One Beautiful Promise (Very Irresistible Bachelors 4)

“Not the joke itself... just Laney’s reaction.”

“Yeah, it was clear I made her uncomfortable. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize it. I just... skipped right over it. I thought it was better than making a big deal out of it.”

“You did well,” I assured her. “It’s just that... I’m not so sure anymore that I can get Laney to lower her guard, let me in all the way.”

“Holy shit, that’s a lot of wine talking there,” Ryker exclaimed. I chuckled, dragging a hand down my face. He had a point. I wouldn’t usually own up to being insecure. Confidence was my middle name, and I was proud of that. It served me well. It wasn’t just a trait; it was a strategy.

“Cole, don’t say that,” Tess said. “You always come out winning. You’re excellent at making the things you want happen.”

“Yeah, we don’t admit that too often because you already have too much confidence, but you’re great at it,” my brother said.

I cocked a brow at him. “I think that’s the first time I heard you say that.”

“Damn,” Ryker said under his breath. “I’m too used to giving you shit. No clue how to actually say encouraging stuff.”

I laughed humorlessly. If Ryker was refraining from giving me shit, I was pitiable as fuck. Man, this was a new low.

“How about we bring up examples of stuff he’s succeeded at?” Tess suggested.

Hunter fist-pumped the air. “Bingo. Thanks for saving our asses, as usual, Tess. I’ll start. Remember how you win every single project you put your mind to? Even the ones I don’t think we’ll win? That’s incredible.”

“It’s business. Different skill set,” I replied.

“Remember how you convinced Skye and me to believe in our dream? We wouldn’t even have opened the online shop if it wasn’t for you. We were both scared of venturing into entrepreneurship after Dad’s business bombed. But you deconstructed that fear with us, made us analyze it from different angles. You’re really good at it.”

I grinned, remembering those months even through my tipsy haze. My sisters had first run the idea by me, and I encouraged them to make a business plan. Even after they finished, they were still afraid to take the leap. But I’d analyzed every angle with them, helped them rationalize their fear with solid arguments.

“Yeah. One of my crowning achievements.”

“The best advice you gave us was to take things one step at a time. Sounds like you can apply it here too.”

“That’s right,” Hunter said.

“Love the confidence you lot have in me.”

Hunter clapped one hand on my shoulder. “Dude, you were the master of confidence even as a kid. You convinced Amelia of stuff the rest of us didn’t even dare ask for.”

“Thanks for the pep talk,” I said. Tess flashed me a smug smile.

I pointed at her. “Why so smug?”

“Well, my joke might not have come at the best time, but I was right. You are husband material.”

Hunter nodded appreciatively. “Look at him. He didn’t even wince at the word. That’s progress.”

“Can I go back to giving him shit about it now?” Ryker asked Tess.

Hunter was the one who answered, “Yes. I’m in.”

“By all means, go on,” I replied, encouraged that they thought I was ready to take their banter again.

Laney came over before Ryker even opened his mouth. “There you all are. What’s this? A secret gathering? Can I crash it? Oh wait, I already am.”

Tess rose from her seat. “We’re just taking a short time-out, but Hunter, Ryker, we should head back out. We can’t have half the hosts hiding from the guests.”

The guys rose from the table too, and they all went out, leaving me alone with Laney.

“You didn’t come find me after your rounds,” she said with a cute pout.