Touching him

Abigail nodded seriously. "Yes. Your voice is attractive."

Ethan tilted his head, a slow smile forming on his lips. "Oh? And what else?" 

"You smell good," she said, without hesitation.

Ethan froze. That was unexpected. He had heard people compliment his wealth, his looks, even his power—but never his scent. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, sounding strange even to him. "That's the first time someone's ever told me that. But… that doesn't exactly mean I'm good-looking."

Abigail tilted her head thoughtfully. "Usually, people with attractive voices have attractive faces too."

He raised a teasing eyebrow. "And what if I'm the exception? What if I'm just an average-looking guy with a decent voice?"

She paused, then pursed her lips. "No. I don't think so. I believe you're handsome… and I think I can tell."

He leaned slightly closer, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Oh? How exactly?"

Before he could finish processing her words, Abigail reached up and gently touched his face. He tensed. No woman had ever touched him like that before. For a moment, it felt like everything around him faded. He almost forgot to breathe.

Her fingers moved slowly, tracing the shape of his jaw, brushing over his cheekbones, following the curve of his brow, and gliding down the bridge of his nose. Every place she touched felt like it was on fire.

She wasn't trying to seduce him. She was simply curious. And yet, something about it stirred something deep inside him.

He should have stepped back. He should have said something. But he didn't. For once, someone wasn't touching him because of who he was or what he owned. She was touching him because she wanted to know him.

And that made his chest ache in a way he didn't understand.

His heart beat faster as she continued tracing his face, slow and deliberate, like she wanted to memorize every part of him. The air between them grew thick, charged with something unspoken. She leaned in slightly, and he caught the soft scent of lavender in her hair. It wrapped around him, warm and distracting.

His gaze dropped to her lips—pink, soft, just inches away. For a wild second, he wanted to kiss her. To taste her. He didn't care what she tasted like. Strawberries? Cherries? It didn't matter.

He just wanted to know.

But then Abigail stepped back, smiling. "See? I knew you were handsome. And you've got a nice body too."

Ethan blinked, startled. "What?"

Her cheeks turned bright red as her eyes widened in horror. "I-I mean… earlier. When you caught me. You felt solid. Like you work out or something. Not that I was trying to notice! I just… accidentally noticed…"

Her words tumbled out in panic, making his chest tighten. She was too sincere for this world. But then her expression shifted from embarrassed to mortified. "Oh no," she gasped. "I touched your face without asking. I shouldn't have. I don't know what came over me—"

She took a step back, but before she could move further, Ethan gently took hold of her wrist. Her breath hitched. "M-Mr. Blackwell…?"

"Call me Ethan," he said, his voice low and rough. "And don't apologize."

She looked up at him, surprised. "But I—"

"No one's ever touched me like that before," he said quietly. "But I didn't hate it."

Abigail glanced at him, stunned. He didn't hate it? What did that even mean?

Before she could ask, he looked at her lips for a moment, just a second too long. Then, as if snapping out of a spell, he let go of her wrist and turned away, his jaw tight and his breathing uneven.

"I'll call my grandfather," he said, already pulling out his phone.

"Uh… okay," she replied softly, still a little dazed.

Ethan cursed himself in silence and dialed. From the corner of his eye, he saw her take a deep breath, adjusting her posture, trying to get into character—into Vanessa. He almost smiled. She was trying so hard, and somehow, it was adorable.

The phone rang a few times, and then an old, gruff voice burst through the speaker. "About time you called, boy! What happened? Your fingers fall off? Or did your brain finally start working?"

Abigail's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected that tone. Ethan sighed and rubbed his temple. Clearly, this was nothing new.

"Grandpa…" he muttered.

"Don't you 'Grandpa' me!" the voice barked. "Didn't I say I wanted to talk to Nessie this morning? It's night! You're lucky I don't come over and smack you with my slipper! I may be old, but I can still aim!"

Abigail clamped a hand over her mouth, but it was no use. A laugh burst out of her—pure and unrestrained. It rang through the room like music. Ethan turned to her, stunned. It was the first time he'd heard her laugh like that.

And just like her smile, her laughter was beautiful.

There was a pause on the other end. "Nessie?" the old man asked, his tone softer now, almost gentle.

Abigail smiled and nodded instinctively, even though he couldn't see her. "Hello, Grandpa," she said softly. "How are you? How's your health?"

"Well… I'm still breathing, I suppose," the old man grumbled. "The doctor keeps poking me kind of fruit at the market. Keeps telling me to eat more greens. I told him I'm old, not a goat."

Abigail giggled. "I missed you, grandpa." 

"Hmph," he said, but his voice was warm now. "I've missed you, too, girl. But what happened to your phone? And why hasn't that brat bought you one yet?"

"Because he's too busy cheating on me," Abigail said sweetly.

Ethan choked on air. His eyes bulged. What did she just say?! To his grandfather?! Does she want him dead?!

Sure enough, his grandfather's voice exploded through the speaker. "HE DID WHAT?! Cheating on my Nessie?! That ungrateful brat! I'm grabbing my cane and coming over right now to break his little junior!"

Ethan instinctively crossed his legs and gulped. "Grandpa—"

"Wait! Wait!" Abigail cut in quickly, waving her hands like he could see her. "Not that kind of cheating! I meant with his work. His files, his laptop, his endless meetings. That's all he has time for, not me." 

There was a long pause on the line. But then the old man snorted. "Hmph. I knew it. That boy always loved those stupid files more than human beings." 

Ethan sighed in relief, but it was too early.

"But that still doesn't excuse it!" the old man snapped again. "If he's got the energy to stare at spreadsheets, he can spare some for romance. You're too precious to be ignored, Nessie. If he keeps this up, I'll personally enroll him in a temple!"

Abigail giggled. "Alright, Grandpa. I'll hold you to that."

Ethan glanced at her, still trying to recover. She was smiling, laughing, and talking like she'd known his grandfather her whole life. She was doing too well. Just like Venessa.