Page 20 of The Perfect Distraction

“Yeah. I meant to call you last night, but I got home late, and I wasn’t sure if you’d be up.”

She didn’t let on that she knew exactly what time he’d gotten home lest he think her a stalker. “Oh. Well, I’m usually up reading until at least ten o’clock.”

“I’ll remember that,” he said.

“So, about Joey…”

“Right. That’s why I was going to call you.”

Of course it was.

“His mom came and picked him up last night. He’s staying at her place until Sunday.”

“Oh.” She tried not to sound disappointed, but she was. She’d been looking forward to resuming their reading lessons and to going out to dinner that night. Now she probably wouldn’t see them—him—until next week.

“But if you’re not busy, we could still go downtown tonight.”

Beth was shaking her head even though he couldn’t see her. “That’s okay. We can just do it next Thursday.”

There was an awkward pause, and then it sounded like Colton covered the phone and cleared his throat. Either that or he laughed, but she couldn’t figure out why…until…

“Oh God. Let me rephrase that. We could go to Music in the Streets next Thursday. That’s what I meant.” Suddenly, she felt unbearably hot, and she fanned her face with her hand.

Colton didn’t try to hide his laughter that time, and the warm sound of it in her ear made her even hotter.

What in the hell is wrong with me? I’m too young for hot flashes!

“Sorry,” he said. “I know what you meant. I guess there’s still a teenage boy buried inside of me.”

While he was talking, she’d gone to the kitchen sink and wetted a paper towel, which she pressed to her neck and forehead in an attempt to cool off.

“So, will you come with me tonight? Downtown, I mean.”

Their conversation would have been funny if she hadn’t been too mortified to enjoy it. First her, and now him. They made quite a pair!

“You don’t have to feel obligated. I’ll be fine on my own.” Then she heard a door slam and wondered if Colton had stepped outside of his shop for privacy. But why? She was just his son’s tutor. What did he have to hide?

“Look, Beth. I realize we don’t know each other that well, but I’d like to get to know you better. And as much as I love spending time with Joey, sometimes, I crave adult conversation. Do you know what I mean?”

She knew exactly what he meant. She felt the same way after a long day of teaching third graders. But what good would it do to go out with him? She was only there for the summer, and then it was back to her real life. This was all a temporary reprieve from the crazy year she’d had, and she didn’t need any more complications. Every sensible bone in her body told her not to do this. However…

“Okay,” she said in a rush. But then she was met with complete silence. Pulling the phone away from her ear, she looked at it to see if they’d lost connection. “Colton?”

“Yeah. I’m here.”

“I thought we got cut off.”

“No. I was just surprised. I didn’t expect you to say yes.”

Eyebrows raised, she said, “Did you want me to say no?”

“No! I wanted you to say yes, but I didn’t think you would. I guess that insecure teenage boy snuck up on me again.”

Beth smiled while her heart thumped rapidly. So much for the cold paper towel. She whipped it off her neck and threw it into the trash. This was probably one of the most awkward conversations she’d had in a long time, yet it was sweet and amusing at the same time. The idea that they were both out of practice made it easier to take.

“Okay. So, how does this work? Do you want me to meet you somewhere?”

Laughing, he said, “I don’t mind picking you up.”