One Perfect Touch (Very Irresistible Bachelors Book 3)

by Layla Hagen

  “I know.”

  She whirled around, eyes wide. “Hi! What are you doing here?”

  “Came to see you. I got your text.”

  “Crap, did you call? My phone was out of battery, and the afternoon was so crazy that I didn’t even have time to charge it. I don’t know why there were so many people here.”

  “I passed Zara and H&M just now, and they had huge sales.”

  “Oh, that explains it.”

  I walked straight to her just as Tess came from the back.

  “Rob, hi! Come to rescue my sister from herself?”

  “That’s right.”

  Tess smiled. “I thoroughly approve. She’s been in a frenzy the whole afternoon.”

  Skye stared at her. “So have you.”

  “Yeah, but I have no plans tonight, whereas you have this fine specimen waiting for you. All I’m saying is... take advantage of the situation. I’m going to leave you two and will look over the online orders we have yet to check from home. Can you close up?”

  “Sure.”

  Tess retrieved a small bag from under the counter, slinging it over her shoulder. She sent an air kiss toward us before leaving the building.

  “When’s the last time you took a break?” I asked Skye when it was just the two of us.

  Skye bit her lip. “Ummm, lunch?”

  “Okay, that’s it. Let’s go.”

  “You’re going to boss me into leaving?”

  “Damn right I am.”

  She laughed, putting a hand on her hip. “Bribing me might work better. Just don’t tell my brothers. They think I’m incorruptible.”

  I stepped right into her personal space, capturing her mouth. Fuck, how she surrendered to me, instantly parting her lips. I coaxed her tongue, lowering my hands under her ass, pressing her against me. I was barely holding back from sliding my hands under her T-shirt. All I wanted to do was touch, kiss, and explore my woman.

  “Mmm... that works too,” she murmured when I pulled back. “I still have to sort these out though.” She grabbed a fistful of straps from the shelf next to us.

  “Put those down or I swear I’m throwing you over my shoulder and getting you out of here.”

  Skye’s eyes widened. “My God, you’re not even joking.”

  “Not one bit. You need to relax. Let me take care of you, Skye.”

  “Mmm... I might need some more convincing. Mind kissing me again?”

  “As long as you agree to leave afterward.”

  “We’ve gone from bossing to negotiating. Progress.”

  “Nah, I just know how to convince you.”

  “That you do.”

  I leaned in again, but she put a finger against my lips, shaking her head.

  “Let’s go to the back. Then you don’t have to keep yourself in check.” She glanced down at my hands. They were firmly on her waist.

  “Don’t tempt me, Skye.”

  She smiled saucily, leading me to the back. I placed both hands on her shoulders and realized they were hunched with tension. I pressed my fingers into her flesh, from the clavicle up the curve of her neck.

  “You’re tense,” I said. “More than usual, I mean.”

  Sighing, she turned around.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I forgot to tell you about Mom. Her procedure didn’t go as seamlessly as we hoped. She got an infection, and her eyesight is super blurry so she’s bumping into things.”

  “Well, shit.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “At least she’s not in pain.”

  “That’s what I think too. It’s inconvenient, but once it passes, she’ll be just fine. But for the next two weeks, she’s going to need extra care and attention. She’s always down when she’s sick.”

  She was so sensitive to other people’s well-being. I hadn’t met anyone like her in my whole life.

  “Mick is leaving the city for work tomorrow. Tess and I will take turns spending the night at Mom’s house for the next week, maybe longer if needed.”

  My face fell. Skye’s smile dimmed when she noticed my expression, and I immediately schooled my features, wanting to reassure her. True, I’d been hoping for more time with her, but I was adaptable.

  “Which nights?” I asked.

  “I’ll be there tomorrow night, and Tess the evening after that.”

  “So tonight, I get you all to myself.”

  She nodded, still eying me warily. “Oh, by the way, I bought something for Lindsay. Don’t let me forget to give it to you. I went by Tris’s shop, and she had a bracelet that goes well with that pendant.”

