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

“I hear you work up at that coffee shop in the Grand Waterway,” Oliver replies. “Enjoy it?”

I roll my eyes. “Most of the time. I’ve been hoping to open my own one day. There’s a ton that we have to do to fit with hotel policies that I don’t like. I’ve been saving and saving, and I mean, working with Gavin and Bri is great and all, but . . .”

“Running a business is harder than you think. If you think you work a lot now, wait until you have your own,” Oliver says.

I stop, surprised. “Yeah, but it will be mine so—”

“You’ll work harder?” he interrupts. “Yeah, at first you will, but then it’ll become the same old, same old and you’ll want to slop the work off on some other poor bastard.”

“That’s not my style,” I say.

He shrugs, uncaring. “That’s what they all say.”

“Well, they’re wrong,” I say more sharply than I intended, and I realize it. “Sorry. But I don’t shirk shit off onto my workers.”

Oliver waves it off. “Don’t be. At least you’re being real. I imagine you won’t be as soon as we see your family.”

His little jab stings. But I feel like I have to do this next bit. “My mother, she’s uh . . . she’s marrying someone who has money. She’s become a little snobby.”

Oliver groans, rubbing at his temples as he gives me raised eyebrows. “One of those?”

“Yeah. One of those.” I pause, digging in my purse to bring out a picture. “I brought a picture book with names attached. This might be a little easier if you can recognize a few of them.”

I toss it over to him, and he opens it and begins flipping through pages. “Aunt Rita,” he mutters.

“You’ll love her. She’s a firecracker with a sharp mouth.”

Oliver keeps going, pausing a few pages later. “Roxy? Cute name. She looks like you.”

“That’s my sister. She calls herself a younger, better version of me. But that’s a lie.” I swing my hair around, lifting my nose to the ceiling. “You can’t top perfection.”

He chuckles and flips through a few more pages then sets the book aside. “I can handle it. I’ll give it a look over later.”

“Also,” I say, digging in my purse and pulling out a piece of paper, “I’ve prepared a list of rules, some dos and don'ts. Just so we’re on the same page here.”

I feel stupid. When I made it this morning, I didn't know I’d be walking right into a man who’s literally sex on a stick, but he just flashes me a little grin. “Hit me.”

I try not to tremble as I recite them. “First, when we’re not in the presence of my family, you’re not allowed to touch me. And if there comes a time where we display affection for show, only I initiate it. Also, in front of my family, you’ll never lay a hand anywhere on my body that can be deemed inappropriate. Last, you’ll always be respectful and laugh at my jokes.”

My heart is pounding as I lower the paper. “I’ll give you a paper with more, but that’s all I could think of for now.”

He chuckles, amused. “That’s cute. But I’m going to let you know now, Princess, that I’ve never followed rules well.”

I grip my throat as anger flares up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He smiles. “We’re supposed to be engaged, aren't we?”

“Yes, but—” I start, but Oliver cuts me off, his eyes quieting me in an instant.

“Okay then. Then let’s be real. If I want to kiss you in front of your family, I will. If I want to grab your ass to show them what’s mine, I will.” His eyes bore into me with an intensity that seems to say, and if I want to fuck you, I will. So get your pretty little head used to that idea, Princess.

Oh, my God. What have I gotten myself into?

“I’m willing to pull off this little act for Gavin,” he continues, “but I’m not going to act like some cuckold to make you look better.”

I draw myself up, ready to unleash fury on him. Let him know that he can go fuck himself and I’ll just fess up to my lie, but I’m interrupted by a sound in the doorway. It’s Brianna in the doorway with Gavin, Rafe balanced on her hip. “Everything going okay in here? Have you two decided where you’re staying on your honeymoon yet?”

Looking at the grinning Brianna and the adorable baby in her arm, I feel my defenses falling. Fessing up makes my stomach crawl, and I don’t have much choice now. I can't find someone else and he knows it.

But looking at the smirk on Oliver’s face, something tells me this might actually be fun.

“Yeah,” I finally say to Brianna. I turn my eyes back to Oliver, giving him a challenging grin of my own. “Hell, I might enjoy doing some ball busting over the next few days.”

Oliver gives me a smirk. One that says like hell, you will.Oliver

I trail my finger over the photograph of Mindy, sitting back in my office chair and shaking my head. I shouldn’t be doing this. I’ve got a lot to get done before I leave. Getting a company off the ground takes a lot of work, even with a large bank account. But instead of getting work done, I’m staring at this photo.

She’s so fucking beautiful. I thought I knew what to expect, but meeting her in person was intense. As soon as I laid eyes on her, any regrets went out the window. I played it cool, though, not letting her know the effect she had on me.

My fingers trace over the lips of her picture. I can’t wait to taste them. The way she tried to get all high and mighty with me makes me eager to show her who’s the boss. If she thinks I’m about to follow all of her silly little rules, she’s got another thing coming.