You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors 1)

That was true. We had traditions by the bucketload, especially for big holidays.

Mom smiled. “That’s because Josie’s the first to get married. We can start working on those now.”

“Does Ian and Dylan wanting to give Hunter the talk count as tradition?” I asked.

Amelia laughed. “Let the boys feel like they’re doing their job. Cole and Ryker didn’t make things easy for poor Mick when he first asked me out.”

I knew that only too well. They both made Mick jump through hoops.

I changed in the ensuite bathroom. I could have just packed the lingerie, and Tess and Skye would be none the wiser. But I wanted to be sexy. If the wedding were real, this was exactly what I’d be wearing, and since I was having my fantasy wedding anyway, why not wear the lingerie too?

While I was fastening my bra, someone knocked at the door.

“Hunter is here to talk to you,” Tess said.

“Oh. Okay.”

“Hunter, you’re not allowed to see her. Talk through the door.”

“Tess, don’t be ridiculous,” he boomed.

“I mean it. I’ll stay here and keep guard if necessary.”

“No need,” I replied, chuckling.

“Okay. I’ll leave you two.”

I waited until I couldn’t hear Tess’s footsteps anymore before asking, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. You said you wanted to talk to me.”

“Right.”

“You’re really going to talk to me through the closed door?”

“Tess is right. It’s bad luck to see the bride on the wedding day.”

“You do know this isn’t real, right?”

“All the more. Want something to go wrong and you to be shipped across the ocean?”

“Josie....”

“So

, I’ve talked to Dad.”

“Good. I talked to him earlier too.”

He sounded pleased with himself—which was when I realized that he’d gone to Dad on purpose.

“You can’t pay to fly in my entire family for Christmas. It’s very generous, but I can’t say yes.”

“Yes, you can. Things are different now.”

“Why?” I almost pressed my ear against the door, not wanting to miss a word.

“Because you’ll be my wife. And I want you to be happy. And I know that you’re always feeling guilty about not spending more time with your gang.”