  “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

  With everything going on, she still had made time to stop and buy something for Lindsay? That touched me for reasons I couldn’t explain. I skimmed my hands over her body, barely restraining the urge to yank off her clothes.

  “Lie back,” I said.

  “Bossing me some more?”

  “Lie. Back.”

  She did as I said, watching me intently. I pressed my fingers in her calves, moving up quickly to her inner thighs.

  “I see. So you’re feeling me up under the guise of a massage. Clever.”

  “I’m not pretending at all.”

  “I did bring you back here with hopes for more hot kisses, but so far nothing,” she teased.

  This woman was going to be the death of me. I pulled her back to me the next second. Her ass pressed against my thigh, but I wanted her on me. I scooped her up, placing her in my lap, legs bent at the side. Cupping the back of her head, I brought her closer, swiping my tongue over her lower lip. She shuddered, clenching her hands on the collar of my shirt.

  She wanted a kiss? She was going to get a whole lot more than that, because I planned to make the most of this evening and any other she was mine.

  I had no idea when I’d gone from my casual, laid-back ways to wanting to maximize every moment I spent with her, but I liked the change. It felt so normal, so right, and I wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

  I fully intended to pause the kiss and broach the subject, but when Skye bit my tongue lightly, popping open a button of my shirt, she completely diverted my attention.

  “So, Mr. Sexy and Bossy Man, plan to make good on that promise or what?” she whispered.

  “Fuck yes.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Skye

  “Hon, you don’t have to hover over me every minute you’re here,” Mom said.

  I held my hands up in defense. “No hovering.”

  Mom lifted a brow. She might have blurry eyesight, but that didn’t take away from her feistiness. Okay, so I might have been hovering. I’d arrived at the apartment about an hour ago and had so far brought her water twice, changed the bedsheets, arranged her towels, and fluffed her pillows.

  “I hope I’m gonna be better by Saturday. I want to at least be able to entertain my guests properly.”

  “Oh, that’s right.” I’d totally forgotten Josie’s brothers and sister were coming to visit. “If you want to cancel, let me know.”

  “Nonsense. I’m getting stir-crazy already.”

  I didn’t think her eyesight would necessarily be better by Saturday, since it was only two days away, but I knew for a fact that with the house full, she’d forget all about it.

  I was just about to ask her if she wanted me to close the curtains when the doorbell rang.

  “Are you expecting someone?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Okay, I’ll go and see who it is.”

  I opened the door to find a delivery guy there with a huge box from Dumont Foods. I hadn’t ordered it, but I was convinced Rob did. He’d called me while I was on my way here, asking if we needed anything, if we had any food.

  “Just let me find my wallet,” I said.

  “There’s nothing to pay, miss.”

  I tipped him generously, carrying the box to the kitchen before heading to Mom’s room.

  “We just got di
nner delivered,” I announced.

  “I heard. Something from Dumont’s, right?”

  Well, well. Seemed like Mom’s hearing had gotten sharper lately.

  “Yes. I know the owner—”

  “The hot man you’re dating.”

  My jaw dropped. “How do you...? You haven’t even met him.”

  “Well, no, but Tess described him in a lot of detail.”

  Laughing, I shot Rob a message.

  Skye: We just got the food. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

  Rob: Anytime. Want me to schedule daily deliveries for the next two weeks?

  Oh, wow.

  Skye: That would be a huge help. Thank you.

  Rob: You’re welcome.

  I laughed, pressing my palm on my belly, but there was no taming that giddy sensation coiling through me. And after all, why should I?

  “So tell me about him,” Mom said.

  Ha! That was all the encouragement I needed. I went on a five-minute monologue about Rob while helping Mom to the dining table.

  “You sound so happy,” she said once we sat down.

  “I know, right? I am happy.”

  We ate salads with chicken, lettuce, feta cheese, and baked potatoes. The perfect blend of healthy and delicious comfort food.

