Adored (Masters and Mercenaries #8.5)(20)

What had he been thinking? “How am I good for her?”

“You push her. Laurel sometimes accepts her place far too easily. Did you know she didn’t even negotiate her salary at the new place? I have a friend who works there and I had him look into it. She simply accepted the offer and never thought about requesting more. Without you, she never would have gone back to school. She wouldn’t have become a paralegal. She stays an office manager, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but Laurel needs more.”

“She’s too smart to get stuck. She should go to law school. She would enjoy it. She needs a job where pay doesn’t matter, so get off her back about this one. This type of work is exactly where she should be. Helping people. That’s what makes Laurel tick.”

“Yes, and you saw that and you made it possible for her to do that, and in a safe environment, and you made sure she didn’t lack for money. So get over your damage, as Kai would say. You’re good for her.”

He leaned against the wall, studying Will. Maybe this wasn’t as bad as he’d thought it would be. “Kai would never say that. He would sound like a massive intellectual douchebag. ‘Mitchell, your problems stem from a childhood abandonment by your father and verbal abuse and neglect from your maternal influences.’”

Will made a vomiting sound. “I love the dude, but I want to strangle him when he gets going about childhood issues. Doesn’t he know manly men don’t talk about that shit? We beat each other up and then get a beer. You want a beer, man?”

At least he hadn’t lost his best friend. “I would love one, but I think I need to talk to your sister.”

“The good news is she came in an ambulance so she doesn’t have a car. I’ll do you a solid and refuse to give her a ride back. If she gives you any trouble, just pick her up and move her.”

He went a little shaky at the thought. “I can’t do that. She’s pregnant.”

Will shook his head. “No. Don’t even think that way. She’s here today because she didn’t eat breakfast and got woozy. She’s not a delicate flower. The baby is seriously tiny. So don’t let her fool you into thinking she’s fragile. Laurel’s strong. She’ll be fine and the two of you have a lot to talk about. Don’t let her shut you out.”

The door opened and Laurel emerged, followed by her sisters. She’d changed back into the same clothes she’d been wearing earlier, a sweet-looking floral print skirt, a pink blouse, and flats. Her hair was pulled back and she was looking more like her normal, competent self than before when she’d looked like she needed him.

She did need him. And Will was right. It was time to man up.

“Well, I think the two of you have a lot to talk about,” Lila said. “Mitch, weren’t you going to say something to Laurel?”

His heart was suddenly pounding because these were waters he’d promised he’d never, ever swim in again. He was about to dive into the deep end of the pool. “Yes. I do have something to say. Laurel, I’ll marry you.”

Will groaned again. “Buddy, we’re going to have to work on your delivery.”

Laurel simply turned and walked away.

He went after her because this time, she wasn’t getting away from him.





I’ll marry you.

Laurel walked toward the exit. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have a ride. She would catch a bus or walk to a train station. She was not going to stay there with Mitch “I’ll marry you because I have to” Bradford. He’d said the words with all the enthusiasm of a man on his way to an execution.

Pregnant. She was pregnant and Mitch knew, and now he was ready to do right by the woman he’d apparently soiled. That’s how her brother had reacted. For a moment, she’d been transported back in time to where Will was going to fight a duel over her lost honor.

She hadn’t lost a damn thing. No. She’d gained a whole other human being and all because she hadn’t been able to think straight when Mitch touched her.

That was absolutely no reason to marry the man.

“Laurel!”

She settled her purse on her shoulder and ignored him. There was a train station two blocks over. She knew exactly where it was because she’d come out to this hospital many times to see Will and Lila, though she never would again because neither of those ungrateful wretches had offered her a ride. They were cut off.

Actually, it served her right to have to hoof it. It proved that when a girl screwed up as totally as she had, she was on her own. Or she would be if Mitch would stop pursuing her.

“Laurel!”

She kept walking. Outside, it was a glorious day. It was spring and everything was in bloom. Even her damn womb.

Mitch caught up with her. “Laurel, sweetheart, I’m going to give you a chance to save this. Stop now and come with me. We’ll get something to eat and talk about this.”

She didn’t look his way. “I think I’ll take door number two.”

“You won’t like door number two,” he warned.

She was far too stubborn to care.

“All right then. Door number two it is.”

Laurel nearly screamed because one minute she’d been walking and the next she was up and in his arms, being cradled against that masculine chest of his. “Hey, you can’t do that. Put me down.”