Read Online It's in His Touch by Shelly Alexander - Free Book Online Page B

Blake’s cousin. About the same age but much shorter than Blake, Perry was stocky—to put it politely—and he wore a boyish grin that said he probably was the nicest guy in the county. Another Robin Hood act of charity. No wonder Dr. Tall, Dark, and Hot-some was going under. He didn’t play to win. A guy like Blake could’ve had any number of tall and agile teammates, but he’d obviously given preference to his short and stout cousin, which was kind of . . . nice.
    What? No. No, no, no . It was foolish. A true competitor always played to win. Right? Angelique nodded at Coop. “Got it.”
    “Their strategy is mostly for Perry to set it to Blake, then Blake pounds it over. If we play smart, we can take them. Pretend we’re back in high school and the smart-ass baseball team is on the other side of the net.”
    Angelique nodded. “I can do that.” Piece of cake, because a smart-ass really was on the other side of the net.
    They clapped and ran onto the court, squaring off against the other team.
    Blake broke off his conversation with Perry mid-sentence to stare at Angelique. Not Coop. Just her. One side of his mouth slid up into that almost-smile. A playful lock of wavy chestnut hair drooped across his forehead. Wearing loose-fitting black nylon warm-ups and a fitted black compression shirt, he looked . . . well, hot-some. Tall and lean, his arms and shoulders all rolling hills of masculine flesh. His chest, defined with a swale in the center that beckoned to be touched. Kissed. Her tongue would fit nicely in that crevice . . .
    Angelique nearly jumped out of her skin when the ref blew the whistle again and threw the ball to Blake.
    The ref instructed them to shake hands, so all four players met at the net. Angelique shook hands with Perry and then turned to Blake, who wore a smile that could charm a block of ice. “Good to see you again, Ms. Barbetta.” He shook her hand but didn’t let go, as Perry and Coop returned to their places on the court.
    She looked at their clasped hands, his engulfing hers. Strange that as his warmth blanketed her flesh, it also sent a shiver through her entire body.
    “I wasn’t sure you’d have the guts to show,” said Blake. “Seeing as how you’re here to disrupt the lives of most of these folks.”
    Her eyes rose to meet his. His expression remained pleasant, but his words cut her.
    For the first time in a long time, a real grin so broad it almost made her cheeks hurt spread across her face, and she felt it to her bones. The joy of competition burned in the pit of her stomach, and adrenaline pumped through her veins. She dislodged her hand, set her jaw, put her hands on both knees, and stooped in an agile pose, ready to play. Hard.
    “You’ll wish I hadn’t shown up once I’m done wiping the floor with you boys.”
    Blake’s smile faded.
    “I’m very competitive,” Angelique explained.
    “No kidding? I wouldn’t have guessed that.” He walked backward to the serving line, the ball lodged under one arm. Eyes never leaving her.
    The ref blew the starting whistle. Blake bounced the ball twice, zeroed in on Angelique, and took a fast step to the line as he sent a perfect serve flying over the net.
    Angelique bent into a nice dig and popped it up in the air to Coop. Coop got under it and set it high, offering the ball up on a platter. She went in for the kill. As she plowed it over the net, Blake and his counterpart went up for a block, but the ball whizzed over their heads, landing within the boundary lines. Coop and Angelique high-fived, as Ella screamed her approval from the stands.
    Hands on knees, Angelique and Blake faced each other at the net.
    “You’re gonna lose,” Blake taunted her.
    “I’m sorry, are you talking to me or your imaginary friend?” Angelique gave him a thin smile, trying to ignore the broadness of his shoulders and how his corded neck rippled when he spoke.
    “You don’t like losing, do you, Ms. Barbetta?”
    Losing sucks .