  “So, how serious are you two?”

  “We’re just having a great time together,” I replied slowly, which didn’t exactly answer her question. The truth was, I had no idea. I was happy knowing we were exclusive, but I hoped with every fiber of my being that it might end up being more.

  Usually, I didn’t even let myself think too far ahead in the future. Being here in Mom’s apartment, I couldn’t pretend I didn’t know why: the fear of the man I loved just up and leaving me was lodged deep inside me.

  This was the first time hope was stronger than fear. Rob had changed me.

  After going to bed, I tossed and turned most of the night. The couch in the reading room was a pullout designed for guests to sleep on, but it was very uncomfortable. That wasn’t why I was awake at two o’clock though. I had Rob on my mind. I squeezed one of the fluffy decorative pillows to my chest, sighing. I’d never been one to harbor romantic ideas... but now I was. There was no denying it. Just thinking about Rob made me fiddle my toes against one another and smile for no reason at all.

  The next morning, I woke up with a surprising bout of energy despite only having slept a few hours. And still thinking about Rob, which was why I texted him first thing.

  Skye: My neck is stiff.

  Rob: I can help with that.

  Skye: I know. That’s why I’m telling you. So you can prepare accordingly.

  Rob: Duly noted.

  Cole was spending the day with Mom, taking her to the doc for her checkup too, and Tess was staying with her this evening. At least, that was the original plan.

  But Tess was caught in a meeting with our distribution partner until late. At six o’clock, she texted me.

  Tess: Can you head over to Mom’s? One of the guys was an hour late to the meeting, so this will take forever. Cole has a dinner meeting he can’t cancel. I’ll come afterward.

  Skye: Just go home and I’ll spend the night there.

  Jane was closing the store, so we had that covered, but I had to cancel my dinner plans with Rob. I wasn’t upset with Tess, but I really wanted to see him, and I began to feel pouty.

  Skye: I won’t be able to make it tonight. Tess is caught up in a meeting, so I’m heading to Mom’s.

  Rob: See you tomorrow?

  Skye: Not sure when. There is a gathering at Mom’s house—all my siblings will be here, and those of my cousin-in-law.

  Rob: Oh, right! You told me that. I forgot. ☹

  My stomach rolled. We hadn’t made plans for tomorrow, because Josie’s family was in town and I wasn’t sure how long the gathering at Mom’s house was going to take.

  God, I hoped he wasn’t going to get annoyed with all of this and decide I was too much trouble. I shook my head, chastising myself. That was no way to think, but I couldn’t help myself, not after my horrid experience with Dean.

  He called as I was about to descend to the subway station, so I stopped next to a waffle shop instead to take the call. The smell was weakening my knees, and my resolve not to snack before dinner. Why, oh why did Soho have temptations at every corner?

  I pressed the phone to my ear, turning my back to the waffles.

  “Hi,” I said.

  “Hey. Here’s a thought. Would you like company? You and your mom?”

  I nearly swallowed my tongue. “Wait, what?”

  “I can have dinner with the two of you. If you think that’s going to be okay with her.”

  For a second, I couldn’t answer. Giddiness bubbled up my throat, prompting a very large and silly grin on my face and an army of butterflies in my stomach.

  “She’d like that.” I was trying to sound casual, but I was fairly certain he could tell I was grinning, because my voice changed a bit.

  Holy shit! He wanted to meet Mom.

  “When are you going to be there?” he asked.

  “In about forty minutes. I was just about to hop on the subway.”

  “Okay. I’ll need a bit longer.”

  Holy shit, giddy didn’t even begin to describe my feelings. As the conversation finished, I smiled even as a passerby bumped into me. The appropriate response to that in New York was to snap back, or at least glare, but right now, I was in my own bubble.

  Once I arrived at Mom’s place, I barely had time to tell her that Rob would be joining us when the doorbell rang.

  “He’s here early,” Mom said.

  “It seems so.”

  “Don’t keep him waiting dear,” she urged.

