My One And Only (Very Irresistible Bachelors 5)

He lowered me to the floor carefully. I gave him one hell of a smooch, trying—and failing—to keep it from being too hot.

He was grinning from ear to ear when we pulled apart.

“I love you,” I whispered.

“You’re my whole life, Tess.”

He kissed both of my hands right before I felt a bear hug from behind. I didn’t even have to turn around to know it was Cole. Everyone hugged and congratulated us, and I was looking for Mom in the crowd, because I thought she might need a hug right now too. I couldn’t see her though, not until everyone but her, Mick, and Ellen had congratulated us. They waited in the back. Mick just wordlessly hugged me, then shook Liam’s hand. Mom was even more misty-eyed than before.

“Liam, take good care of my girl,” Mom said.

“Every day of my life. I promise.”

“You have a good man there, Tess. Love him always just as you do now,” Mom added.

“I will,” I promised her, nodding in excitement.

Ellen smiled at me. “I’m biased, of course, but I agree with your mom. You’re perfect for him.”

“Thank you, Ellen.”

“And don’t keep us waiting too long for those grandkids,” she told Liam.

“Gran, don’t start.”

“If I can’t start on the day you propose, then when can I? You know what, don’t answer that. I’m eighty. I’m at the age where I can officially not care about permission anymore.”

Liam and I both started laughing, but I was pretty sure Ellen wasn’t joking. She’d lobby for grandkids even more openly than before.

But that was okay, because I was completely on board with that plan.

I glanced at Liam, trying to read his expression. He was looking at me with a very smug smile.

“I know what you’re thinking about,” Liam whispered in my ear as we went back to the buffet table.

“Oh?”

He winked. “We’re going to start working on that very soon.”

I felt the tips of my ears heat up and then my cheeks. Isabelle, Ian, and Dylan were currently at the buffet, arguing in a brotherly and sisterly way I knew only too well.

“What are you bickering about?” I inquired.

Isabelle waved her hand in the air, pointing from Ian to Dylan to herself.

“Well, with all the Winchesters now officially off the market, I was just wondering which of the three of us will make it out of the bachelor club next.”

“And let me guess, these two are firmly insisting they like being in the club?’

“We’re right here,” Dylan said with a smile. “We can hear you.”

“If anyone asks us, we think—” Cole started, but Ian interrupted him.

“No one is asking,” he said loudly, and I cracked up.

“I am,” Dylan said.

Ian stared at him. “Man, don’t do this. It’s like a jinx.”