Adored (Masters and Mercenaries #8.5)(4)

He had. He’d found books by Sanctum’s resident authors, Amber Rose and Dakota Cheyenne. Silly pen names for Serena Dean-Miles and Laurel’s sister-in-law, Bridget Daley. Bridget was the one who had sparked Laurel’s interest, though he’d rather thought it had all been a means to an end. “I thought it was really me you were interested in.”

She stepped back in his office. The whole place had been redecorated. It had been a dull beige with brown carpets and fixtures from the seventies when he’d bought it and he’d done nothing to update until Laurel had taken the project over. Now the whole office was modernized, with the exception of his desk. Laurel had tried to get rid of it, but he’d put his foot down. His crappy old chair had been replaced with something ergonomic. A week in he’d noticed his shoulder didn’t hurt anymore after a long day. He’d also noticed how the brighter colors had livened up the place, given it an elegance and grace that matched the woman who had overseen its design.

“You’ve made it very clear that you’re not interested in pursuing a relationship with me, Mitch. You made it clear that night. I’ve stayed away since then.”

The night he’d gotten slightly drunk in Hawaii and kissed her. It had been her brother’s impromptu wedding that had done it. He’d been Will Daley’s best man and watched as his friend married the woman of his dreams. Sure Will had some surly, mouthy and bratty dreams, but Bridget was also creative and funny and kind.

A lot like Laurel.

Watching Will get married made him wonder what it would have been like if he’d met Laurel before. Before his divorces. Before life had ground him down. When she’d joined him on the beach, he hadn’t been able to resist pulling her into his arms and finally tasting her mouth. He could still feel how soft she was, how her body had fit perfectly against his. And he could still see how hurt she’d been when he’d pushed her away.

“That night was a mistake. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

Her eyes slid away from his. “Yes, you’ve mentioned it a couple of times.”

“So why join my club?”

“Because it’s the only one I’m allowed to join. I tried to find another one. My brother took exception.”

Mitch felt his stomach drop. “You went to another club?”

She shrugged. “I knew you wouldn’t like me going to Sanctum. Honestly, I thought it was weird going to a club with my brother, too. So I found another one out in the suburbs. Horrible, actually. Anyway, I went twice and Will found out and he showed up and hauled me out. It was horrifically embarrassing. I spent some time on a website, but nothing panned out. Bridget invited me to Sanctum and then I think with all the babies they needed subs who were willing to work the daycare, so I signed on. I might still offer to work with the babies. I’ve grown quite fond of them.”

He was stuck on the fact that not only had she gone to some club he knew nothing about, but she’d spent time on the Internet. “What did you do, Laurel? Did you upload a profile at FetLife? Maybe advertise on Craig’s List for a Dom? Do you want someone to murder you? Because that’s pretty much what you’re asking for.”

Her jaw firmed, eyes flashing, and he was pretty sure this was one of those times it would have been better to take a step back and measure his words. “I wanted to figure myself out, you giant ass. What right do you have to tell me what I can and…” Another deep breath. “It no longer matters. I’ll let Mr. Dixon know you can see him now.”

“Laurel, we’re not done discussing this.”

Her eyes narrowed and he was sure she was about to tell him where he could shove it when a thin man with wire-framed glasses stepped into the doorway.

“Mr. Bradford, thank god. It’s imperative that I speak with you.”

He wasn’t done with Laurel. He needed to make her understand that the way she was going about this wasn’t good.

And how should she go about it? He’d told her she couldn’t go to the safest place. Then told her she couldn’t go anywhere else either. She was trying to figure herself out. If she meant those words, how could he hold her back? Didn’t she deserve the same chance he’d had?

No. Laurel is supposed to be normal. Laurel is supposed to not need the rough stuff because she’s a sweet princess. Wake up. This is what you do. You put a woman on a pedestal. You aren’t sexually liberated. You’re still the same pathetic boy who wanted his father to take two seconds with him.

Now who had daddy issues?

“Mr. Bradford?” the man asked.

“Laurel,” he said, more softly this time. “Can we please discuss this further?”

She shook her head. “There’s no need. I’ll keep my private life private from now on.”

“Hey, I’m serious about needing to talk,” the man said, his shoulders straightening.

“In a minute, buddy.” He needed to talk to Laurel. He didn’t like the look in her eyes. In that moment he realized the only thing worse than having Laurel around was not having her around. If she quit, he wouldn’t be able to watch out for her. He wouldn’t know where she was or what she was getting into—like offering herself up on the f*cking Internet. “Laurel, let’s talk.”

“No. I need to talk, damn it.” The thin man had turned a brilliant shade of red and sweat had broken out on his forehead. “You have to listen to me, Bradford. My brother is going to kill you. Harvey has sworn to not stop trying until you and everyone you love is dead.”