You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors 1)

“So what are you doing here, young man? Wouldn’t leave that pretty lady alone if I were you.”

“I won’t be here long.”

“I hope to see her at the next one.”

I swallowed hard, trying to mask my unease with a smile. So help me God, I hoped so too. I didn’t want to be here without her—whispering in my ear incessantly, making me laugh, blushing when I responded with a sinful promise. Fuck, why had I even come here at all?

Sure, gathering funds was important, because that money wasn’t going to raise itself on its own. But fixing things with Josie was more important. Truthfully, I’d needed the time out because my temper was about to flare out of control. I was determined never to let that happen, no matter how frustrated I was. My temper and no-bullshit attitude were for the business, not my wife. Even if we were fighting, even if I felt as if she was drifting away and I didn’t know how to keep her with me. I needed to go back to Josie. Right away.

Celia was the head organizer, since none of my cousins could make it tonight. I found her next to the bidding box and pulled her to one side.

“Celia, I need to leave early tonight.”

“Hunter... at least stay until everyone puts in their bids.”

“They won’t even notice I’m here. I’m trusting you to hold the fort.”

She pressed her lips together but didn’t argue. “Anything I can do to help with whatever emergency you have going on?”

“No, I’m the only one who can fix this.”

Of course, getting out was damn difficult.

Half a dozen donors stopped to chitchat, asking about a million things I didn’t care about. The longer I lingered, the more desperate I grew. I shouldn’t have come, no matter how needed I was here. Marriage was about working on things together, and I needed to let Josie know how much I believed that.

Once I finally managed to climb into a cab, I urged the driver to move as fast as possible.

I had that sinking feeling that I’d messed up more than I’d realized, and that I’d already waited too long to head to the hotel.

I expected to find her in the room, but she wasn’t there. I froze in the doorway when I saw the bed was empty. Maybe she was at the hotel spa?

I called the reception to ask where that was.

“Mr. Caldwell, the spa facility is closed at this hour.”

“Okay. Okay.” I ran a hand through my hair, and before I lost my nerve added, “Have you seen my wife tonight?”

“She left a few hours ago.”

“Right. Thank you.”

My heart was beating so wildly that I could barely hear my voice around the pounding pulsing in my eardrums. Where had she gone? I called Josie the next second, but heard her ringtone coming from the bathroom. Her phone was there next to the sink. I breathed out in relief. If she’d forgotten her phone, it meant she’d just gone out, not that she’d left.

I stayed up late, waiting for her, but eventually fell asleep. When I woke up, the bed was untouched.

Damn, she hadn’t returned? I leaned against the TV console, closing my eyes, trying to gather my thoughts, to focus, to not jump to conclusions. The sound of my phone ringing snapped me out of my thoughts.

It was Tess.

“Tess, hi.”

“Morning. So, Josie’s here. She came last night and we both fell asleep in front of the TV. She’s still sleeping. Thought I’d tell you before you panic.”

“I was just starting to. I’m coming to your place right away.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Hunter