Page 90 of The Perfect Distraction

“In the meantime, I’m looking forward to spending the rest of the summer with you,” he said sweetly.

“Me too. With you and Joey.”

Smiling wide, he said, “How about the three of us go out and do something tonight?”

“Sure. What do you have in mind?”

A half an hour later, they were driving north up M–119 on the famous Tunnel of Trees scenic highway. Beth recalled taking the drive before with her parents, sisters, and Aunt Jenny and Uncle Brad, but she’d forgotten how beautiful it was. A variety of tall trees formed a canopy over the two-lane road as it wound up the coast of Lake Michigan.

Since it was summertime, there was dense forest growth, but every so often, there would be an opening that afforded spectacular lake views over the steep bluffs.

“Wow. Breathtaking,” she said as she peered out the window.

“I agree,” Colton said, although he was looking straight at her when he said it.

Joey was playing a game on his tablet in the back seat and seemed oblivious to it all.

“As many times as I’ve driven up here, I never get tired of it,” Colton said.

“I can see why.”

After driving for a while, they came to a small town with a handful of stores and restaurants.

“How about some ice cream?” Colton suggested.

“Yeah!” Joey said, immediately setting aside his game.

A few minutes later, they were sitting at a picnic table in front of the ice cream shop, enjoying their cones, along with what looked like a group of tourists. While she was licking her chocolate ice cream, Beth reflected on what it would be like to live there versus being a tourist. Whenever she traveled, she’d thought the same thing: Is this place as idyllic as it seems, or is it just because I’m only here for a short period of time? This was especially true whenever she went on a beach trip where the sun shone every day and everyone seemed so happy. But at the end of her vacations, she was always ready to go home. Would that be the case this time too? Glancing over at Colton and Joey, whose lips were rimmed with chocolate, she thought not. This time, she wasn’t just falling in love with the place; she was falling in love with the people too, in particular, these two men.

As they drove back to Harbor Springs, she continued her musings while she gazed out the window. Aside from the gorgeous scenery, she noticed several beautiful lakefront homes that were for sale, some of which were listed by Calloway Real Estate. She made a mental note to tell Becca about it later.

If she were to move there, where would she live? Aunt Jenny would probably let her stay in the cottage until she found someplace, but then where would she go? Many of the homes in the area were well beyond her price range, although there had to be some smaller, less expensive properties nearby. If she moved there, Becca and/or Simon could help her with the real estate transaction, but what about a job? She wouldn’t want to move without knowing she had one. The entire prospect of moving was daunting, and it made her head spin.

“Everything okay?” Colton asked after a while.

“Um-hmm. I’m just a little tired.”

He nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. When they pulled up in his driveway and got out, he said, “Hey, Joey. I’m going to walk Beth home.”

“She only lives across the driveway, but okay,” Joey said. “Bye, Miss Beth.”

“Bye, Joey. See you soon.”

Colton walked her up the porch steps and stood behind her while she unlocked the door. She felt his heat against her back and longed for his touch. Somehow, whenever she was in his arms, she felt like everything was going to be okay.

When she pushed open the door, he stepped inside with her and shut it firmly behind him. Just as she set her purse on the counter, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. Brushing her hair over one shoulder, he buried his head in her neck and placed a series of soft, warm kisses there.

Wriggling her hips against him, she sighed. “Colton…”

“Um-hmm.”

“Feels so good.”

“I’ve been wanting to do this all day.”

His breath tickled her skin, and she shivered. Twisting around in his hold, she twined her arms around his neck and tilted her head up to invite his kiss. The second their lips met, she melted like hot butter in his arms. This energy, this electricity between them—she couldn’t get enough of it.

His strong hands palmed her backside, and when he pulled her closer, she felt the distinct ridge of his erection through his shorts. If it weren’t for Joey being next door, she had no doubt they would have stripped each other naked right there.