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

“Not quite,” Oliver says with a smirk. “This next one, we haven’t made an offer on yet. I wanted to see if you can add a gable to the front to make it symmetrical. That one might need a drive-by and to check the codes.”

“I can take a look on Sat—” I start, but before I can finish, the office door bangs open and Cassie comes in. Seeing her come into the office with her boundless energy lifts my mood. I never really admitted it before, but she’s stunning.

She isn’t dressed for success like she normally is, just in a t-shirt and jeans. What makes her stunning, though, is the light in her eyes, the fierce look of determination that I’ve seen before. When she’s like this, the higher the Cassie volume is, the prettier she gets. And right now, she’s cranked up all the way.

I’m looking at a five-foot-one hurricane of energy, moving so fiercely that I’m surprised her hair isn’t flying out in all directions, her face lit up with a smile that could power Washington if it stretched just an inch wider.

“I found it!” she declares, jabbing a fist in the air. “I found the one!”

“The one what?” Oliver asks, amusement in his voice as I sit there, still too flabbergasted to talk. “And good morning, by the way.”

“Yeah, yeah, good morning, guys,” Cassie says before her sparkling eyes light up again. “I found my first project!”Cassie

Slurping, I spoon the last of my Corn Pops into my mouth. I blink, wishing I had my morning coffee already, but I can’t make coffee to save my damn life. At least, not compared to what Mindy makes, and it’s like being exposed to real beef after eating nothing but tofu all your life—there just ain’t no going back. I’ve tried bribing her to learn her secret, but she’s not talking. So I only drink home brew if I’m in a pinch.

I was up all night last night looking at the property information on 614 Douglas, using all the websites I’ve got at my disposal for research. I did comparatives on the neighborhood, got in contact with the owner and got title information, pictures of the inside, and more.

By the time I lay down at four in the morning, I knew my initial feelings were right. The house is definitely going to be my first project. I just have to convince Oliver.

I still didn’t get much sleep. The problem was, the numbers just weren’t golden. It isn’t a shoe-in, as the comps really show that the profit margin is tight, at best, but I know I can do it. And more importantly, I need to do it. The house deserves it after surviving my wild youth. It’s the home of some of my best memories, and it was the house that waited patiently while Mama and I kept promising to bring it back to its former glory . . . and we never delivered. I tossed and turned all night, mentally prepping my speech to get Oli to agree.

But I’ve only been working for Oliver for less than a year. Sure, I got the McCormick property off his back, but taking one albatross off only to put another one on isn’t in his plans at all. But I’ve got faith. Still, I was so frenetic with energy, I had to resort to my trusty Mr. Rabbit because post-orgasm sleep is the best sleep. Even after the quickie session, though, I barely did much more than doze.

I get in my car and drive to the Flaming Dragon building, walking in the front door to see Mindy smiling and joking with the morning customers. The professional crowd is just starting to come in, and for the first time, I feel a bit out of place in the same jeans I wore yesterday. I was just so addled when my alarm went off that I was barely able to brush my teeth and pull on fresh undies and a decent t-shirt.

“Hey, Sexy Star,” Mindy greets me, her normal big smile helping a little. She gives everyone in her ‘family’ nicknames, and I’m Sexy Star. I appreciate the gesture, really. “No offense, but you look like wired hell.”

“Thanks,” I reply, feeling a shot of adrenaline as I remember why I’m here. “I’ve been up all night, so could I get a triple ‘spresso with a shot of whatever you got that’ll have me perky?”

“On it,” Mindy says, grinning and heading over to the machine. “What had you up all night? New man?”

“Ha!” I say with a laugh. “No, I found something better. I found my first project. I need to talk with Oliver about it.”

Mindy stops and gives me a warm look. “Good for you! If that’s the case, I’ll throw in some extra perkiness.”

I slam my triple espresso, trying to build on the excitement and momentum that Mindy’s words light inside me. Licking the last drops of dark, sweet liquid out of the glass, I take a deep breath and steel myself. “Okay, I’m off.”

“Drop it like it’s hot,” Mindy says in farewell, and I chuckle, popping my hip into the door upstairs in reply. With every step up to the second floor, I can feel the excitement build in me, and by the time I reach the first landing, I’m almost running up the stairs. I hit the door, my prepared speech flying out the window as soon as I burst in, seeing Oliver at his desk.

“I found it!” I yell, fist pumping like a madwoman from the Jersey shore. “I found the one!”

“The one what?” Oliver asks, smirking. “And good morning, by the way.”

“Yeah, yeah, good morning, guys,” I reply, realizing that Caleb’s there too. “I found my first project!”

“Your first project? Surely, some guy didn’t ask you to marry him since I saw you last?” Caleb jokes. “How much of a loser did he have to be that not only did he ask you, but you’re calling