Irresistible Bachelors: Books 1-5 by Landish, Lauren (bts books to read TXT) 📕

Suddenly, the curtain twitches, and Bertha comes running out, yapping furiously. “Goddammit, Mary Jo, if you don’t stop dragging that thing with you everywhere, I’m not going with you anywhere anymore!”

Mom gets up and chases Bertha down while I lean over to Mindy. “What the hell is this?”

“Just enjoy. Think of it as more fuck you money,” Mindy says, patting my shoulder. “Trust me, you’ll enjoy it.”

Mom gets Bertha under control and sits down, grumbling to Grandma. “You know, you’ve had pets too.”

“Whatever,” Grandma says. “Bring on the flesh parade!”

“Up first,” Hannah says, trying not to laugh, “is our very own superstar, former All-Pro running back, Gavin ‘Anaconda’ Adams!”

Brianna, of course, claps the loudest as Gavin emerges, clad in what I can only call a stripper’s version of a Navy uniform. Skintight white pants are underneath his cheap white tunic as he adjusts the bill of his cap. Lifting a microphone to his lips, the music changes, and I groan.

Gavin starts to sing Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker, and even Brianna has to clap her hands over her ears.

“I love you, but never again!” she screams as Gavin shrugs and drops his microphone. Ripping off his tunic top, the music changes into a techno/club remix of the classic Joe Cocker song, and he gives his wife a lap dance that leaves Brianna in a fit of laughter before he sashays offstage.

Mindy’s laughing her ass off as Brianna wipes her forehead with a hand towel. She looks over at Mindy and me, chuckling. “I didn’t marry him for his singing.”

Hannah chuckles, shaking her head. “And now, for our second act . . . Oliver Steele!”

Oliver comes out, and my jaw drops as he comes out dressed in perhaps the most ridiculous outfit I’ve ever seen him in, a leather set of hot pants and a motorcycle vest. “What the hell do you and he get up to?” Grandma asks. “That sure as hell ain’t what I expected!”

Mindy’s beet red as Oliver picks up the mic and starts singing Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? As he sings, he dances, and he’s even worse than Gavin, Mindy blushing and laughing uproariously as he caterwauls his way through the song. “Brad would love this!” I laugh as Oliver peels off his vest to show off his chiseled torso.

Mindy’s flushed herself as Oliver retreats behind the curtain, and Hannah takes a minute to laugh. “Don’t quit your day jobs. Either of you.”

“So who’s next?” Grandma asks. “I love those men, but damn if my ears aren’t bleeding.”

“Next . . . a very special performance,” Hannah says. The music slows, not the silly club mixes, but I’ve heard this in clubs before.

The voice I hear next shocks me. I’ve never heard it like this before.

I watch in pure amazement as Jake comes through the curtain, stripped to the waist, his body gleaming under the lights as he approaches me with pure love in his eyes, singing Take My Breath Away by Berlin.

The song finishes, Jake saying nothing as he lowers the microphone, and I feel tears in my eyes. “Jake . . .”

“HIT IT!” a booming voice comes from the back, and suddenly, Gavin and Oli are back, having changed clothes, thank God, this time with Nathan joining them as they suddenly break into the Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way.

“My fucking ears!” Mindy screams in laughter as Gavin and Oliver both sing their parts. Nathan’s even worse, but he’s a good sport as he swings his hips in front of Grandma and Mom.

I barely notice, my eyes on Jake as he sings, reaching out for me. I lift my hand to his, not even realizing it until he pulls me to my feet. I look in his eyes as he sings the final lines.

The music fades away as the other ladies clap, but I can’t do anything but look at Jake. “Roxy, my sweet, beautiful Angel,” he says softly, wrapping his arm around my waist. “I can’t live without you. When I heard your song . . . I’m sorry. I was wrong. I was an idiot . . . please don’t leave. Stay here. Stay with me. I need you. I love you. I didn’t mean what I said. You were blameless. I was angry and scared for Sophie and took it out on you.”

I nod, putting my arms around his neck and pulling him into a soft kiss. His tongue caresses mine, and I hear cheering behind me. I turn to see Mindy and Brianna in their husbands’ arms while Grandma and Mom wipe away their tears. Even Hannah is wiping away a tear or two, and Nathan looks like he’s got some allergies going on.

“Looks like I’m staying,” I tell Mindy, who grins and gives me a thumbs-up.

“But what about the apartment?” Hannah mock whines. “I’ve got two potential roomies wanting to see the place tomorrow!”

“Well, I’ve got a spare bedroom,” Jake says, “and Sophie would love to have you around.”

“Deal!” Hannah says, grinning. “Roxy, you’ve got twenty-four hours to get your shit out!”

There’s laughter all around, and Nathan disappears to the back to return with four bags of Chinese food. He starts divvying it out, and I turn to Jake, looking into his eyes. “You’d really want me to move in?”

“I want to start with you moving in,” Jake says quietly. “And Mindy already told me you want to leave Franklin. If you still want to, that’s fine. You can pay your share another way.”

“How?” I ask.

“Next Saturday, we’re doing an outdoor concert for Club Jasmine. Know of a hot pop act who can work the stage and has a song that’s rocketing up the charts who can sing her ass off for us?”

I blush, giving Jake a raised eyebrow, and he nods. “Only if you want to,” he adds.

I nod and jerk my thumb over my shoulder at Nathan. “Talk to my manager,” I say, giving