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

Cassie laughs and comes over, giving me another quick hug. “Well, if that’s the case, maybe I can cash a few checks. Don’t become a stranger, okay?”

“Stranger? I’m planning on taking you out to dinner tonight!” I tease. “Us fired people, we’ve got all the money we need. I’m getting some pizzas and then you’re helping me pack up my stuff!”

“Moving too, huh?” Cassie asks, and I nod. “I can guess where. Probably won’t need that heavy leather jacket where you’re going.”

“Not in the long term,” I agree. “In the short term, who knows? I’m just going by my gut and faith. Give me a call when you get off work, and we’ll make some plans.”

I head back to my apartment, not as bothered by its emptiness this time because I’m just here to gather up my bare necessities. I’ll have movers pack and ship the bulk of my things and donate the rest because my new life awaits in Hawaii.Anthony

“This place had better have some good rum and whiskey, otherwise I don’t think I’ll be able to handle all this riff raff!”

I grin as I look over at Ivy Jo Price, who’s scowling in her seat as the hum of the plane engine drones in the background. Armed with her cane and wide brim hat, she looks like she’s ready to do battle.

“What riff raff, Grandma?” Mindy asks, who’s sitting beside her and cooing softly to her daughter to keep her quiet. “You’re surrounded by your grandchildren and great-grand babies. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Ivy Jo stares at her granddaughter as if she’s gone nuts. “I am, but then I keep having to listen to Mary Jo go on about that damn dog! I told her she couldn’t bring the thing and she’s not letting me forget it! Like it’s my fault that dog wasn’t allowed as a carry-on!” She shakes her head mournfully. “So disrespectful. Why, when I was younger . . .”

Caleb, who’s been getting his ear talked off between Mom and Ivy Jo, gives me a look of suffering. Okay, so it was a little unfair, but that was the way first-class was laid out, three and two. And he seems to put up with the eccentricities of older women like Ivy Jo better than the rest of us. “Tony?”

“Hey, it could be worse,” I reply, pointing behind me, where Roxy and Cassie have been going since takeoff. Thankfully for Jake, he was willing to sit between two baby carriers, so Justin, my new little nephew, and Mindy’s newborn baby girl, Rachel, had plenty of care and Jake could get some sleep.

“Hey, Studmuffin, you hush before you’re in my next song!” Roxy teases, reaching around and ruffling my hair. “Gotcha!”

“You’re a mother now. You’d think you’d grow up some!” I protest, trying not to laugh. Now that I’ve got Roxy not only as a sort of sister-in-law but also as my girlfriend’s bestie, I’ve gotten to know her a lot better, and she’s been a real trip. I can see why she and Hannah get along so well.

We land and get our rental vehicles, leaving Honolulu behind to head directly to Wesley’s property. There’ll be time for touristy stuff later.

When we arrive, there’s stunned silence as everyone takes in the beauty. They’ve all seen photos—Hannah’s gigabytes of memories have helped—but there’s nothing like the real thing. Wesley’s waiting as we pull up, Mo Mo on his shoulder. “Pleasant greetings, travelers and friends! Welcome to what’s soon not going to be my home!”

I laugh, getting out to shake his hand, only slightly surprised when he gives me a huge embrace before hugging Hannah as well. He goes around shaking hands with everyone else until he reaches Mindy and Roxy’s grandmother. “What in the Lord’s name is that on your head? Looks like you took my kitchen mop and decided to use it as a hat!”

Wesley chuckles. “Well, Alani has been asking me to get it shaved off, so I guess that makes it unanimous. Would you like to have one of the locks, like they do when they cut a retiring sumo champion’s hair?”

Ivy Jo makes a face and then looks at me. “Tony, if you let your hair grow into a rat’s nest like that, I’ma take a butane torch to your head!”

“Rat nest!” Mo Mo echoes. “Don’t need no water, let the motherfucker burn!”

“I like this bird,” Roxy says, chuckling. “Good taste in music.”

“Shake your rump!” Mo Mo says, starting a little boogie on Wesley’s shoulder, and we all laugh. I let Wesley take the lead, transferring us to quad runners for the post-natal women and Ivy Jo as he shows off his property. Everyone’s enchanted, and more than once, Oliver gives me a look that says he’s counting his lucky stars.

“And right up that trail is where the hiking challenge took place,” Wesley says. “I was planning on taking you all up there for sunset. The view is fantastic.”

“Just a moment,” I interrupt. “You know, I wanted to grab a midday photo from up there. Hannah, if you don’t mind?”

“Sure,” Hannah says, not seeing as I give Wesley a wink.

Hannah gets off her quad runner, letting Gavin take over while Cassie takes mine. It gives them time to go around the long way and still get there ahead of us. I take Hannah’s hand, and we start up the trail, relishing the clean, wonderful air. “I’m glad for the quiet.”

Hannah laughs. “You know, I can’t believe how everything worked out. I’m going to be dead broke for a while longer still, but that’s okay. In the end, the right thing happened.”

“What about Cassie and Myra?” I ask, and Hannah smiles.

“Cassie says that for a little while, at least, she’s gonna help out Roxy and Jake until she figures things out. Apparently, they need a fill-in bartender over at Club Jasmine, and she’s still got her server’s license from back in college,” Hannah says. “She’ll be fine. She says she’s happier this way. Myra’s moving