One Perfect Touch (Very Irresistible Bachelors Book 3) Read online

  “Good evening.”

  I startled, turning around to face Rob.

  “Hi! You’re early,” I said.

  “I know.”

  I’d just finished my ice cream. Clasping a hand around the strap of my bag, I tossed the napkin I’d held the cone with into a nearby trash can. My fingers were a little shaky.

  Instantly, I realized why I was so exuberant and full of energy. The reason had a first and a last name: Rob Dumont.

  “How is your foot?” he asked.

  “Good as new.”

  I swallowed, wondering if he was only thinking about my well-being or if he also remembered that crackling electricity between us. When he captured my gaze, I had my answer. He looked at me as if he knew I was wearing code red lingerie. My skin sizzled.

  On an intensity level from one to ten, the fire in this man’s eyes was somewhere around twenty. One thing was universally true: no matter if we were in my house, the backyard, his house, or the middle of the street, he could make my knees weak just by smiling at me.

  “Glad to hear it. Want to lead the way?”

  “Sure.”

  We walked side by side, and I couldn’t believe how powerfully I felt his presence. Not the heat of his body—his presence. He dominated the space completely without even trying.

  “Tell me about your niece. What does she like?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know.”

  “What does she usually play with?”

  “Toys.”

  I laughed. “You’re no help.”

  “I just want to buy her something to cheer her up. She’s been a bit down lately, what with her dad forgetting to call.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah. Had a little chat over the phone with him. Told him that he’d better remember, or I’d pay him a visit in person and wouldn’t play nice anymore.”

  Oh, this man. How could I not like him? I had a weakness for people with empathy, people who weren’t afraid to fight for the people they loved. That was how the Winchesters operated too—we all were there 110 percent for one another.

  “I don’t think I’ve been on this street before. I usually keep to the main one.” He was looking around with curiosity.

  “You can find real gems around here, trust me. I’ve been exploring every nook and cranny since opening our store.”

  “I admire you for your tenaciousness in going after what you want.”

  “Wow, thanks.”

  “It can’t be easy.”

  I shrugged. “It’s not. Has pros and cons, like everything else. I quite like working at my own pace and not having a boss, but it is nerve-racking to shoulder so much responsibility. Before, if I didn’t like my job, I could just quit and search for something else... but you can’t quit your own business. I mean, you know how it feels.”

  “I inherited a solid, successful business, so it’s not the same.”

  “You grew it exponentially though.”

  He chuckled. “You read about me?”

  “Of course. Had to know if you were a good fit for the house.”

  “What’s the verdict? Am I a good fit?”

  “For the house?”

  “What else?” He leaned in closer. The almost touch was excruciating, but when his hand brushed mine, I realized the touch itself was even more so.

  “Of course you are.”

  “I see.” He scrutinized me intently. Being around him made me feel relaxed and on edge at the same time. “So... I have big plans for us tonight.”

  “Oh?”

  “I need to make up for scaring you.”

  “And that’s going to take a whole evening?”

  “Even longer.”

  Good Lord, I’d only been in his presence for ten minutes and my hormones were already in disarray. My whole body responded to his flirty tone and suggestive glances. My nipples puckered, pressing against my bra. My lower belly was on fire. And I was supposed to spend the whole evening with him?

  Bring it on.

  ***

  Rob

  Spending time with Skye was unlike anything I’d experienced before. I still couldn’t get over the fact that she’d offered to come shopping with me, that she’d put thought into what Lindsay might like.

  “What will we be doing?” she asked.

  “You’ll see. I owe you for scaring you.”

  She blushed deliciously, and this time, I didn’t hold back. I touched her cheek, loving how soft her skin was, how her pupils dilated slightly.

  “If you owe me, I should be the one who chooses the activity, don’t you think?”

  I skimmed my hand up to her ear. She shivered lightly. I almost captured her mouth, right there in the street. It took all my self-control to drop my hand and point to the store.

  “You’ve already put yourself in my hands. No going back from that,” I said.

  “There’s no winning with you.”

  “Yeah, there is, but of another kind.” I held her gaze firmly. She exhaled sharply, turning around and pushing the door to the shop open.

  It was a crammed little space—more like a hole-in-the-wall, nothing like the department stores I was used to. My first instinct was to tell Skye to go right back out and head to Bergdorf’s, but something made me keep silent and just watch her. She smiled at the salesperson.

  “Hey, Tris. Sorry I haven’t had time for a visit lately, but I brought with me a potential new client. We’re looking for something unique for an eight-year-old girl.”

  Tris nodded, immediately heading to a shelf full of stones and beads. I still wasn’t convinced I’d find something for my niece here. Skye picked up on my skepticism.

  “I know it’s a little unusual, but just give it a chance,” she whispered, looking up at me hopefully, and I didn’t have it in me to crush that hope.

  In fact, I was looking forward to whatever Skye wanted to do next. I had an inkling that she could wrap me around her little finger if she wanted to. I didn’t want anyone having so much power over me.

  “Let’s move to the back,” Tris said. “I have more stuff there.”

  No sooner did we pass through a curtain into an even smaller room than the bell in the front rang.

