Cherished: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella (19 page)

He shrugged as if he couldn’t care less. “The press might see it that way. Or they might be open to questions about it. All I’m saying is it would be in his best interest if your sister’s wedding runs smoothly.”

His way or the highway. Or in this case, his way or Will lost his job and got humiliated in the press.

She knew exactly how he felt. Will was private. He would be horrified to have his life spread out like that.

Anger sat in her gut, but she nodded. She’d gotten Will into this. She couldn’t let him get caught up in her father’s crap. “I guess I should wish her a happy wedding then, shouldn’t I?”

“You always were a smart girl. Never used it much, but smart. Now get out of my sight. You’re here for your sister. The rest of the family would rather you didn’t exist.”

She nodded and walked away, but not toward Will. She headed for the beach.

It would be good to remind herself that she was alone. Always alone.

* * * *

“What kind of protection is that thing supposed to be?” Taggart was asking Jacob Dean as Will approached. He was staring at the baby carrier.

“Well, for one thing, it doesn’t let him slide to the ground,” Dean replied.

Taggart took a swig of the beer he was holding. “It does nothing to stop a bullet.”

Dean rolled his eyes and he patted his son’s back. “No. Surprisingly my baby carrier isn’t made of Kevlar.”

“And that is where you’ve chosen poorly, my friend. Think about it. Baby would be protected and your whole chest area suddenly isn’t a big open target. I’m just saying why can’t it serve two purposes. That baby Charlie’s carrying is getting the full package. She’s thinking jogging stroller, but I think we should go with bulletproof all the way.” Taggart nodded. “Daley, how’s it going? I see Bridget hasn’t killed you yet. I lost that bet.”

“You owe me twenty,” Dean replied.

“No. Bridget and I get along fine. Mitch, what are you doing here?” Will asked, staring at his friend, who looked more casual than he could remember seeing him.

Mitch pointed Taggart’s way. “The big guy called and asked me to come along. Apparently he finally met Slaten and now he’s trying to find a way out of this contract.”

Taggart shook his head. “No. I’m fine with the contract. But I’m probably going to do something really horrible to the man, and I thought my attorney should witness the crime.”

“Actually, that’s a bad idea,” Mitch admitted. “I shouldn’t be witness to any crimes you might commit. But I will look through those documents you asked me to look into. I’m going through some of the corporate bylaws and structure for Bridget’s sister. She had some questions. Ian had concerns and at the last minute, a couple of seats opened up on the plane. Any idea how that happened?”

“Hey, I wanted some alone time.” It had gone spectacularly well. He was looking forward to getting her alone again. Once the family cleared out, they would have a whole week to themselves. Now that he thought about it, he should propose more than a month for their next contract. They could safely sign a contract for six months. That seemed reasonable.

“It’s a good thing Mitch is here,” Taggart said. “Bridget’s dad is such an asshole that I think I really am going to need a lawyer.” He sobered a little. “Keep her away from him, man. He’s toxic. He talks about both his daughters like they’re property to be dispensed with, and I won’t even go into the man’s sexual proclivities.”

“His sexual proclivities?”

He shook his head as though shaking some nasty image out of his brain. “Hey, I had Li shadow him after we signed him up. I should have done it before, but he kind of dazzled me with the whole signing bonus deal. I got mouths to feed. Li needed a new partner and damn Damon hired some sad-sack Russian. I swear every ex-agent with a sob story shows up on my doorstep.”

He did not need to listen to Taggart complain. The man could do it for hours. “Back to Bridget’s dad.”

“Hey, I have a conscience. I also have a couple of hours of tape on the son of a bitch if we ever need it.” Taggart shook his head. “Trust me. I know who has the best odds for filing crazy lawsuits and not paying up. I have to cut that shit off at the pass.”

“Mitch?” a familiar female voice said.

Will turned slowly, hoping and praying that he was mistaken. “Laurel?”

His eldest sister was holding two glasses of wine and gave him a sheepish grin. “Hey, big brother.”

“Hello, sister. Want to explain why you’re here.” He suddenly figured it out and turned on his best friend. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“I don’t think he knew they were screwing,” Taggart whispered to Dean.

“Definitely not,” Dean agreed.

It was good to know they were entertaining someone. “Your opinions are not needed.”

“Don’t think of them as opinions. Merely reactions to the show, buddy,” Taggart replied with a grin. “Continue on. You should definitely mention the fact that Mitch has gone through like five wives.”

Laurel rolled her eyes and got in between Will and Mitch. She proved her moxie by pointing a finger the big boys’ way. “You two, stop being jerks around the baby. Mitch has only been married twice. He has terrible taste in women. And I’m here because I’m working for him. He hired me on two weeks ago.”

Yeah, Will bet he had. He loved Mitch like a brother, but the man was known for going through women, and he didn’t want one of those women to be his sister. “I’ll get you another job.”

Just for a second, a flash of rage went across Mitch’s face. It was quickly subdued and replaced with his usual devil-may-care vibe, but Will hadn’t missed it. No matter what he said, Mitch was interested in Laurel.

Will wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

“Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me. I need to talk to my brother for a moment.” Laurel gripped his elbow and he found himself being hauled away.

“I’m only watching out for you.”

Laurel’s jaw became a stubborn line as she glared up at him. He might have gotten Bridget happy with him, but he seemed doomed to forever have a female pissed off at him. “He is your friend and you hurt him. You will back off and let me handle my own business. I am an adult. I’ve gotten through college and I’m ready to make my own decisions. Is that understood?”

She needed to understand a few things about Mitch. “He’s interested in you. Not as a secretary.”

