Cherished (Masters and Mercenaries #7.5)(50)

And Bridget would defend him to the death. She could find out all his secrets and she would still be by his side. She’d accepted that his mother was in prison. She’d accepted that he’d grown up in a disgusting trailer and that he’d been an idiot about Starr. Would she come to accept that he wouldn’t love her? Eventually, perhaps. He could see it quite plainly. She would sign the contract for a month and then he could easily shift them into a longer-term contract. He could make the argument that they didn’t need two places, or better yet, that they would really do better with a house.

He would ply her with affection and sex and his special brand of dominance and she would give up on those dreams of having a man who returned her love.

What did she mean when she used the word love? It was a stupid word that meant absolutely nothing to him, but Laurel’s speech kept playing around in his head. Words could have many meanings. He needed to figure out what Bridget meant by love because he was rapidly coming to the conclusion that she was as necessary for his happiness as breathing.

“You say you love Amy. What do you mean by that?”

Frankie stared at him for a moment. “Mean?”

“What does love mean to you? I…I don’t get it. You’re not sleeping with her. If I’m wrong, I apologize, but I’m trying to figure something out.”

“You’re not wrong. Amy and I don’t sleep together, but we are an odd form of soul mates. I think the idea that we only get one is wrong. At least I hope it is. I think maybe we go through life finding these people who hold little pieces of our soul. Sometimes you find a big chunk and I think that might be what we call love.”

He growled under his breath, frustration taking over. “I don’t get the metaphysical shit.”

“All right. You’re a literal guy. Uhm, I love Amy because she accepts me. I can be exactly who I am around her. I don’t have to pretend the way I do around others. She’s a safe place for me. When we first met, well, let’s say I wasn’t in a good place. I’m here today because of that woman. Whatever happens, she’s my friend for life. Do you love Bridget? I asked and you didn’t answer.”

He hated that question and yet he answered because Frankie had been open with him. “I don’t know. I want her.”

“That’s a good start. You don’t have to know now. She seems happy.”

Yeah, Frankie didn’t know her. Bridget was saying all the right things, but Will knew what she looked like when she was truly happy. He let it go because there was no point.

“Hey, buddy, you seem to be out of those coconut cookies. I know that sounds sad, but I have a woman who can’t drink for another six months, so I get her whatever she tells me to. Who do I need to pay to get me about two dozen or so of those suckers?” Ian Taggart asked, his big body blocking the light from the party.

Taggart was a man who knew how to get what he wanted. He was a man who always had a plan. Will was fairly certain his plans had plans. What would a man like Taggart do if his wife’s family was making her miserable? If Taggart’s wife’s father had dug up dirt on him to ruin their relationship, what would he do?

“I’ll speak to the caterer,” Frankie was saying. “I noticed your wife seems to like coconut. I’ll have them bring out the ice cream early.”

Taggart would already have a plan in place.

“Thanks. Make it a lot though. She really likes ice cream,” Taggart said.

Will remembered their conversation from a few nights before. Taggart did have a plan in place.

Frankie nodded and left, but Will stopped Taggart as he turned.

“Ian, I need a favor.”

Taggart’s whole face turned stony. “You can’t have those cookies. Seriously, don’t get between Charlie and her chosen snack food.”

“I need to see that footage you have of George Slaten. I think I want to buy it.”

Taggart’s brows rose. “Why?”

“Because he’s going to try to come between me and Bridget, and I won’t let it happen. Because if he says one more thing to make her sad, I swear I will kill the man.”

Taggart’s lips tugged up. “Now you’re talking. Come on. I’ve got it on my computer. I’ve been dying to use it on that *, but Charlie told me I had to play fair. Really, this is a gift to me. How about I charge you five bucks? Five bucks and now you’re a client. I’m protecting you from Slaten.”

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”

“Nah, I have zero interest in Slaten. He’s an *. You see, all these rules just make things hard. Besides, that’s what Mitch is here for. When Slaten sues us, Mitch gets to work. Everyone’s happy.” Taggart slapped him on the back. “Come on. I’ll show you what I’ve got and you’ll see why I’ve been dying to use it. Why is it always the self-righteous pricks who turn out to be complete perverts? You know it gives the rest of us a bad name. Own your perversion, dude.”

He followed Taggart, happy to at least have a plan.





Bridget felt weary as she entered the room. Her sister was getting married tomorrow night and she was in a corner. If she talked to her about it, Will got hurt. If she didn’t, her sister did.

She’d thought about it all throughout the luau. She’d sat and watched her friends and wondered if there was a way out.