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

“Well, I’ll live it up for you,” I say, turning to look at myself in the mirror and running my hands along my side. Roxy’s right. I do look good in this. “You definitely don’t want Jake worrying. And I promise, I’ll bring back lots of good photos. Besides, this trip is supposed to be mostly business.”

Roxy’s eyes narrow and she gives me a look that reminds me that regardless of whether she’s a budding pop star on hiatus or not, she’s got as much brains in her head as junk in her trunk. “Oh, yeah, tell me about that again.”

“Honestly, I still don’t know much. This rich man owns a piece of land that could potentially be worth who knows how much if it’s developed right. He’s apparently open to selling, but only to someone he approves of. He doesn’t really need the money. He just wants to see it in the right hands. What those right hands are, we have no damn clue. My boss seems to think I can charm him though,” I say, still trying to wrap my head around it. Myra’s file had a ton of information on the property itself and damn near a biography on Mobber, but not much on the development plans for the property, although I’ve got my ideas. “I guess she’s sending me for my personality.”

I expect a wisecrack from Roxy, but she surprises me. “I’m sure you’ll come through. Who wouldn’t like you? Besides, I’ve never known you not to be able to wrap a guy around your finger in two minutes flat.”

I think about the information on Wesley Mobber and shake my head. “I don’t know if he’ll be susceptible to my charm. Something about him . . . he’s just . . . unique.”

“Whatever, it doesn’t matter. You’ve got this,” Roxy says with conviction.

The doors to the dressing room bang open again, and Cassie comes out, twirling for us on one pointed toe. Her suit’s certainly different. She’s gone with a white monokini that doesn’t look too bad. At least half of her ass is covered.

“How about this one?” she says with that dazzling smile I both admire and get frustrated by. She sashays around, her hands on her hips like she’s working the runway.

“Much better,” Roxy and I almost say in unison. “I won’t be embarrassed to actually be seen in public with you in that thing.”

Cassie lets out a squeal of delight. “GREAT! Now I get to try on my party dress.” She disappears back into the dressing room.

Roxy shakes her head. “I sure wish I were twenty-one again,” she says wistfully. “I’m gonna have a hell of a time getting the baby weight off so I can go on stage again. Her, you can bounce a penny off her butt.”

“Ha!” I laugh, looking over at Roxy. For a woman who says she’s only having fun with singing, she sure takes it seriously, but I know it’s because she loves it. “Speaking of butts, how’s everything going with yours?”

“I’ve already scaled back on singing at Club Jasmine, and no more dancing. Taking it slow, doctor’s orders. Jake is having a blast at the company, and his little sister, Sophie, has been kicking ass her senior year of high school. So all I need to be is a lady of leisure—sit on the couch and eat bon bons while watching my stories,” she says with a faux snooty affect.

I shake my head, laughing. “I’m jelly. Are you hoping for a boy or girl? It’s going to be a girl,” I predict. “Knowing your family, you’re gonna have a little princess on your hands.”

Roxy grins and bites her lower lip. “I hope so too. Of course, Jake is hoping for a boy. A boy would be great, but I do want a little girl.”

I head back into the changing room, and we continue trying on outfits. At Cassie’s and Roxy’s insistence, I even grab up a new bathing suit, a string bikini, but it does cover a lot more than what Cassie was trying on. I don’t think I’ll do much swimming, but maybe I’ll get in the water at least once. After getting everything we need, we head to the food court and catch lunch.

As expected, Cassie is in her element, talking the whole time, and Roxy tosses me gazes here and there over the gigantic milkshake she somehow thinks goes with sweet n’ sour pork. After we clean up, we leave the mall. Roxy insists on driving, and we talk about the upcoming trip. But Roxy catches me off guard when she brings up a sore topic.

“Think you’ll be needing protection?” Roxy asks as we come up on a stop light.

“I know I will!” Cassie chirps from the backseat.

I ignore her and give Roxy an appalled look. “How many times do I have to tell you? I’m through with men. This trip will be about business, and business only.”

Roxy shakes her head as the light turns green and she takes us across the intersection. “Are you sure? I don’t think you are. You can’t be celibate for the rest of your life.”

I turn my nose up, wanting this to be over. “I just might, yeah. I’d rather wear an iron-locked chastity belt than to deal with the assholes I’ve had the past few months.”

Roxy sighs. “You’re so going to end up like Good Girl.”

“Huh?” I ask, knowing she’s talking something pop culture. You know, the thing I’ve been too damn busy to keep up with.

“It’s that movie with Jennifer Aniston,” Roxy explains, “where she works as a store clerk and then ends up screwing this young guy’s brains out because she’s sexually repressed and is as horny as a monkey on ecstasy? That one. That’s gonna be you.”

I laugh, I can’t help it. “You’re fucking crazy.”

Cassie sits forward in her seat, poking her head between us. “How about just getting a Mr. Rabbit and calling it