Page 5 of Whatever It Takes

There are conditions that have to be met… He must make the choice willingly, with no coercion—outside of her natural charms.

The delightful woman asked if she was allowed to drug him, and that’s when I knew she was the one for the job. She will receive a hefty bonus upon completion and double if she’s able torecord the act. Likewise, she’s to be nothing short of polite and respectful to Briar. Otherwise, she forfeits the position effective immediately, and, as such, all potential bonuses are off the table.

I don’t wish to harm Briar.

My goal is to simply show her what kind of man she climbs into bed next to every night.

I’m the far superior option.

My obsessive tendencies mean I’m physically incapable of having a wandering eye.

Keir sighs, shaking his head when he spots me adjusting my shirt sleeve. It’s one of my few tells, but it’s the one he knows.

I quirk an eyebrow, asking if he’s going to stop me, and his blue eyes roll. No, my full-time bodyguard is not pleased with me or my methods, but he’ll keep his mouth shut, and that’s what counts.

His disdainful huff doesn’t stop me from approaching Briar.

If Jameson wanted to protect her from me, he should have stayed by her side.

Normally, touching people is an inconvenience, but I ache to move behind her, place my hands on the counter, and trap her to my chest.

She’s nowhere close to ready for that yet, so my hands come to rest on the island as I slide up next to my prey.

Briar frowns, tilting her head as she watches her boyfriend flirt with another woman in the apartment he talked her into moving into.

“The turkey smells delicious. I can’t wait to dig in.” I smile, which feels forced on my face, but I am putting forth effort. “Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving.” Her head shakes, and she swallows thickly. “I should check the food. I bet the turkey is ready to be carved. I just need to pull the ham out of the oven.”

“I’ll be happy to help, seeing as Jameson isotherwise entertained.” I do my best to keep my face neutral, despite the glee I’m experiencing about my plan finally coming together.

Unfortunately, there’s no way around showing her the reality of the situation without hurting her, but I’ll be nearby to pick up the pieces and spoil her rotten until he’s no longer a thought in her mind.

“Really? I thought the king ordered his minions around, rather than getting his hands dirty.” She snorts, spinning and walking toward the oven.

I erase the space between us, sticking hot on her heels. “There are perks to being the boss, but someone needs to assist you. It shouldn’t fall completely on your shoulders, whenevery single personis here because Jameson invited them.”

I’m sure she gets the implication.

She’s just not ready to admit to herself how bizarrely her boyfriend has been acting since the pretty little dime piece moved in a few doors down, but I’m going to gently guide her in the right direction.

“Thank you for reminding me that I don’t have any friends or family to celebrate the holiday with,” she mutters, snatching up a pair of oven mitts and pulling them on one by one.

My head falls back as it shakes.

Way to walk right into that one, asshole.

“I’m sorry” isn’t a standard part of my vocabulary, but I feel the words on the tip of my tongue. She would find my change in character to be off-putting. So, instead, I move over to the long central island and collect the electric carver.

There are a few things I’m exceptionally good at.

Dismembering a body happens to be one of them. A turkey carcass in no way compares to the work it requires to take apart a human being, but it seems simple enough.

I get to work in silent apology while mentally planning our future. That woman is going to love me if it’s the last thing I do.

Briar won’t have to rely on Jameson to share his friends and family for long. She’ll have her own come next Thanksgiving, and she’ll be served like a queen at my table asmy wife.

“You’re coming on way too strong.” Keir’s Scottish accent rolls through his words as he grabs me with a hand on my shoulder, tugging me down the hallway toward the bedrooms.

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