Free Bachelor’s Return by Clarissa Yip

Chapter 1
    James Bauer was back and he wasn’t too happy about it.
    Any type of family gathering was always a conspiracy against him, especially his bachelor state of life, but this time he had no choice. It was a week before his little sister’s wedding, and he wouldn’t be forgiven if he didn’t show up. The moment the familiar white picket fence and formidable Colonial house came into view, longing for his modern high-rise apartment in the city eroded the dread of the many lectures to come.
    Grant, New York was suburbia hell.
    He parked his car in the Bauer driveway and got out. Trudging along the walkway of the little house with black shutters, he glanced at his surroundings. Childhood memories rushed at him. All the times he’d played catch in the front yard, rode his bike on the sidewalk, and of course, his mother’s voice, yelling down the street. Homecoming was never sweet, only filled with constant nagging about his current lifestyle and choice as a bachelor.
    Suck it up, Bauer. Family is family. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. James pressed the doorbell. Stomping feet approached the other side of the door as he clutched his travel bag and waited. He heard the flip of the bolt lock and the door flew open. His mother’s excited smile met his reluctant one.
    “James!” Elizabeth Bauer reached up and wrapped her arms around him. The smell of sugar and cookies teased his nose. He breathed in the sweet scent from her short brown hair and his heart tightened.
    “Mom.” He pressed a kiss on her cheek and released her.
    She dragged him past the threshold and closed the door. “It’s about time you got home. I was hoping you’d come yesterday. You know how important it is to your sister that you’re here.”
    And so it begins. He placed his bag next to the stairs and slipped off his leather jacket. “I had to work yesterday. You’re lucky I even took a week off to come home. I still have conference calls to take care of while I’m away.”
    His mom took his jacket and waved him down the hall. “All the girls are in the kitchen, finishing up the wedding favors. Your sister’s in there.”
    James made his way to the kitchen, following the sound of laughter and his sister’s high-pitched voice. Liv was always louder than any female he knew. His sister had the tendency to speak her mind at any given time, especially when she used to tag along with him and his football buddies. His friends had found her loud, and at times, obnoxious, but he loved her. And he almost felt bad for his soon-to-be brother-in-law.
    He swung the kitchen door open and stopped at the tornado in the room. The whole place was a mess. Paper and yards of weird-looking lace were thrown across the table. Pots and pans sat everywhere on the counter, and boxes littered the floor from the doorway to the windows.
    “ Oh, my God! James!”
    His sister’s voice rang in his ear as she threw herself into his arms and hugged the hell out of him. He breathed in her vanilla perfume and hugged her back. The knowledge that his little sister wasn’t a baby anymore weighed in his heart. “Sorry I’m late.”
    Liv drew away, her bright blue eyes shining with excitement. “Come meet my girls. You missed all the other parties, so you haven’t had the chance.” She gripped his hand and pulled him over to her friends.
    Three women stared at him in wonder, and he smiled. Two blondes and a redhead. The women smiled back at him. One even fluttered her lashes.
    “This is Betty, Cara and Denise. My brother, James.”
    “Ladies.” He nodded and turned to his sister. “Where’s Alan?”
    “He’s out picking up beer with the guys. Everyone is hanging out here today.” Liv took a seat at the table next to the redhead. “You promised you’d stay all week. You haven’t been home in months.”
    An imaginary noose tightened around his neck. He loved his family, but that was just eight days too long for his mother to be throwing eligible