“Good because he’s not stupid and backward enough to call me a secretary. I’m an office manager. I have a business degree. His books are horrible. He’s got a brilliant mind and not an organizational skill in his body.”

He was going to have to be really clear with her. “Laurel, he’s interested in you as a woman.”

“Again with the good. I’m interested in him as a man. Now if you’ll give me a few tips on how to get that man in bed, I would appreciate it because he is proving to be very difficult.”

He couldn’t help but wince. “I did not need to hear that.”

“Then you shouldn’t have butted in where you don’t belong,” Laurel shot back. “I understand that Mitch has been divorced a couple of times. The man has had to start from scratch twice. I’m fairly certain that’s why he’s so skittish.”

“He’s also into some hardcore hobbies.” He didn’t want to go into what Mitch needed sexually. He’d talked to his sisters about going to clubs, but he wasn’t going into details.

Laurel crossed her arms over her chest and sent him a pointed stare. “That’s the pot calling the kettle black. If you’re talking about the BDSM stuff, you shouldn’t judge, big brother. And I’m cool with it. Reading Bridget’s books have opened me up to the idea that I might enjoy submitting to the right man in the bedroom.”

He put his hands over his ears. “Oh, god. Don’t. Please. Wait, you’ve been reading Bridget’s books?”

“Duh. I was reading her before you started dating her. I love her stuff. She’s funny and she has a lot to say about what a woman deserves. I guess it’s about what people deserve out of a relationship.”

“Orgasms, right? I mean she writes about single women with multiple men.”

Laurel shook her head. “It’s a metaphor, dummy. All of those men are actually aspects of one. At least that’s how I see it. I can’t explain it. You have to read it. And you’re a horrible boyfriend for not reading her books.”

“I’m not really…”

She held a hand up, stopping him from finishing his sentence. “Don’t say it. Don’t say you’re not her boyfriend, Will.”

But he wasn’t and it looked like he was going to have to explain. “I’m her Dom and you obviously know what that means.”

“I know that it’s your way of distancing yourself and it makes me sad.”

What was she talking about? “I’m not distancing myself. I’m quite close to her.”

“Have you told her you love her?” Laurel asked.

A weariness settled over him. He thought this restlessness would fade when Bridget agreed to simply be with him, but it was stronger than ever. “You know how I feel about that word.”

“Yes, I do know and that makes me sad. I’ve thought about this a lot and I have something to say to you. Lisa and Lila and I have been talking about it. I think you have a twisted version of the word.”

He was really ready to give in so he didn’t need to have this argument with the women in his life. “It’s only a word, Laurel, and if it bothers everyone so freaking much, I’ll use it. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

“Because it didn’t mean anything when Mom used it. Will, I think when you hear that word, you still see her.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit.” He didn’t need another Kai.

“It’s true,” Laurel replied with passion. Her voice went low but he could hear the force of will there. “You think I don’t remember. I remember how she would tell us she loved us. Especially when she was high. She would bring her boyfriends home and she loved them, too. She would call from jail and coax you into picking her up when we got older. She did it by telling you she loved you. It was just a word for her and you’ve put that definition on it. But I have a different definition and I wish you could see it my way.”

This whole conversation made him uncomfortable. It was better to leave the past behind, but he needed to know why she saw things differently than he did. “We grew up in the same household. We should have the same definition.”

She shook her head. “But I knew I was loved. Do you know what I think of when I hear the word? I think of a twelve-year-old boy trying to figure out how to do my pigtails so the other kids wouldn’t make fun of me at school. I think of an eighteen-year-old who could have gone to any school he wanted, but he stayed close to home so he could raise three teenagers. When I think of love, I think of my brother because I always knew I was loved. I wish you did. I wish you knew how much we love you, Will. I wish you could see how much that woman you’re dating…excuse me, dominating or something…is capable of loving you.”

“I know you care about me.” Maybe she was right because it really was hard to say the freaking word.

She shook her head and got into his space. “No. I love you. I love you so much. I want everything that is good and right in the world for you. So do Lila and Lisa. And I think Bridget might be the woman who can take care of you.”

“I don’t need to be taken care of.”

“Don’t you? Don’t you deserve it?”

And hadn’t he already slipped into that kind of partnership with Bridget? He woke her up when he had to go to the hospital, something he would never have done with his other lovers. He’d been able to read the charts on his tablet and be more prepared for the surgery because Bridget had driven him. He’d told himself it was all right because Bridget’s work was flexible and there was valet service at their building so she would be safe. He’d desperately needed the help, but he wouldn’t have asked anyone but her. Because deep down he trusted her. He trusted her with herself. She wouldn’t take crazy chances. She was infinitely competent. She didn’t want or need to be treated like a finely made piece of glass. She was a magnificently made woman, and he was going to lose her.

She wouldn’t stay with a man who couldn’t love her. Not forever.

He had to enjoy the time he had. The now. He had to hold on to the now.

He kissed his sister on the forehead. “You be careful with Mitch. He’s a good guy, but those two women damn near broke him in ways that have nothing to do with his finances.”

She gave him a long hug. “I’ll be careful. And if I ever manage to get him to really look at me, I’ll be careful with him. Try to think about what I said.”

“I will.” He doubted he could do anything else because he was worried now that no matter what kind of contract he wrapped her in, he still wouldn’t be enough for her.

Chapter Ten

Two days later, Will watched Bridget. She looked gorgeous in her sarong and sandals, as the light of the fire from the torches seemed to caress her skin. The night was warm and she was surrounded by friends. None of the family had come to this luau prepared for the bride and groom. From what he understood, George Slaten was busy with business contacts and Bridget’s mom was busy with a bottle of Malbec.