My One And Only (Very Irresistible Bachelors 5)

“Tess, this is Liam.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t find my phone. Searched the whole back room for it only to find it under a pile of panties.”

I barely stifled a groan. An image popped in my mind of Tess trying on panties. Damn, I couldn’t start our conversation like this. I had to pull myself together.

“Not my panties. They were...doesn’t matter.”

“Tess. Good morning to you too.”

“Sorry, I’ve only had one coffee, so I’m rambling even more than usual.”

She was adorable. I could picture her blush as she spoke, the way she’d try to avoid looking at me if I were in front of her.

“No problem. It was an interesting conversation starter.”

She made a weird sound, as if she just swallowed her tongue.

“Good morning,” she said after a beat. “Can we have a do-over?”

“Not a chance in hell.”

“You like teasing me, don’t you?”

“Love it.”

I liked to make her blush too, but it was too early in the day for that confession.

“I have great news for you, Tess.”

“Oh my God, no. Can you wait for it until I’m with Skye? I had this whole thing planned where I shared this moment with her if it was good news.”

“And if it was bad news?”

“Umm...I’d process it and then find the gentlest way possible to break it to her.”

I was speechless, and that rarely happened.

“You can always message me when you’re with Skye, and I can call you again.”

I couldn’t believe I was entertaining this, but I didn’t like that she labeled me as stiff. I had this inexplicable urge to please her.

“No, that wouldn’t work. She’d be able to tell that I already know. I thought the calls were coming in the evening. I’m meeting Skye at six.” She sounded almost accusatory.

I laughed, leaning back in my chair. “Thought we’d switch things up, shorten the waiting time.”

“So we’re really in, huh?”

“Yes. We’re sorting out the contract, and we’ll send it to you this evening. You can take as long as you want to review it, and of course certain points are negotiable. If you’d rather not take the deal, we understand. But we hope you do.”

“Wow. Skye will be so happy.”

Something about that sentence bothered me. Wasn’t she happy? Didn’t she want this?

“I’m going to think about a cool way to break the news.”

“Are you going to celebrate?”

“Of course. In style.”