervous.

Even though I shouldn’t give a fuck, I want him to find me sexy.

Kellan inches closer and places his big hands on my hips, keeping me at arm’s length as his gaze drinks me all in.

“Is that what you’re wearing?”

There’s a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

He’s laughing at me.

I can’t believe the audacity.

“You said you wanted me to change. Well—” I push his hands away from my body and take a step back. “—here I am. Take it or leave it. I’m a grown-up woman, not one of your usual floozies who dress to impress you. If you want a hooker, I can call one for you. This is all you’ll be getting from me.”