Adored (Masters and Mercenaries #8.5)(23)

She felt a little battered. He’d spoken in a monotone, but how was she supposed to handle that? The girl he’d loved had died and he’d tried twice more and gotten screwed in every way a man could. And she expected him to try again? The enormity of his losses weighed on her, but she answered him anyway. “I’ve had three serious boyfriends and that’s how many guys I’ve slept with, too. Well, four now.”

Three boyfriends. Not a one of them had cheated on her. There was no grand trauma in her past concerning men. Her high school boyfriend had moved away for college and they’d drifted apart. The guy she’d dated through college had asked her to marry him, but she’d known they were far too similar and broken it off. And she’d split up with her recent boyfriend shortly after she’d met Mitchell Bradford and realized she couldn’t feel for the man anything close to what she felt for Mitch.

And now she was wondering if it was all for nothing because Mitch had been through too much. Will had told her once that Mitch was broken. She’d thought she could fix him.

“That’s all? That’s not a lot, Laurel,” he said, his face grim. “I was somewhat wild at certain points in my life.”

“I never did anything wild in my life. Well, until that night.” Until she’d thrown caution right out the door and made a baby with the man who had fascinated her from the moment she met him.

But now she had to wonder if that meant she loved him. She didn’t even know him. Not the real Mitch. She wasn’t sure he let anyone know the real him. He was a man who believed in contracts and exchanges.

Marriage was a contract, but not one he put a lot of faith in. But there was another type he did believe in.

“I think we should get married, Laurel.”

What if she could get to know him? What if she could find some way inside the puzzle that was Mitch Bradford? It scared her, but her optimism was starting to return. Didn’t she owe it to her child? She had to find out where his head really was on this subject.

“I don’t have to have the baby, Mitch. There’s a simple solution to all of this.”

He went white. Like sheet white. “I don’t want that. I can’t stop you, but I don’t want that. I know I’ve been a shit husband before and if I’d had my way, I wouldn’t have had kids. But…Laurel, I don’t want that. I don’t want to get rid of anything that’s a part of you.”

And just like that she knew she was going to try and she knew she was going to give her all, and not only for the baby. She was going to try for her, too. She was going to try because the universe was giving her another shot and she was going to take it. “Good because I don’t want that either. I’m pregnant and I think I should have the baby, but I don’t think that’s reason enough to get married.”

“I think the baby…our baby might disagree. I grew up without a father.”

“So did I. I’m not trying to cut you out, Mitch. If you want to be a part of this baby’s life, I think that’s great, but have you considered that you could be a part of his or her life and not be a part of mine? You were adamant about not having a relationship with me. I’m the one who pushed it.”

“Laurel, I don’t think I’m good for you. I’m too old and honestly, I’m tired of the whole marriage thing. I’m not any good at it. But I’m willing to try because I think if we’re going to have a baby then we should try to be the best we can be. Can we try?”

Trying was what she’d always wanted to do, but she couldn’t end up being another one of his ex-wives.

Maybe there was something else they could try. Something she’d always wanted to try.

“I don’t like that look on your face, Laurel.”

She smiled because he probably wasn’t going to like her plan either.

But she’d definitely gotten her appetite back. She dug in and planned her next step.





Chapter Five



Mitch looked down at the document he’d drafted. It was a contract. He drafted those every day. It was what he did. He wasn’t usually the one who signed them though. And he’d never thought he’d be writing this one.

“Is it ready?” Laurel walked in carrying a mug.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to be drinking coffee. Are pregnant women supposed to drink coffee?” He’d read that somewhere.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Or you could drink whatever you want,” he amended. Maybe he should have written a food and drink clause into the contract.

The D/s contract he wasn’t completely sure he should sign with her.

Her lips curled up and she sank onto the couch in front of him. “Good. And because you asked, no, this isn’t coffee. It’s hot tea. I carry some bags in my purse. I have a couple of herbals that help with things like tension and anxiety.”

She was anxious? “We don’t have to do this tonight. We can go to bed and talk about it again in the morning.”

“I’m not anxious about the contract. I’m just tense. It’s been a rough day. I have a lot to think about, you know. I need to figure out what I’m going to do about my job. I talked to Lyle. He’s the head of the paralegals. He gave me the afternoon off, but he’s not going to be happy to find out that I’ll need maternity leave so soon. Oh, and I also had to drink tea because you have nothing but sports drinks and beer. And there is nothing in your fridge. What do you eat?”