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

know him?” I say suspiciously, getting right to the point. “Bri’s keeping me in the dark.”

“We’re good friends.”

I gawk at Gavin, alarm bells going off. Friends, sure. But this . . . “Good friends? You just asked him to be some stranger’s fake fiancé and he said yes?”

Gavin smirks, that maddening twist of the lips that I know makes Bri both weak in the knees and ready to choke him. Right now, I’m ready to choke him. “We have an arrangement. That's all that really matters.”

I scowl. He’s really getting a kick out of this. “Well, where is he?”

Gavin steps to the side with a sweep of his arm, giving me a mocking half-bow. “He’s waiting for you in the living room.”

“Okay.” Suddenly, I’m nervous. I was anxious on the way over, but now I’m nervous, and that’s something I never feel. I mean, not about meeting guys. Guys have been easy to me ever since I realized that the combination of my smile and my boobs usually shorts out their big brains and turns on their little brains. Problem is, I always attract the wrong ones.

I start walking toward the front door and then stop, turning around when I don’t hear anyone else moving. Instead, I see them staring back at me, Gavin still with that cocky grin on his face.

“Well, you coming?” I ask, annoyed. I get it—Gavin’s pulling a bit of a joke, but this is taking it too far.

They both shake their heads. “I thought it best that you two meet and get to know each other,” Gavin says. “We’re gonna go for a walk.”

“What?” I ask, shocked. “Brianna Adams, you’re not gonna do this to me!”

Brianna shrugs, chuckling from something Gavin whispers in her ear before turning a saucy grin on me. “Mindy Isabella Price, don’t tell me you’re scared of meeting a man?”

I snap my lips shut. She has a point. I’m never scared of anything, especially not men. I stick my nose up in the air, turning on my heel with a harrumph.

“Fine. I don't need you. Bye, Felicia.”

Brianna laughs as I spin around and march down the hall. Despite my show of bravery, I can barely stop my heart from hammering away in my chest. By the time I reach the archway, I’m covered in a sheen of sweat. I pause at the doorway, gathering myself.

Get ahold of yourself, Mindy.

Taking a deep breath, I start to relax. I’m in control. I’ve got this.

I walk through the doorway into the living room. “Hello?”

My breath stills in my lungs and my heart stops as the man in one of the chairs sets down the book he’s been reading and looks up.

There, sitting in a leather club chair, is God. Well, he’s not God, but maybe the dark, sensual reflection of Him . . . maybe the Devil? His coal black hair is accented by rich brown eyes that gleam with intelligence and a dark dangerousness that both chills and thrills me at the same time. He’s wearing a white shirt with bulging biceps straining against the fabric, and I can see the swell of his chest muscles under his tanned skin through the deep V at his chest. I swear it looks like he’s got a grapefruit stuffed in his pants as he sits there, his legs slightly apart like he owns the place, an amused smirk on his sensual lips.

Say something, you idiot!

I know I should speak, but it’s like a cat’s got my tongue. He’s put me in a trance and he hasn’t even said anything yet.

“Were you expecting someone else?” he asks with a slight chuckle, and I note the confidence in his eyes. The cocky curl of his lip. He thinks he’s all that and the bonus prize, doesn’t he?

I don’t fucking think so.

I stand up straight and walk over. His eyes follow me, and my skin pricks, my normal confidence evaporating as I get another look at him. Holy fuck, he’s hot. I sit down across from him, crossing my legs, showing him what I think is my best asset.

I gesture between us, trying to appear more confident than I feel. “I want to start by saying that I appreciate your doing this for me—”

“Gavin,” he says, interrupting me. His voice is deep, rich, and soothing. It reminds me of the taste of smooth, delicious white chocolate. “I’m doing it for Gavin.”

A flush comes over my cheeks. “Well then . . . doing it for Gavin,” I say, still a little tongue-tied. “Sorry, this is all catching me a little off balance. Uhm, what’s your name?”

The man chuckles, and his dark eyes gleam as he looks me over. “Oliver. And trust me, I was just as shocked when Gavin told me about it.”

I feel like squirming. He’s got me heating up, and all I know is his first name! “So, why are you doing this for Gavin?”

His eyes never leave my face as he replies, “I owe him.”

I want to ask him to elaborate, but I can tell in his posture that it’s something he doesn't want to talk about.

“Talkative, are we? Well, can you at least tell me something about yourself?” I ask. “Have you been married? Got any kids?”

He chuckles. “Never married, and last girlfriend was over a year ago.” He scratches his chin, and for some reason, it makes him even hotter that he’s not totally perfect. I can’t help it. I’m relieved he hasn’t been married. “I recently quit my job, actually,” he adds.

“Why?” I ask. Here it comes, the big let-down. He spends his days playing video games and wants to be a YouTube ‘star’.

He pauses for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “I had a disagreement with my boss and decided it was time to go on my own way. So I moved here. Mom has a bad leg and needed help around the house. I wanted to help her and maybe start up something here in town.”

I nod softly. Better than I