My One And Only (Very Irresistible Bachelors 5)

My apartment looked empty compared to hers. She had pillows and furniture everywhere. It was warm and inviting. It fit her.

“So, this is my place. You’re the first guy in here in...forever.”

That caught my attention. “How so?”

She shrugged, unloading the bag she filled with supplies at the store straight in the middle of the living room floor.

“I’ve had shit luck dating these past few years. I think the last time I went out with the same guy for longer than a few months was when I was still at my corporate job. I thought it was more serious than he did. He made that clear when he started dating a coworker immediately after breaking up with me. Anyway, when I just get to know someone, I prefer to go over to their place. Bringing someone here...it’s just personal.”

I saw red at the thought of Tess going home with any other guy. Fuck no. I needed that image out of my mind. She was mine.

I chose to focus on the fact that she brought me here.

“So, um, I’m not sure how good I am at this dating thing.”

“Tess, tell me what you’re afraid of. I want to know.” I took her hands in mine, lacing our fingers.

“Getting my heart broken,” she whispered.

I kissed her temple, working my way to her forehead. “I can’t promise I won’t make mistakes, but I won’t break your heart. Can you trust me on that?”

She nodded, leaning into my touch. “I do. How about you? Why aren’t you taken?”

I shrugged. “No particular reason. Last serious relationship I had was right before I sold the app. She broke up with me because she wanted to move across the country, and since then, I haven’t had anything serious.”

She pulled out of my arms, wiggling her eyebrows. “Well, mister, seems we’re both in the same boat.”

“We are. ” I grinned, pointing to the pile of bras. “How does this work?”

“I usually play with—”

She stopped talking when a phone buzzed from the entrance.

“I think it’s your phone,” Tess said.

“I’ll just go silence it.”

I went to the front. As I took the phone out of my coat, I heard Tess come in too.

It was my grandmother calling. Shit. She rarely called. Usually, I was the one doing it.

“I have to take this,” I said and immediately answered.

“Liam, hi. This is Ellen’s friend, Hilary.”

She was a neighbor who often played chess with my grandmother. “Is something wrong?”

“So, Ellen had a fall.”

“What happened? Did you call an ambulance?”

“She doesn’t want me to. Says with a bit of ice, everything will be fine.”

“What do you mean, she doesn’t want to? Okay, okay. I’ll be there as soon as possible. Can you stay with her? I’ll need about fifteen minutes.”

“Of course. But don’t worry. It’s just her knee hurting a bit. Nothing more serious.”

“What happened?” Tess asked after I disconnected the call.