One Perfect Touch (Very Irresistible Bachelors Book 3)

by Layla Hagen

  Goodness, my stomach did two flips just because I was remembering that evening. My palms turned sweaty at the realization that I was heading home in a few hours.

  “Perfect. So I just get to stand here, not work, and listen to you? That is what I call a relaxing afternoon.”

  ***

  I’d been home for two minutes when there was a knock at my door. I checked my watch, grinning. Yup, Rob’s running time.

  Breathe in, breathe out, Skye.

  I made a concerted effort not to check him out, but I was failing. I just couldn’t help drinking him in. I had only admired him from a distance. Up close, the effect was magnified. My pulse pounded in my ears. My mouth was dry.

  “Good evening, Skye.”

  That voice....

  “Hi!”

  “You didn’t answer. Want to come on a run with me?”

  I’d completely forgotten to reply. I shook my head, whistling. “Pilates girl here. Plus, I exercise in the morning. Specialists recommend that.”

  “I find it relaxing in the evening.”

  “I actually just read a study on the best time to exercise.” Taking out my phone, I clicked the library icon, pulling up said study. Rob was looking more incredulous with every passing second.

  “A study?”

  “I like reading or doing studies so much that I almost went for a PhD,” I explained. I turned the phone around, showing him the lines I’d highlighted.

  Rob chuckled.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing. I just like finding out more about you. Like the fact that you’re a brainiac. But I can’t factor in running in the morning. I usually get a call about some fire I need to put out just when I get out of bed. It relaxes me to do it in the evening. Releasing endorphins and all that.”

  “Not the way to win over this girl.”

  “What is the way, Skye?” He tilted closer to me. His eyes were smoldering. And just like that, I was on fire again. I swallowed, glancing away.

  Ah, I could think of one or two ways. His hands could do wonders for my back, I was sure. Those full lips too. A current of heat ran through me. I could practically feel his mouth on my bare skin. How was this even possible?

  Shrugging, I cleared my throat. “I’m just gonna drink a glass of wine and watch Netflix.”

  “Is that an invitation?”

  I laughed. “You are unbelievable.”

  “Never claimed otherwise.”

  “I’ve pegged you for the type who doesn’t drink this late. For sure not after a run, to take care of those muscles.”

  “You noticed them?”

  “Hard not to,” I admitted. Crap, I’d actually said it out loud? “Don’t let me keep you from your routine.”

  “I’m tempted to ditch it tonight.” There was a playful glint in his eyes, but something told me he wasn’t joking.

  “For wine and Netflix? That’s a slippery slope, neighbor. Before you know it, ditching your evening run becomes habit.”

  “Not for wine and Netflix. For the company.” That glint in his eyes was becoming more and more pronounced. I squirmed, feeling my entire body sizzle, yearning for a kiss or a touch.

  “I want you, Skye.”

  His words had been playing in my mind on a loop for days—not just the words but every detail surrounding them, including the intensity in his eyes and body language.

  He’d kicked the ball into my court, but I still had no idea what to do with it. A one-night stand with my neighbor wasn’t the smartest thing, and yet....

  I shook my head, snapping myself out of my thoughts.

  “No, no. Don’t make me feel guilty for that. Come on, off you go.”

  His smile widened, but he nodded, backing away. My pulse was still racing when I closed the door and leaned against it. Amazing how much sense of safety a piece of wood gave me.

  I almost expected him to knock at my door one hour later after his run, but he didn’t.

  To my astonishment, I was disappointed. Wow, this man was making me discover new things about myself.

  I checked my phone before I went into my shower—no message. My stomach bottomed out.

  I laughed at myself, taking off my clothes. The bra straps had left red marks on my shoulders, which meant they needed even more padding. I spoiled myself with a scrub and a hair mask. I was midway through rinsing when I heard my phone buzz with an incoming message.

  My heart rate intensified the same second. I knew instinctively that it was from Rob. But what if it wasn’t? I had to know.

