Their Virgin Secretary (Masters of Ménage #6)(125)

Eric couldn't help but roll his eyes. "This will work because we all want it to. We're stronger than you think. Yeah, we're all broken, but we need each other. We prop each other up. Where one of us fails, the others take over. Belle needs all three of us. This family needs all of us, but you have to be willing to try, put some faith in yourself and us. More than anything, you have to forgive yourself or you will never move forward."

"I don't know that I can. How did I miss the signs? Hell, I knew the marriage wasn't normal. I knew I didn't even love her. I didn't even want to. Maybe that's the worst part; I wanted an easy marriage. We had the same goals. I wanted her to be a good political wife. I wanted her to be a good mom, but I expected any kids we had would be raised by nannies and likely go to boarding schools. I wanted us to have good sex. In exchange, I was willing to support her career goals. I thought we'd make a good team."

Eric couldn't imagine such a cold exchange of loyalties. He'd always known he wanted a real marriage, even if it was messy and hard. Before he'd really understood what love was, he'd wanted caring and kindness in his life. "I know you think you wanted that, but I firmly believe you would have found it empty and left anyway in the end."

"What if that kind of marriage is all I'm capable of? This is the first time in my life I've ever had a relationship with someone who wants something real from me. Not money or power. Not connections or my family name. Belle doesn't want a teammate. Belle doesn't care that I can take care of her financially. I sure as hell don't think Belle is going to want the same kind of childhood I had for our kids."

Eric ached for his friend, but he had to be utterly honest. "None of us wants that, man. What Belle requires from you is simple. She wants love and honesty. She wants to love you back and won't accept anything less than your all. But here's the thing: she'll give you everything she has in return. Always. She won't ever leave us. She won't cheat or stab us in the back. She would never whore herself for money or fame or anything the rest of the world can give her. Belle will love you for you. She'll do it whether or not you're brave enough to try. Just because you walk away, doesn't mean Belle will love you less."

"The sharing thing could make us all outcasts," Kellan countered. 

Eric was done with that argument. "I don't give a shit what others think. We'll make a great family. There will always be people who don't understand. I won't live my life by their standards. I want to live my life so fully that I have no regrets at the end. If you leave now, do you honestly think you'll never regret it."

"And if I fail? What if I'm only really built for the type of one-sided relationship my parents had?" Lines of worry creased Kellan's face as he spoke, the heavy weight of his fears apparent.

"How many close friendships does your father have?" He had to get Kellan to see he wasn't his dad. It was the only way they had a shot at moving past this problem. Kellan wasn't his father any more than any of them were the sum of their parents.

Kellan suddenly found his glass infinitely fascinating. "None. My father believed in allies and he would be loyal until he no longer needed them. Then he would walk away and never look back."

Rather like Kellan had done after law school. He'd found the woman he thought would be a perfect mate and he'd left Eric and Tate in the dust. He hadn't even invited them to his wedding. They had been the best of friends in college until Kellan had found a new life.

He would have been alone from that point on if Eric hadn't reached out to him after the divorce because Tate had found the article about it online. Tate hadn't called because he'd assumed that if Kellan needed him, Kellan would say something. Eric had known better, so he'd been the one to reach out. The two of them had worked together to help Kellan in his time of need.

Friendship was a delicate balance. Today proved it all over again.

"Is that what you're planning on doing? Walking away and never looking back?" Eric knew the answer, but Kellan needed to figure it out for himself. Then what?

After a long pause, Kellan turned his way. "I might not be able to live the kind of life Belle needs, but I can't just walk away. Whatever you need, all you have to do is call me. I'll stop whatever I'm doing. If I'm somewhere else, I'll come to you. I will never let you down. I'm done with that."

Because they were family. "Come home with me. If we're all committed, we'll work it out. Just give it some time."

Kellan finally nodded. "All right."



* * * *



Belle answered the door, eager to get the evening's meeting over with. The contractors had come and gone, and nothing had been settled. No one had tripped the cameras, so they still didn't have any evidence. Belle found the not knowing so frustrating, especially when all she wanted to do was bask in the glow of her new future, glimmering just over the horizon.