Read Online Touch Me by Jacquie D'Alessandro - Free Book Online

departing couple. “Baxter may be hewn of granite on the outside, but on the inside he’s—”
    “Overcooked porridge,” Mrs. Ralston said, turning toward him. A slow smile curved her lips. “Please don’t let on that you know.”
    “His secret is safe with me. I must say, I don’t believe I’ve ever before seen anyone manage to appear flushed and pale at the same time.”
    Mrs. Ralston laughed. “Yes, that’s quite a feat.”
    “Clearly that little devil Cupid shot an entire quiver of arrows at Baxter.”
    “Indeed,” Mrs. Ralston agreed. “I’ve known Baxter for more than half my life and I’ve never seen him so smitten.” She pursed her lips and gave him an arch look. “Perhaps when you see the puppies offered today you’ll find yourself equally besotted, Mr. Cooper.”
    Staring into her beautiful blue eyes, Simon’s heart began to pound with hard, erratic beats and he indeed found himself feeling besotted. Ridiculously so. Annoyingly so. Unacceptably so. It was one thing to seduce the woman to glean the information he needed. It was quite another to fall victim to her obviously potent charms. That was a trap he had no intention of falling into.
    “Perhaps,” he said. He extended his hand in the direction Baxter had indicated. “Shall we go see?”

6
    “I DON’T BELIEVE I’ve ever seen anyone fall in love quite so quickly,” Genevieve remarked an hour later as she and Mr. Cooper slowly made their way through the noisy hustle and bustle of the festival. She eyed the tail-wagging puppy secured in the curve of Mr. Cooper’s arm. The bright-eyed dog eagerly looked about for something to lick with her active pink tongue.
    Mr. Cooper’s lips curved upward and Genevieve’s breath caught. Dear God, that slow, lopsided smile of his was simply dazzling. “She was rather taken with me, wasn’t she?” There was no missing the smug, male satisfaction in his voice.
    Genevieve hiked up a single brow. “Yes. However, I meant you falling in love with her . You dropped like a brick tossed in the Thames.”
    “Clearly I harbor a weakness for pale-haired beauties,” he murmured, his green eyes resting on hers while his long fingers ruffled the puppy’s fur.
    Genevieve’s midsection tightened and she pulled in a slow breath, mentally chiding herself for her reaction. She didn’t want to feel this heightened sense of awareness. This giddy sensation that threatened to bubble up and burst forth like the air in the hot springs. His every look, every brush of his shoulders against hers, shot heat through her,warmth that settled low in her belly and couldn’t be called anything other than what it was—desire.
    She tried to ignore it, but failed completely. Her common sense chided her that it was ridiculous and unseemly. Yet it was apparently unstoppable.
    Clearing her throat, she said, “You also clearly harbor a weakness for rambunctious dogs. You realize she was the naughtiest pup in the entire litter.”
    “I noticed. However, I like naughty.”
    Another layer of heat engulfed her. “Perhaps that’s what you should name her—Naughty.”
    “That’s certainly better than what her previous owners called her.” He held the puppy out at arm’s length. “You didn’t like being called Daffodil, did you?”
    The puppy yipped twice in apparent agreement and wriggled to lick Mr. Cooper’s wrist. “Of course you didn’t,” he said, pulling the dog against his broad chest. Genevieve noticed the energetic animal immediately quieted—except for its tongue which enthusiastically bathed the underside of Mr. Cooper’s jaw.
    Unable to help herself, Genevieve laughed. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a dog more determined to kiss anyone.”
    “How fortunate that I harbor a weakness for kisses as well.”
    Her gaze snapped up from the dog to his eyes and found him regarding her with unmistakable heat. “Perhaps you should name her Licker.” Heavens, was that breathless sound her voice?
    “Perhaps.