  “Go attend to the new customer,” Skye said. “I’ve got this.”

  With a grateful nod, Tris disappeared to the front.

  “Oh, this place just makes me feel like a kid myself.” Skye rubbed her palms together, heading to some shelves that held yet more crystals and beads. “Look at all this pretty stuff. Tell me about Lindsay. Does she like fantasy books?”

  “Yes, yes, she does.”

  “Princesses?”

  “How am I supposed to know that?”

  “Okay, I’ll work with the fantasy angle.” Skye laughed, inspecting the merchandise closely.

  “Want to check out the shelves with me?” she asked after a few minutes.

  “No, thanks. I’d rather check you out.”

  A current of awareness shot through me. Skye straightened up, as if she’d felt it too. I moved closer, inexplicably drawn to her. I couldn’t say why it was harder to keep my distance here than outside. Her scent was delicious. Apple? Peach? I couldn’t really tell. It didn’t matter. I just couldn’t get enough of it. I couldn’t get enough of her, period.

  “Ah, what about this?” Skye pointed with her thumb over her shoulder to a necklace with a pink stone. The details didn’t register, but I was sure I hadn’t seen anything like it before. She turned around, and her eyes widened. Clearly she hadn’t realized how close I was.

  “It’s sophisticated and one of a kind. And....” Her voice trailed off. “You don’t like it, huh? Okay, so let’s go, then. To a department store, or even just another store. What do you want to do?”

  “Fuck, Skye. I don’t care. All I know is I want you.”

  She let out a small whimper, licking her lips. I didn’t hold back. I couldn’t. Cupping her cheek, I tilted her head up and then pressed my mouth to hers. She tast
ed delicious, like caramel and mango. I explored her, licking her lower lip, sucking on her tongue, groaning when she did the same to me. I felt that lick right along my cock and pressed myself against her. I wanted her to know just how hard I was. She moaned right in my mouth. It reverberated through me. I moved a hand to her waist before lowering it down her thigh. I wanted to touch her everywhere—mostly, I craved skin-on-skin contact.

  I’d never lost myself in a woman this way. I forgot where we were, what we were doing. Nothing mattered. Absolutely nothing. Just bringing her pleasure. Fuck, how I wanted to bring her pleasure. I slipped a hand under her dress, along her inner thigh, until I reached her panties. Nothing but a scrap of silk. Parting her legs, I rubbed one finger down the middle. She trembled lightly, moaning against my mouth again. No, I couldn’t do this here. Slowly, it came back to me that we were in a store.

  I dropped my hand and tried to pull back before nearly losing composure yet again when Skye buried one hand in my hair and placed the other on my arm, pulling me right back to her.

  “Skye,” I murmured against her lips. “Open your eyes.”

  She did so, slowly at first and then blinking them wide open.

  “Oh, wow.”

  She let go of my arm before looking down at her dress, as if expecting to find it on the floor. When she blinked back up, she touched her lips with two fingers. I groaned, almost kissing her again. Seeming to realize what that did to me, she dropped her hand.

  Tris came in before I could say anything. “Did you guys find anything you like?” she asked.

  “Definitely,” I answered, still looking straight at Skye.

  Chapter Twelve

  Skye

  My skin was still sizzling as we walked out of Tris’s shop. Rob stuffed the neatly packaged necklace in the pocket of his suit jacket. I couldn’t believe I’d lost my head like that... but honestly, it hadn’t been just my head. I’d been completely lost to this man. The way he’d kissed me had just been surreal.

  “Tell me you’re ready to call this a day,” he said in a low, dangerous voice once we reached my shop. Oh, I didn’t want to disappoint him.

  “No, I can’t—I’m closing the store today. Tess has an appointment, so she can’t do it.”

  He tilted his head. “What if the shopping trip took longer?”

  I grinned at him. “I trusted my skills to find the right present.”

  “I’ll grab an ice cream until you close up. We can ride home together.”

  “Oh? So whatever you’re planning to make up to me... it’ll take place at home?”

  “That’s right.”

  “I see.” I could barely deal with this intensity radiating from him.

  “I’m not nearly done spending time with you tonight, Skye.”

  I loved hearing him say my name in that delicious voice. My skin tingled in anticipation. Something lit up inside me. Instinct warned me that this man could be my undoing.

  I was completely lost in him, trapped in his sinful gaze. He drew his fingers from my jaw down to my neck. His touch, combined with that sinful gaze, melted my willpower.

  “I recommend mango and caramel. They’re delicious.” My voice was full of sass.

  He smiled, leaning in a little.

  “I know. That’s what you tasted like, and I fucking loved it.”

  His words ignited my body. Holy shit, I’d barely calmed down from the kiss, but now every nerve ending was on alert again. The heat between my thighs was out of this world.

  His fingers lingered on my earlobe, tugging at it a little. He touched me with so much familiarity.

  “I have to go,” I whispered, though all I wanted to do was just stay here.

  He dropped his hand, taking a step back.

  I headed inside the store, sighing.

  “Wait. I want to make a mental picture of you smiling like this,” Tess exclaimed. She held her hands in front of her, mimicking a camera. “Also, please remember every detail of whatever brought you to this state of euphoria. I want to hear all about it... just not now, because these online orders won’t pack by themselves.”

