You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors 1)

“We’re buying it, Josie.”

Josie looked adorably conflicted. I was betting she wanted to convince me this wasn’t necessary, while already falling in love with the house.

Darla assured us she’d have all paperwork ready within a week, and then it was just Josie and me, walking around the neighborhood.

“Hunter, are you sure about the house? I know you’re not a fan.”

“It’s a great house. And you like it.”

“I love it. And that fireplace. And the pizza oven. But it’s so huge. Darla couldn’t stop talking about kids. I think she suspects this is a shotgun wedding.”

“That makes sense.”

“By the way, you looked as if someone slapped you every time she brought up kids.”

“That obvious?”

“To me it was. You don’t want any, do you?”

We’d never spoken about this. It just hadn’t come up.

“I’ve never given that much thought, honestly. Family, kids. Just... not something I focused on when thinking about the future.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t want them—it was just that life was easier if I kept expectations low, didn’t look forward to a future that might not happen. It was easier if I wasn’t actively thinking about what was missing from my life.

Would I even make a good husband?

I avoided asking myself those questions, because I couldn’t help thinking about my own parents. After Dad passed away and Mom moved to London, I’d missed them terribly. I’d longed for everything family stood for: warmth, security. I’d been forced to get used to being on my own. The only way I managed that was to focus on what I had and on my goals, not what was missing. By the time Amelia and my cousins moved to New York, I’d gotten used to being on my own.

I’d spent many years just focusing on being the best: at school, in college, at work. Building something I could be proud of. Superficial relationships were all I knew. I didn’t know if I could be a good husband, much less a good father.

“Not sure I have what it takes, Josie.”

She gave me a look I couldn’t decipher.

“But you do want kids?” I asked.

She grinned. “Two of them, hopefully girls.”

“Why girls?”

“’Cause I’d have no idea what to do with boys. And man, this house would honestly be perfect to raise kids.”

“The house will be yours after I get my green card. I’ll sign it over to you.”

Josie stopped walking.

“What are you talking about?”

Shit. She’d narrowed her eyes at me. Still, I persisted.

“I want you to have the house.”

“I can’t afford to buy it from you.”

“I wouldn’t be selling it to you. Just signing it over.”

“Why would you do that?”