You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors 1)

“Three weeks, that fast? What qualities should your ideal man have?”

“No clue. Haven’t thought about it like that. It’s a bit unfair to hold anyone to those expectations.”

“Humor me.”

“Okay. Let me think.” She tapped her finger on her chin, then held it up. “Needs to be a family man. Should be kind and have a sense of humor. Should like kids. Better, a

ctually—should want kids. Artistic ability is a plus, because I have none whatsoever. Being a good dancer would be another plus.”

“I’d say I check a few of those criteria.”

“You do make me laugh. You give excellent foot rubs. And you bring me hot chocolate when I’m in the reading nook.”

“Sounds like I’m a catch.” I wasn’t the same man from a few months ago. Sharing my home and life with Josie had changed me in fundamental ways—how I saw life, what I wanted out of it. Now I looked forward to building a life with her, having kids.

“I can confirm that.” She looked at me funny. “You’re acting a little strange tonight.”

Fucking hell, I was. My palms were sweaty. I had to know if she could imagine sharing her life with me after this ended, or if all she wanted was to stay friends.

And now I was a coward. Why couldn’t I just bring myself to outright ask her? What if she said no? There’d be this barrier between us for the rest of the arrangement. Maybe she’d even want us to go back to being friends right away, so things wouldn’t get even more muddled.

I couldn’t even stand the thought of that. I kept touching my chest pocket. Right. Better to take the present out right now. I’d planned to wait until dessert, but at the rate I was going, I was clearly just going to give myself away.

“I got you something.”

“Ooooh... show me.”

I smiled, fueled by her enthusiasm, and reached for the small jewelry box. She covered her mouth when I brought it out.

“Hunter....”

I opened the lid, and she sighed. It was a tennis bracelet with twelve gemstones.

“I saw this when we went shopping the other day.”

I noticed her looking at this very item in the display.

“I know. Asked the vendor to save it for you.”

“Hunter... I love it.”

“Then let me put it on you.”

She sighed again when I closed the clasp, admiring it. In a low whisper, she said, “You didn’t have to spend so much for a fake anniversary.”

And that twisted a knife right in my gut. If this still felt fake to her... I realized on the spot that I couldn’t go on through the next years falling harder for this woman without knowing if there was a chance this felt as real to her as it did to me.

“This isn’t fake, baby. Not for me. Things changed during our honeymoon. Even before that. You’re the one for me, Josie. I love you, and I want to keep loving you for the rest of our lives.”

Josie straightened her back, but kept her head bent, still looking at that bracelet. It felt as if a million years passed before she looked up.

“Hunter... what are you saying? That you want us to stay married after the three years pass?”

“We don’t have to stay married. We can just... take it slow. But I can’t imagine letting you go.”

“You’re already thinking about divorcing me? Well, I won’t let you.”

My entire body felt lighter as the meaning of her words registered.