  With my hair still full of gooey cream, I darted out of the shower and almost fell on my ass. I grabbed the towel rack for support, drying my hands before tapping my phone.

  Rob: Just read that study. Very impressive.

  Skye: It’s thorough, right?

  Rob: Yeah. It’s just missing one thing.

  Skye: What?

  Rob: Instructions on how to have proper motivation to work out in the morning.

  Skye: It wasn’t part of the research question though.

  Rob: Plus, it comes down to personal choice.

  Skye: True.

  Rob: You can help.

  I blinked at the screen, not really getting it.

  Skye: What do you mean?

  Rob: Train with me in the mornings.

  Wow. Grinning, I leaned over the sink as I typed back. The mask was starting to drip, but I just couldn’t put the phone down long enough to rinse.

  Skye: Thought you didn’t have time in the morning.

  Rob: I’d make time for you.

  I licked my lips, shaking my head. This man....

  Skye: Think you could turn into a Pilates fan?

  Rob: We could compromise. Half an hour jogging, half an hour of Pilates. You give in, I give in.

  Skye: Sounds like making a deal with the devil.

  I waited with bated breath for his reply.

  Rob: It would be.

  Skye: I’ll think about it.

  I was grinning from ear to ear. How was I even considering it?

  Rob: Tell me one more thing about you. Something I can’t guess.

  Skye: But if I tell you, you’ll miss out on the fun of finding out yourself.

  Rob: There’s so much to discover about you, so I’m sure we’ll have plenty of fun. I plan to be very thorough.

  He wanted to discover me? That sounded.... Holy shit, I couldn’t even explain it, but it brought on a goofy smile. The mask started dripping in earnest. After placing my phone on the counter under the mirror, I hopped back in the shower quickly, rinsing the rest of the mask. My whole body was vibrating with excitement. I usually liked to linger under the spray of the water, but now I was ready in record time, wrapping my hair in a towel and putting on a robe.

  Another message awaited me.

  Rob: Tell me something you haven’t told anyone.

  Wow.

  Skye: Aiming so high already?

  Rob: Always.

  Hmmm... what should I tell him? I made a mental list of possibilities, then chuckled at myself. I was taking this way too seriously.

  Skye: I love to break rules occasionally.

  He called me the next second. I went into my bedroom, sitting in the reading armchair next to the bed.

  “I’ll need more details,” Rob said. “Pegged you as someone who sticks to rules.”

  “I do.” I could barely keep from laughing. “I think they are there for a reason. But when I do break them, it’s such a rush....”

  He didn’t say anything for a few seconds, but I thought he sounded as if he was stifling a groan. My body perked up at the possibility. I was getting feisty tonight.

  “Give me an example.”

  “So, my family organizes these events—”

  “The Ballroom Galas, I know. Anne told me.”

  “Okay. Well, one of the activities we do is that in order to dance with someone, you have to buy a ticket. There is a raffle, and the winner gets the dance. My brother Ryker invited
his now-fiancée to one of the galas, and he wanted to make sure he got all her dances. He asked me to rig the raffle, and I said no—”

  “Ouch, not even for your brother?”

  “Wait, I’m not done.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Anyway, so he decides to buy all the tickets for every dance, and he succeeds... except for one dance when another guy also bought a ticket. And what do you know, that other guy actually won. But I just didn’t have it in me to do that to Ryker, so I declared my brother as the winner.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  I laughed. “No one knows though.”

  “And I won’t tell.”

  “It’s my favorite memory from any event.”

  “You’re full of surprises.” A beat later, he added, “So, tomorrow morning....”

  “Haven’t decided yet if I’ll strike that deal.”

  “I see. So you’re not sure if you want to help me develop a healthier lifestyle?”

  “I like the angle you’re taking.”

  “I know how to play my cards, Skye.”

  I had no doubt about that. Just hearing my name from his mouth was doing inexplicable things to me.

  “I need to hang up,” I said, checking the towel on my head. It was soaked. “Still need to dry my hair.”

