One Perfect Touch (Very Irresistible Bachelors 3)

“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.”

His directness and charm sliced through my anger like a machete. I turned around slowly, facing him. A few lights from the back were casting just enough light that I could still make out his features.

“Oh?”

“I have some methods to wind down after a tough day, push it out of your mind.”

“It’s not running, is it?” I teased.

He brought his mouth to my ear. “No, it’s even better.”

A shiver ran through me.

“I promise you won’t even remember why you were mad in the first place.”

“That cannot possibly be true,” I countered.

“I’ll prove it.”

He took my hand in his. The skin on skin singed me. My breath caught. My whole body was anticipating the next second. Would he kiss me? He leaned in to me but veered right. The light end-of-day whiskers brushed my cheek.

“If you prefer, we can postpone everything,” Rob said.

“What do you want?”

“For you to go home with me tonight.” His tone was seductive with a hint of bossy. Yum.