Page 119 of Look, Don't Touch

He turns, bows deeply, and exits as he came while I rip into the envelope. It’s the same rich, bold handwriting as the last two. My heart rate kicks up a notch or five.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”

Helen Keller

And you are!

Love, Arlo

“Enough.” I pluck the phone out of Hailey’s hands, ignoring the picture she’s shown me no less than ten times in the past two hours.

“Hey!” She lunges for her phone. “No, I want to see it.” Her whine is hilariously out of character and pretty damn cute.

“You’ve seen.” I shove the phone down the island top, away from her grabby mitts. “I’ve seen.” Pincers go to my armpit and neck, goosing me.

“I want to see more.” She moans.

My hand encircles her wrists, and I tug her out of her chair and into my lap. She comes willingly, pressing her ass against my front. “You will.” I brush a kiss over her cheek, and she nuzzles close. “Tomorrow, when you go into the office,” I add.

Her stunning green gaze turns to slits. The red pout of her lips forms a line. I turn her chin toward me and kiss them. “I’m glad you like them.”

Hailey has already hung the paintings in her office. As she has explained several times tonight, it’s because she spends the most time there, will get to see them the most, and will get to share them with others.

“Love them,” she amends, then lunges over my shoulder toward the phone.

Since she’s mostly there, I toss her the rest of the way over my shoulder and stand.

Her shriek echoes in the kitchen. It’s enough to stir Plink from his new cat cave by the vent in the far corner of the breakfast nook. He follows me, us, through the back hallway to the service elevator and inside.

“Where are you taking me?” Hailey wiggles but doesn’t put up a real fight.

“Not to bed.”

“Ugh! Why not?”

My hand connects with the perfection of her ass, through her skirt. Her moan and the contact make me hard. With her, it doesn’t take much. I ignore it. “Because you’ve been keeping secrets.”

“What?” She pushes up, using my ass as a brace for her hands, trying her best to look me in the eyes.

I jiggle her back in place and smack her butt again.

“I didn’t touch Hotaru. I put my hand on his collar to comfort him, but I was careful not to touch his skin. I?—”

“Hailey?” My chest warms at her babbling.

“Yes?”

“If you did touch him, I wouldn’t care.” I smack her bottom once more.

“What? I don’t…” She wiggles and tries to turn around again. It doesn’t work, especially since the elevator opened, and I stride out. “What are you talking about then?”

I hurry over to Plinko’s favorite chair on the rooftop, lift the blanket, and he curls up underneath.

“Spoiled brat,” Hailey grouses under her breath.

“Are you talking about yourself?” I set her onto the large sofa, plush with cushions and a massive throw, and press a kiss to her lips, cutting off her retort.

When I’m sure she won’t fret, I turn and adjust the temperature on the electric heater that I programmed to come on half an hour ago to warm the seating area. Several buildings rise up above the numerous trees and shrubs I had planted. For the most part, the city falls away, lending serenity to the space. Sure, nothing will block out the noise of the bustle, but I’ve lived here long enough it fades into the background.

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