  “I’m going, I’m going.”

  I was smiling from ear to ear as I opened the door. Rob was standing there with a bag of takeout.

  I almost jumped him before remembering we were at Mom’s place.

  “Come in,” I said, stepping back.

  He gave me an amused glance but walked in.

  I led him straight to the living room. Mom was sitting at the dining table. Her eyesight had cleared enough so she could eat on her own, but she did need guidance through the apartment or she risked bumping into things.

  “Rob Dumont, ma’am. Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise. I’m Amelia,” Mom said.

  “I hope I wasn’t out of line, inviting myself over.”

  “Nonsense. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “Really?” He looked at me with a smile.

  “From both of my daughters,” Mom clarified.

  Rob chuckled. My cheeks heated up.

  Having him at dinner had the unexpected effect of actually relaxing Mom. I hadn’t seen her in such a good mood since before the surgery.

  Rob was telling her his grandfather’s credo about butter, which, of course, Mom immediately approved of.

  “Your grandfather sounds like a very sensible man.”

  “I’ll let him know you said that.”

  “So how come you moved next to Skye?” Mom asked.

  “Well, I was looking for a place close to my sister and niece. It was hard to see them traveling back and forth from the city; it takes a lot of scheduling. Now they just spontaneously drop by for breakfast or dinner whenever they feel like it.”

  I hadn’t told Mom that, and I could tell by the slight jerk in her head, the way she gripped her glass tightly, that neither had Tess. She smiled warmly. Yeah, he’d just completely charmed her.

  At eight o’clock, she said she’d rather I helped her back to her room.

  “But it’s early, Mom,” I said.

  “I’ve discovered audiobooks,” Mom explained, but I knew she also wanted to give Rob and me some privacy.

  Once she was inside her room, I went back to the living room. Rob was standing next to the couch, watching me intently. The air between us just crackled with tension, intensifying with every step I took.
r />   “Do you want some wine?” I asked when I was just a few inches away.

  “Whatever you want. But first, this.” He slid a hand along the side of my head, wrapping his fingers in my hair. His mouth was desperate on mine, sucking my lower lip, biting my tongue lightly.

  I wrapped both hands in his shirt, tugging at it.

  No, I can’t undress him in Mom’s living room.

  But instinct always won when I was with him. It went even beyond that, a need so deep, I couldn’t explain it.

  Letting go of his shirt, I drew my hands up slowly over his chest. I only became aware that we were moving when we fell on the couch: Rob on his back, me on top of him. This couch was even smaller than the one in the study. I had no idea how we fit on it. A glance backward revealed that Rob’s ankles were hanging over the armrest.

  Laughing, I hid my face in the crook of his neck. His hands wandered from the sides of my breasts down to my waist, and even farther down to my thighs. He stopped on my ass, fondling it. Big surprise.

  “What do you think you’re doing, Mr. Dumont?”

  “What does it feel like?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “You’re being inappropriate.”

  “Skye, this isn’t inappropriate,” he warned. “And you know that.” He ran his fingers over the crack of my ass, then under one cheek, resting it on my thigh. Sliding his thumb between us, he skimmed the edge of the front of my panties.

  Even through a layer of clothes, a heat so intense curled through me that my nipples instantly turned hard. Licking my lips, I slid to one side so I half straddled him, but he placed me back on top.

  “That’s exactly where I want you,” he said.

  I placed one hand on top of the other, and my chin on that, looking him straight in the eye.

  “You’re extra demanding tonight,” I teased.

  “Sweetness, I want to have my fill of you. Who knows when I’ll see you next time.”

  I bit my lip, trying to ignore that irrational fear clawing up my throat again, but I didn’t know how.

  ***

  Rob

  “True, the next few weeks are going to be pretty busy,” she said.

  “I imagine.”

  “I... I don’t know how much free time I’ll have.”

  Her voice suddenly became small and vulnerable. Frowning, I slid my hand under her chin, raising her head.