The Touch (Healer Series) by Allison Rios Read Free Book Online

“Doesn’t have a choice
since I sent him packing this morning.”
       She didn’t make eye contact with him because
she didn’t want to smile and certainly didn’t want to see his face light up. AJ
raised an eyebrow, a grin spreading across his face even bigger than the one
he’d had before.
       “Don’t go thinkin ’
you had anything to do with this, stranger,” she said, turning to glance at him
over her shoulder with a sly look on her face.
       “I wouldn’t dare,” he replied mockingly. It
was in that moment his smile faded. He enjoyed teasing her about Joseph because
as long as she had someone – no matter how badly AJ wished she had someone
better – the flirting was innocent. He knew he would never be free to be with
Addie and knowing she was single now added a wrench into whatever their
relationship was. He felt a weight off of his chest knowing the guy was out of
the picture but came right back on knowing he couldn’t lead her on anymore.
       “I figured I’ve made enough mistakes in life,
maybe it’s time that I grow up a bit and start making the right ones. For Rose, ya know.”
       “Good for you,” he continued, trying to
change his demeanor. “There’s someone better out there for you anyway.”
       “I doubt that. I think I’ve had my share of
the wrong guys. And Mr. Right hasn’t found his way to this town either,” she said,
turning back to lift her bag out of the back of the pickup bed.
       Swinging it over her shoulder, she turned
around to face him again. “How long you think it’ll take?”
       She couldn’t help but notice the way the sun
reflected off his body, thanks to the sweat dotting his chest and arms.
Normally, she hated sweat and thought it completely disgusting. On him it was
something entirely different; attractive even.
       He thought about what he’d seen when he’d
checked under the hood last.
       “Depends on what parts Bob has around here. I
can probably do most of the work today. Maybe about five
tonight?”
       “Sounds good!” echoed a voice from behind
Addie, through the window of a bronze Cadillac that had pulled up to the shop.
“And after the car is done, why don’t you come on back with Addie to my place
for some dinner? It’s the least we can do.”
       “Gram!” Addie said,
snapping her head towards her grandmother and giving her the evil eye. Gram
raised her sunglasses up.
       “What? I’m just a polite, old southern lady
asking a strapping young man to come to dinner as a thank you for his help.
That’s how we do it down here!”
       Lowering her sunglasses, the smile on Gram’s
face continued to beam. AJ laughed. He knew he should have said no, and before
his mind could force the words he called out, “Sounds great, ma’am! I’d love
to. Thank you for the invite, although you might have to battle Helen. She
hasn’t gotten to feed me much today and she loves to cook.”
       “Don’t you worry about Helen, I can handle
her. You just come on over when that truck is done.”
       Addie looked back at AJ with a sneer. Yes, he
was beyond handsome and fascinating as a stranger. She simply didn’t want him
to think she would just fall right into his arms; his strong, muscular arms.
       “Gram, let’s go!” she said, somewhat hurrying
towards the car, slamming the door and whispering something to her grandmother
softly enough that AJ couldn’t hear.
       The rest of the day flew by as he worked his
tail off to make Addie’s truck run. There was a sense of motivation in seeing
her lips turn upwards at the corners. Luckily Bob had a majority of the parts
and AJ asked if he could dock it out of his first paycheck, to which Bob
agreed. By the time Addie pulled up with her grandma, AJ was turning the wrench
a final couple times and closing the hood, wiping down his forehead with his
tank. As he lifted it up, Addie could see the actual abs she’d only seen
outlined before through his shirt. It made