  “Oh, Tess.” I shook my head but was grinning. I did the same to her every time she had some new guy in her life. I froze a little.

  “Don’t,” Tess exclaimed when I joined her behind the counter.

  “Don’t what?”

  She cupped my cheeks, tugging at them the way she did when we were kids.

  “Be scared of this. I can see it on you.”

  I pouted.

  “Okay, so I do need some details. Just a little something to fuel me with energy for the rest of the day. Sexy neighbor can’t keep his eyes off you.”

  “Or hands,” I confirmed. “Or mouth.”

  Tess let go off me, exclaiming in delight. “Yes! I thought you gave off the just-kissed vibes but didn’t want to get ahead of myself. As I said, memorize every detail.”

  We went over the online orders, only taking a break when a customer came in. Despite the store, the biggest chunk of our sales happened online, which made me question if the brick-and-mortar investment would pay off. Time would tell, I supposed.

  At eight o’clock, Tess had to leave for an appointment.

  “Are you sure you can handle the evening traffic yourself?” she asked.

  “Yesss! You’ve postponed your pedicure long enough. Just go.”

  Our late-night shopping hours were a success, but they were also crowded. But my workaholic sister would probably sleep here if I didn’t make her go home or do what she needed to do.

  After she left, half a dozen clients strode in. I could barely tell my ass from my elbow. At nine o’clock, I turned the sign to Closed. There were still a few customers inside, and I wouldn’t usher them out, of course, but I didn’t want any new ones coming in.

  I was at the counter, folding merchandise into gift boxes for my last clients, when my phone vibrated.

  Rob: You’re amazing.

  I looked through the window display, smiling when I realized he was watching me.

  Skye: How was the ice cream?

  Rob: Delicious. But it tasted better on you.

  One message. That was all it took for me to be hot and bothered again.

  I didn’t get a chance to write him back, because my customers were waiting for their receipts. After they left, I stood by the door, holding my fingers out for Rob to see, mouthing, “Ten minutes.”

  My phone vibrated on the counter the next second. I practically ran to it.

  Rob: Five.

  Skye: ????

  Rob: I was patient enough while you had customers. I’ll come after you. You and I, we’re good in back rooms.

  That we were, but still, I had to label some boxes for shipping, and I did not want this sexy man distracting me.

  Skye: Ten minutes.

  Grinning, I put my phone down. My message had two purposes. One: establish that I really needed more time to complete the task. Two: rile him up. I was sure this would make him stride in earlier.

  I heard the phone vibrate again but didn’t want to give in to the temptation of reading it. I would never finish my task if I didn’t focus. I lost the battle with myself twenty seconds later, picking up the phone.

  My mood plummeted immediately. The message wasn’t from Rob but Dean, my shitty ex.

  Dean: Can you lend me some money?

  Skye: No.

  Dean: Come on, I spent a crap-ton taking you out to dinner, and you’re loaded.

  I blinked.

  Skye: So let me get this straight... you gave me shit about my mood cramping your style when I had issues but think it’s okay to ask me for money?

  Dean: Is that a yes or no?

  Skye: Read above. NO. FUCK NO.

  I tossed the phone in my bag, but not before blocking his number. I had no clue why I hadn’t done that before. I still had a few labels to stick on the boxes and was hoping my anger would melt away by the time I was done. Instead, it just intensified.

&n
bsp; When Rob stepped inside the store, I was so worked up that I couldn’t even muster a smile. I’d finished the boxes and was sitting on the counter, clasping my bag.

  “Is something wrong?” he immediately asked.

  “Yes. How can you tell?”

  “You’re different.”

  I decided to fess up, because I didn’t want him to think it had anything to do with him.

  “A shitty guy I used to date just messaged to ask me for money.” My voice was hard.

  “I hope you told him to go to hell,” Rob responded with such intensity, I had to look at him to see if he was okay.

  “Of course I did. In fucking capital letters. Blocked his number too, but I’m still very annoyed. He just ditched me when things got rough, and now.... Sorry, you don’t want to know that.”

  “Yes I do.” He walked up to me. “Tell me. I want to know. To understand.”

  His voice was softer now, concerned... for me. Except for family, I wasn’t sure I’d ever had that before.

  “So he and I went out quite often a few months ago. Anyway, then Tess and I had some troubles. We’d been close to signing a deal with an investor who pulled out at the last minute. I can’t tell you how much trouble that caused. We’d already spoken to suppliers for additional orders. We lost face and their trust. I wasn’t exactly cheerful.”

  “Understandably.”

  “Anyway, Dean decided that I was too moody and depressed, and he hadn’t signed up for that.”

  Rob’s eyes turned hard. I was irritable, and I preferred being by myself when I was like this.

  “We can postpone whatever you had planned for tonight if you prefer.” I hopped off the counter, shutting off the main lights, avoiding looking at him.

  “Why would I want that?”

  “I’m not cheerful, as you can see. I’m short of punching something. Not the best dinner companion.”

  In a few short seconds, Rob was behind me.

  “I don’t care. I want you with me tonight.”