  “Good night, Skye.”

  “Good night.”

  I usually fell asleep the second I climbed into bed, but that evening, I tossed and turned for what felt like hours. I was happy being single... but then Rob’s face popped up in my mind.

  I hid my face in the pillow, fiddling with my toes on the comforter. I was not going to think about Rob. That was a surefire way to stay up half the night... which was exactly what happened, of course.

  The next morning, I woke up a bit later than usual, groggy as hell. Served me right for staying up so late.

  I messaged Tess to let her know I’d be in around ten, then took my Pilates mat into the backyard. I instinctively glanced at Rob’s place. I couldn’t tell if he was still at home, because he always parked his car in the garage. He was usually gone at this time anyway.

  I loved working out in nature in summer, feeling the warm sun on my skin, soaking up vitamin D. I was locked up so many hours a day inside the store that I would love nothing better than to spend all my free time outdoors.

  I’d memorized the routine, and weirdly enough, watching the trainer explain the movements on the screen didn’t motivate me at all. It just made me more aware of the burn in my muscles. So I put in my AirPods, started my Netflix app, and watched one of my shows. I was one of those who liked to rewatch old favorites ad nauseam, so even if I was in a position that didn’t allow me to see the screen, I still knew what was going on just by listening. I called this multitasking. Exercising and watching TV. It was the most relaxing time of the day.

  Midway through my routine, a shadow appeared on the grass. I was on all fours... well, not exactly. One hand and leg were stretched out.

  “Morning,” Rob said.

  I lost my balance the next second, plunking my palm on the ground, then my toes. They made a cracking sound, and pain seared through me.

  “Owwww,” I exclaimed, turning around. I sat on my ass, cradling my left foot. The toes seemed to have taken the brunt of the impact.

  Rob lowered himself on his haunches until he was almost level with me.

  “Skye! You okay?”

  “I think so.” I still cradled my foot, feeling my toes with my fingers.

  Rob put a hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. My toes are okay. Not broken or anything.” When I put my foot back on the ground though, I realized they were too sore for me to be able to walk normally. “I don’t think I can continue my workout.”

  “Come on, I’ll help you get inside the house.”

  I rose to my feet, awkwardly balancing my weight on one full sole and only using the heel of the other foot. Rob put an arm around my waist, pulling me in to him. Feeling his hard body against mine was overwhelming my senses. His cologne was delicious. Had he changed it? It was citrusy, with a light hint of mint.

  Well, this was an interesting way to take my mind off the pain.

  I hopped awkwardly on one and a half feet, grateful for his support. Inside the house, I sat on the couch, resting my bad foot on the ottoman, flexing my toes.

  “It’s getting better,” I said.

  “Want to ice them?”

  “No, I think they’ll be back to normal in a few minutes.”

  He sat on the ottoman, close to me. I sucked in a breath when he placed his hand on my foot. I was wearing socks, but even through the thick cotton, his touch impacted me. A sigh escaped me. God, I hoped it sounded like a whimper of pain. I barely kept my composure. This man’s touch was pure fire.

  He moved his fingers from my foot up my ankle, skimming them almost up to my knee. When he looked up, he was smirking. Damn, I hadn’t fooled him.

  “I made an impression, didn’t I?”

  “What do you mean?”

  That smirk turned into a grin.

  “You scared me,” I answered without giving him a chance to elaborate.

  “If that’s what you want to call it.”

  “That’s what it was,” I insisted.

  It wasn’t, of course. I knew it. He knew it.

  “Why were you still home?” I asked, hoping that would distract him. “Didn’t you say you always leave early?”

  “Worked from home this morning, then saw you out there. I couldn’t just ignore what was right in front of me.”

  Ah, I loved it when he threw my own words back at me. I couldn’t challenge that, could I?

  I blushed, moving my foot just a little out of his reach. If he didn’t stop touching me, something was going to give—more specifically... me.

  “Were you productive?”

  “Not really. I was looking for a present for Lindsay.”

