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

been pleasant and polite to each other, but she’s been pretty shy most of the times we’ve talked. It’s no different this time either. “Hi, Cassie. Uh . . . how’re you doing?”

“It’s hot, I need cold caffeine, and I’d rather be riding a lawnmower tractor right now,” I admit with a laugh, not saying what I really want to be riding. “What’s got you here?”

“Oli took the kids out for a little bit of shopping and Daddy time before he and I have a date night,” Mindy answers, grinning. “Since Em’s agreed to watch them on a weekend, the least I could do would be to throw in some free lunch.”

“Shopping?” I ask, and Mindy nods. “Don’t tell me, Spocky’s ears are poking through that hat I got him.”

“Why do you always insist on calling my son Spock? His name is Zach.” Mindy says, even as she grins. “It’s not his fault that his ears are big for his age.”

“Nope, one hundred percent his parents’ fault,” I agree. “Seriously, though, he’s the most adorable little boy ever.”

Emily gives us a double-take, then shakes her head. “I’ve heard you two are hard to understand.”

“Just wait until you spend time with my sister,” Mindy says. Before Emily can answer, the door to the cafe opens again and Martha comes in, thankfully also wearing jeans and a t-shirt, although her hair is freshly done. She’s dressed casually, but she looks great. Mindy immediately whistles. “Whooo, someone’s got a new man!”

“I do not!” I protest before I can even stop it, causing all three women to look at me in surprise. Shit. Mindy was talking to Martha, not me! “I mean, um . . .”

“Uh-uh,” Mindy says, rounding on me and grinning. “Too late now. Spill it.”

“That explains the glow,” Martha adds. “And you do look a little perkier than usual.”

“You have a boyfriend?” Emily asks in a rush before muttering under her breath, “Lucky.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I mumble, knowing I’m trapped. “I just—I’ve been . . . well—”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, girl!” Martha says, chuckling, “we’re all women here. Just spill it before my perm goes all to hell!”

“Okay, okay. I’ve been spending a lot of time with Caleb recently, as you guys know.”

“Duh,” Mindy says. “Wait . . . really?”

“What?” Emily, who spends most of her days with pre-preschool children, asks cluelessly.

“Well, boyfriend or not, someone’s getting some, and it’s about damn time.” Mindy says, smirking. “Don’t lie. Guess he’s got some power in his tool bag?”

“Mindy!” Martha chastises, looking around, but it’s an empty house at the moment. Figures. They have free reign to interrogate me. “How long have you two been together?”

“We’re not together,” I protest, perhaps a little too strongly. Emily chuckles, sipping at her drink while Mindy grabs mine and pours it into one of the classic soda fountain glasses she uses for her iced drinks.

“So if Miss Emily here went and asked him out on a date tonight, you’d have no problems?” Martha teases. When I growl, she chuckles. “Thought so.”

“Hey, leave me out of this!” Emily protests.

Mindy waves her hands, trying to quiet everyone. “The important question is, are you going to leave us sitting here in suspense or are you going to give us details?”

“There are no details,” I grumble, but I can’t keep the smile from breaking across my face. “It’s just casual between us, okay? We’ve got . . . you know, needs.”

“Casual or not, anything good enough to make you smile like that is worth doing . . . again and again. And needs?” Mindy says, lifting an eyebrow. “Honey, chocolate is a need. Hot baths are a need. Hell, my frappes are a need. What you’re talking about is a lot more than that.”

“Well, you make some damn good frappes!” I counter.

“And I bet they’d be even more better if you were licking one of her frappes off Caleb’s chest,” Emily murmurs shyly. When we stare at her, she blushes deeply before replying. “What? Saw it on TV once. This guy took this super-thick Italian-style chocolate drink and poured it over his girl’s belly and then down—”

“Emily is a secret little freak. I’m liking you more by the second!” I interrupt, but damn, her description reminds me of Caleb and what he was doing with that ice cube just before we were interrupted.

“Ladies, I hate to break this up, but if you don’t mind, can Cassie and I head upstairs? We need to get a few things done,” Martha says. I give her a grateful look as Mindy sticks out her tongue and follow Martha up to the office.

“Thank you. That was getting to be a bit more than I expected,” I admit as Martha turns on the lights and powers up the computers. “I’ll have those files for you in just a minute.”

“That’s just fine,” Martha says, sipping her drink. “If you don’t mind my saying, watch yourself, Cassie. You might be a little young for me to fully understand sometimes, but I like you, and I like Caleb too. Just make sure you both know exactly what you’re getting into.”

“I know,” I reply, touched. “And we do.” Martha’s really taken a sort of half mentor-half aunt-like role for me, and I appreciate it. “So is that for anything special?” I say, nodding at her perm.

“The meeting with the investors from New York is next week,” Martha admits with a chuckle. “Although if it doesn’t work, I’ll let you sing and dance for them. I’m sure they’d appreciate Cass Gon’ Give It To Ya.”

I roll my eyes, laughing. “They’d probably call security on me.” I get the files quickly, sending Martha electronic copies as well as printing out the stuff she really needs. I sign a couple of places and point out the details she needs to make sure are covered in her investor meeting. Tapping the papers on the desk to get them lined up, I hand them to her. “Here you are. Anything else?”

“Just keep