Irresistible Bachelors: Books 1-5 by Landish, Lauren (classic literature books .TXT) 📗

hiss. I’ve only got a few minutes before I need to get my ass downstairs, grab my cart, and get to work, but I needed the caffeine more than I needed to make sure my bleach supply is good. I just pray that Vandenburgh doesn’t see me and give me some shit. “This is half your fault, Mindy. I’d have never gone up there if you hadn’t made it sound like it would be the best time of my life!”

I really shouldn’t be blaming Mindy. In the end, it was my decision to go up there. But I’m pissed at myself for doing it. It ended up just like I thought it would—heartache. Even now, my blood boils thinking about waking up in an empty bed with Gavin nowhere to be found.

I knew and it expected it. Still, I can’t get over the fact that he couldn’t be bothered to rouse me before he left. All because I couldn’t resist his handsome face, gorgeous body, and enormous dick.

Ugh.

“Well it was, wasn’t it?” Mindy asks, seeing me lost in thought. I don’t readily have an answer. I’m feeling so many emotions right now.

Finally, I sip my coffee before ruefully smiling, trying to find the words.

“It was.” I swallow. I hate admitting it because I feel like shit now. But I’ve never experienced a night like that. And the worst part about it is . . . I’d do it all again tonight. “He shook me from my toes to my ears, but this morning, I woke up with him gone and the bed empty. All I had was the smell of him on the pillows and sheets and a twisted up blanket that at least covered my ass, if not my dignity.”

Mindy stops, her smile disappearing as she sees how distressed I am. “Fuck Vandenburgh for a few minutes. The coffee shop can handle itself.”

She leads me to the back, where she pulls me in for a hug. “Talk to me, babe.”

I take a deep breath, wiping away a single tear that’s escaped my eye. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I went up there knowing this would be all there was to it. It’s just that . . . I feel cheap. And now that he’s gotten what he wanted . . .” I shake my head.

Mindy lets out a soft sigh of empathy. “I’m so sorry, honey. I wouldn’t have encouraged you to go up there if I knew you were going to end up feeling this way. I just wanted you to have a good time.” She pauses, chewing on her lower lip in thought. “But I think you might be rushing to judgment, ‘cause girl.” She gives me a look, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. “I know a douchebag when I see one, and Gavin doesn’t seem that bad at all. He seems down to earth for someone who has all that money and fame.”

“That’s probably part of his charm. I bet he’s nice to all the girls,” I growl, getting more pissed off as I think about it. I wasn’t even that mad before I came in the coffee shop. But just talking about it is getting me worked up. “I guess it would have been nice to at least have gotten… something from him. I know he’s got priorities, but maybe leaving me a text or a note or something would have made me feel better instead of waking up to an empty room.”

Mindy gives me another hug, then she steps back, grinning mischievously. “I’m sorry if this seems insensitive right now, but I gotta know! How was it playing with the giant snake?”

I cross my arms, scowling. “Mindy!”

“Whaaa?” she asks, smirking. “Come on!”

“I just . . . can’t with you,” I say, shaking my head.

Mindy makes a face and sniffs. “You can’t with me, but you can with that big ass monster dick? I see how it is.”

I try to scowl, but I can’t help but laugh. “Bitch! You’re the one who wanted me to go swinging from it like Jane from Tarzan.”

Mindy laughs, knowing she’s getting through. “Bri, you know I’m just trying to cheer you up.”

I let out a sigh. “I know. I’ve just never felt . . .”

So sexy. So vulnerable. So moved but so . . . cheap. I shake my head, trying to shake the feeling. “I just haven’t done this kind of thing before. I feel like a whore.”

“Girl, please,” Mindy says dismissively. “Don’t even start with that. You are both consenting adults. And I’m here to tell you, there’s nothing wrong with getting your freak on once in awhile.”

I laugh. “I know. It’s just that—”

“With all the hard work you put in dealing with Vandenburgh, you deserve it,” Mindy cuts in.

I know what she’s saying. And I must’ve told myself the same thing a hundred times already.

Mindy continues, her voice laced with irritation, “And you know what? if Vandenburgh actually got laid himself every once in a while, maybe he wouldn’t act like such an ass all the time.”

The mere mention of Vandenburgh having sex makes my stomach lurch. “Next time, can you wait until after breakfast to bring up something like that?”

Mindy frowns and lifts her chin, her voice dropping into the same haughty tones Mr. Vandenburgh likes to use. “Miss Sayles, I have spent the past year making you my slave because I'm mad my man pussy isn’t getting fucked. Last time I seen some action is when my finger slipped through the toilet paper.”

I try to fight it, but I can’t help it. I burst into gales of laughter, having to grab ahold of the counter to keep from falling over. Seeing me overcome, Mindy starts laughing too until we’re both holding onto each other, chortling like a pair of schoolgirls.

We’ve almost recovered from our giggling fit when Vandenburgh walks into the coffee shop. Mindy goes still immediately, her mirth fleeing like a bank robber on the run. “Jesus, does he have