You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors 1)

“You’re having a little too much fun with this.”

“What are you gonna do about it?”

The urge to kiss her was overwhelming, but I fought it. After coming clean to the family about the immigration services, explaining this would just bring another round of questions, and neither of us was ready for that.

“Should I come clean to my parents too?” Josie asked.

“What’s your gut feeling on this?”

“I don’t think the immigration services will bother with them. They usually conduct their inquiries in the city where the couple lives and works.”

“If you want to tell them, go ahead, Josie. Whatever is easier for you.”

“I’ll think about it.”

We returned to the group after that. Tess, Skye, and Amelia were looking at us. I could practically see a spark going off in Tess’s mind. She patted the empty spot on the couch next to her.

“Josie, let’s look through your calendar.”

Josie threw me a desperate glance, but before I could come up with anything smart, Ryker gestured for me to join him and Cole. They were still at the dining table.

“So, now that we know you’re actually not off the market, let’s go out,” Ryker said.

“We can even be your wingmen, in case you lost your game in the meantime,” Cole added.

Shit. I should have seen this coming.

“Can’t do that. Josie and I agreed not to see anyone until I receive my documents. It would raise suspicions.”

“How long will that take?” Cole asked.

“Getting my green card? Probably not too long, but we’ll stay married for about three years to avoid any red flags.”

Ryker looked stricken. “So wait, you’re going to have a three-year dry spell? Jesus, I’d rather be deported.”

“Wait, you haven’t been with a woman since you announced your engagement?” Cole asked.

Karma. This was karma. I’d been amused by the idea of Josie having to face Tess and Skye but looking at the suspicious expressions on Ryker and Cole’s face, I was not going to fare much better.

“My priority right now is not to get into trouble with the immigration office. Everything else I can handle.” There. That sounded like a smart answer.

I looked around the room, but Josie was still sitting with Tess and Skye. I felt the need to be connected to her, to touch her.

When I’d told her that today half my brain was still on the Maldives, what I’d meant was that my mind had been on her. After being with her twenty-four hours a day for the past few weeks, it had felt strange to be without her today, as if an integral part of me was missing.

Honestly, I’d never been more grateful that Josie had insisted neither of us see people during these years. I couldn’t share Josie. I was starting to wonder how I’d be able to let her go at all.

“Survived?” I asked her as we walked to the car a while later. I undid the top button of my shirt. August in New York was smothering. The humidity made it all worse.

“Yes. You?”

“They weren’t as hard on me, but Ryker was already trying to rope me into going out with them. Cole even offered to be my wingman.”

Josie stopped in the act of reaching for the car door handle. “What did you tell him?”

I brought a hand to her waist, right over her stomach. She was so damn tense.

“No, of course. You and I agreed not to see other people. And that was before I had you, Josie. I’d be crazy to want anyone else. I’m yours.”