  “Did you find anything?”

  He frowned. “No.”

  “Why don’t you ask your sister?”

  “She said to just surprise her. Any ideas?”

  Aww, it was downright adorable how concerned he was about a present!

  “There are kids’ sections in a few department stores. I’m sure the salesperson can advise you. Soho also has some cute shops with handmade presents, but you have to know where to look for them. She might like that—having a one-of-a-kind item. I can go with you, if you want.”

  His mouth opened slightly as his eyes searched me. I’d caught him off guard.

  “Sure. When do you want to go?”

  “It’ll be a late start for me at the store today, so I’ll be the one closing. Can we go tomorrow?”

  “Okay. I’ll be going, then. How do you want me to make it up to you?”

  “Huh?”

  “The way I see it, this is my fault.” He pointed to my foot. “You said I scared you. Unless you want to take that back.”

  “No, it’s true,” I teased.

  “So I have to make it up to you.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I insist. Any preferences?”

  I laughed nervously. This felt a little surreal. Rob Dumont was definitely unlike anyone I’d met.

  “I don’t know.”

  He winked. “Even better. It’ll be my choice.”

  Something told me that was a dangerous thing to do, but honestly, I couldn’t even think of one thing.

  “Have a great day, Rob.”

  Nodding, he walked backward to the door. That intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. And I’d just agreed to spend tomorrow afternoon with him.

  Chapter Eleven

  Skye

  My foot recovered slowly. I had to be careful not to put too much pressure on my toes for the rest of the day, but by the next day, I was good as new. Except that I became a tad nervous as the afternoon went by. I was meeting Rob in front of the store called Handmade in one hour, and I kep
t checking my appearance—first my dress, then my makeup, then my hair.

  “Why are you so jumpy?” Tess asked.

  “No reason.”

  “Would that no reason benefit from a sexy bra and panties?”

  Oh, my sister knew me so well. I wiggled my hips and my eyebrows.

  “Wearing some of my sexiest stuff already,” I informed her.

  Her eyes bulged. “Okay, then. I don’t need to know more.”

  Ha! Right. As if she could help herself. I gave her two minutes before she asked what my plans were for tonight. She lasted all of one minute.

  “Are you going on a date?” She kept her voice nonchalant. I could tease her, but then just remembered that she’d spent the last few months worrying over me even more than usual, so I didn’t have it in me to do that.

  “No, just helping Rob choose a present for his niece.”

  “And that required code red?”

  Tess and I had developed our own sexiness code for lingerie.

  Green was period lingerie. Yellow included everything from meh to sports bras. Red was fire: push-up bras, lace, silk... or all three.

  “You know me, I’m all for red.” It was the truth. I wore super sexy lingerie on a regular basis because it gave me confidence.

  “I know, but there’s something different about you.” She pointed at me.

  I felt different, so I couldn’t contradict her. I was just as in the dark as my sister about what caused it though.

  One hour later, as I headed out of the store, I was filled with an infectious energy. Usually at the end of the day, I was spent. Not tonight though. I eyed the ice cream shop across from us. My mouth was watering. I still had twenty minutes until I was supposed to meet Rob. That was just enough time to enjoy a cone with two scoops. (Yeah... I bought ice cream often enough that I knew exactly how long it took me to eat a cone.)

  Maybe allowing myself to indulge in one temptation would make it easier to resist the other.

  After buying a cone with mango and caramel, I ventured down one of the side streets, peering inside the window displays. In the morning and during the workday, I was always on the run, too busy to actually take the time to see what was new around us. I enjoyed the evening stroll, especially seeing all the shops off the beaten path.

  Henry, the most daring designer I’d seen in New York, was now selling shoes for the first time. Magda, the art deco painter, had added some esoteric-looking items to her stock, like moon globes and bracelets with various healing properties. It was a bit out there but also worked somehow. As far as I was concerned, Soho was magic. It was my favorite part of the city. Sure, I might be biased... but just a little.