Can't Touch This (Can't Touch This #1)

Michelle fucking Kaylan.

The same woman Rupert had been ribbing me about only moments ago. The same woman who’d shot into my thoughts for the first time in years when I told Ves we all had moments of dating mortification.

She was my mortification.

It’d been years. So many years. But she’d left an imprint on me and definitely not for the better.

This was the girl who took my V-card then shattered my heart with a can of whipped cream and lies.

Even after school finished, the rumours of STDs followed me around so much, I stopped going out. I preferred to renovate beside my dad and hang with my brother at the river. All because of her and her bullshit lies.

She might’ve ruined my fragile teenage ego, but no way in hell would she affect my present.

“What are you doing here?” I crossed my arms.

Vesper’s eyes widened, bouncing from Michelle to me.

Michelle still looked the same with brown shiny hair to her collarbones and calculating dark eyes. Technically, she was pretty (not that she had anything on Vesper). Realistically, she was manipulative and knew how to play victim.

I should’ve moved further away.

I hadn’t stopped to think that by moving back here, I might run into her again.

“I heard you have dogs that need rehoming. I saw your website. I’ve been messaging the past few days, but no one replied.”

“It’s the weekend. I don’t work weekends.”

“Oh well, we’re here now. Can we—”

I took a step forward, standing to my full height. “Just how exactly did you find me? My website doesn’t have my home address.”

“I know but—”

“The proper way to go about canine adoption is to fill in the form, give me a few days to do necessary background checks, and then I come to your place with the dog best suited and check out the offered home.” I barged past Vesper, pushing Michelle from the threshold and onto the stoop. “You do not come to my personal house and interrupt a very personal—”

“Shag?” Michelle smirked. “Does she have any idea of your little history, Ryder?” She dropped the stranger act, acknowledging that we knew each other. She looked nastily at Vesper. “You best go see a doctor. That’s all I’m saying.”

“That’s it.” My temper snapped. “Get out.” I pointed at the horizon, noticing a white sedan parked behind Vesper’s dinged up Honda.

A little boy climbed out, hugging a tatted teddy bear. “Mummy?”

Well shit.

Every profanity I wanted to hurl sucked back into my chest out of decency for innocent ears. However, Vesper didn’t take too kindly to another woman who obviously had a past with me making quips.

“Excuse me, Michelle, was it?” She smiled coldly. “Ryder and I were busy before your interruption. We have family waiting for us to return. I think it’s best if you do what he says and—”

“Well shit, if it isn’t Lies-a-Lot Michelle.” Rupert appeared from the lounge, nursing a fresh beer. “We were just talking about you. Funny how the cat drags in unwanted roadkill at the worst times.” His gaze landed on Vesper, then me, and finally on the little boy now pressed against Michelle’s leg. “Went and got knocked up, huh?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.” Michelle cocked her chin. “This is my son, Nate.”

“Nate.” Rupe’s demeanour blared ‘leave’ but he grinned at the boy. “Hey, man. Want to go for another drive? Your mummy got the wrong address. Time to hop back in the car.”

“But she told me we were going to get a puppy.”

“Not from here, I’m afraid.” I kept my voice low and professional. “If you’re serious about adoption, go through the proper channels.”

Michelle’s face darkened. Pulling a few photos from her silver handbag, she shoved them at me. “Here. This is our home. The yard is fully fenced, and the dog would have full rein of the house with his or her own bed.” Patting her son’s head, she swallowed some of her pride. “Please, let us just see which one would work. You could always come and check on us in a few days and see if the dog is comfortable.”