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

“That's good. As long as she's happy,” I say as I finger a tight little party dress. It’d look great on me, and I can just imagine myself dancing with Oliver . . . wait, what the hell?

“That's always what's most important,” Grandma says as I quickly let the dress go. Now is not the time to think about Oliver. “Because if you ain't happy, everything and everyone around you will be miserable.”

Roxie lets out a snort. “I know that's right. Preach, Granny Goose! You’re on a roll today!”

“And if the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear the stinky thing,” Grandma says, egged on by Roxy. “Cast it out!”

Roxy laughs as the salesperson comes over, looking like someone cut a fart in church. “May I help you?”

“Yes, we’re here to pick up some dresses,” Roxy says. “The name is Wentworth?”

At the mention of John’s name, the bitch face disappears and a giant smile comes out. “Of course! I’ll have them out in a second.”

It’s not quite a second, but they’re back in a jiffy. They’re certainly high-end. I seriously doubt any flower girls in history have worn dresses quite this level before.

“These are cute,” Roxy says. “These would be great for your wedding too, Mindy!”

I want to have enthusiasm, but It’s hard to even think about. There won’t be any marriage. At least, not with Oliver. “Yeah, that would be cool.”

“What’s the matter?” she asks, noticing my tone. “You don’t seem too excited. Aren’t you looking forward to your wedding? You two just seem so perfect for each other.”

Looking at my sister’s encouraging smile, I feel like a fucking fraud. I should have known this fake-marriage thing wouldn’t be so casual. I catch Grandma looking at me. She tears her eyes away when I see, but in that instant, I’m reminded that Grandma has been around for a long time. She’s raised two daughters and a son, buried a husband and her son, and the whole time has been smart as a whip. She sees things other people don’t. I need to be careful.

“Of course I am, but we haven’t even set a date yet.” God, I sound guilty, I know it.

Roxy shrugs, turning her attention back to the dresses. “Fine. I didn't mean to upset you.”

I just want to hurry up and get this week over with. I feel like time is crawling, every minute is a year of mental agony already, and every mention of sex, Oliver, weddings, or babies is like a stab right in my gut.

We spend the next hour checking the dresses, but in the end, everything looks good. The tab makes me blanche while Roxy doesn’t bat an eyelash at letting them swipe John’s card. Instead, she just laughs as we carry the dresses out to the car. “Man, I really wish we could have gotten some of those party dresses. I saw you eyeing one. You’d look great in it. Not as good as me, but good.”

“I’d make you look like a little girl playing dress-up,” I tease back. “Oh, wait . . . you ARE a little girl playing dress-up.”

“Bitch,” Roxy says with a laugh, and I feel good again. On the way back, I forget about my worries as we all catch up on each other’s day-to-day lives.

When we reach the Wentworth estate, my stomach is grumbling and I can't wait to get some food. We both help Grandma out and bring the bags in, setting them in the den where I guess Mom’s starting to gather the stuff.

“We’re home!” Roxy sings when we walk back into the foyer. “Looks like Mom, Rita and Layla, and the men aren’t back yet. Let’s go wait in the TV room. You’ve gotta check out John’s system. They should be back soon, but seriously, Min, you need to see this thing. It’s nearly the size of a movie screen!”

“I hope they’re quick, ‘cause I’m starving,” I say, following Roxy into the entertainment room. Her description was a bit over-the-top. It’s not the size of a movie theater, but still, a seven-feet-tall projection screen is pretty damn sweet. “Wow, imagine watching Ryan Gosling on this thing. He’d be life-sized.”

“Imagine watching porn on this thing,” Roxy says with a laugh. “The guys’ dicks are life-sized.”

“You . . .” I start before just shaking my head. “Just please tell me that you watch it by yourself.”

“Well, duh.”

Before I can reply, I hear a yell from the foyer. “We’re home!”

Thank God for a mother who insists on making her lunch appointments. We go out where Mom and Aunt Rita are handing off their bags. “How’d you girls do?” Mom asks. “Been back long?”

“Everything went well,” Roxy reassures Mom. “They’re in the den. You guys?”

“Good. We got almost everything,” Mom says before scowling. “They just won’t be able to get in the Toro sushi that I wanted.”

“Oh, that sucks,” I reply, trying not to sound annoyed. Jesus Christ, Mom. When I was a kid, you’d have been happy with Chicken of the Sea, and now you won’t be happy unless the fish were given massages before getting filleted. Jeez, no wonder you couldn’t trust the wedding planner to do everything. There’s no way any one human could remember everything you want for this thing.

Mom catches my tone, though, and chuckles. “Okay, Mindy, point taken. All right, lunch time. You guys wait—”

“Oh,” Roxy says next to me, her hand pressed against her chest. “Talk about Prince Charming.”

I turn to see Oliver walking in carrying a bouquet of roses. My heart does a backflip as he walks over to me, a beaming smile on his face. “I brought something for you, Princess,” he says, handing me the roses. “They’re not as beautiful as you . . . but then again, nothing is.”

I stare at the bouquet as if it’s a vase full of snakes. Still, his words have an impact, and I’m shocked. What’s he up to? “Th–th–thank you.”

“Oh, my God. That’s so sweet,”