Marriage of Convenience: The Raven Brothers - Book 1

by Kaylee, Katy

  I arrived at the restaurant which Kade closed for our private party. Hunter’s guy had decorated it beautifully with white and silver, which I guessed were popular wedding colors, but they looked sophisticated. The tables were decorated with colorful tulips, which I learned from Hunter’s guy were Sara’s favorite.

  Delicious aromas were coming from the kitchen and the bar appeared to be well stocked. Kade moved around the restaurant giving last-minute orders to the staff, Hunter checked the doors and his men were looking out for Sara’s ex.

  Ash handed me a drink. “The only thing missing is Sara.”

  “I agree.” Where was she? I checked my watch. She was only five minutes late, but I wanted her there before my dad got there. I pulled out my phone and texted James to find out where they were. I didn’t want to stress Sara out more by suggesting she was late to her own party.

  We’re out front. She’s working up courage, I think, was James’ response.

  “I’ll be back.” I left Ash at the bar and exited the restaurant. James was pulled up in front.

  “She asked for a moment,” he said standing by her door.

  I nodded for him to open it. “I’ll talk to her.”

  James opened the door. Her eyes were surprised and then ashamed when she saw me. She looked so beautiful, that it stopped me for a moment. Her hair was up but loose tendrils framed her face. Little sparkles of what looked like diamonds shimmered in various spots in her hair. Her dress was a pretty color that made me think of champagne.

  “I’m sorry Chase.”

  “Move over,” I said getting in next to her.

  “I’m so afraid I’m going to embarrass or disappoint you.”

  “Hey,” I took her hand. “I have absolutely no fear of that.”

  “You should. I don’t have a lot of experience in social situations in general, but none with rich and powerful people.”

  I shifted so I could turn and look at her. I cupped her cheek with the palm of my hand. “You took on my brothers, so yes, you have what it takes to handle the rich and powerful. Everyone else is cake compared them. Especially Kade. He stepped up because of you.”

  “What if your father doesn’t like me? What if he doesn’t think I’m good enough to be your child’s mother?”

  “Fuck him.” It was surprising how quickly anger rose at the idea that anyone would think she was unworthy. “However, I don’t think that will happen. You’re smart and sweet, and genuine. Just be you, Sara and everyone will love you.”

  She nodded. “You see more in me than I do.” She said it like I was some sort of God.

  “Someday you’ll see it too. It starts by coming into the restaurant with me and letting everyone congratulate and celebrate you.” I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the few tears that had fallen on her cheeks.

  “I haven’t ruined my makeup, have I? I watched a YouTube video to get it just right.”

  I decided letting her know that she could hire a stylist and makeup person for parties if she wanted could wait until another time. “You look beautiful, Sara. Really.”

  I opened the door, stepping out and then helping her to the curb, not hiding my appreciation for her shapely legs. I put my arm on her lower back as I led her to the door.

  I leaned forward, next to her ear. “Looking like you do, I suspect we won’t be here for long.”

  She shivered and turned her head to me with a coy smile. I opened the door and escorted her in.

  “There they are: Mr. and Mrs. Chase Raven,” Ash said. “How about champagne?”

  “Champagne for everyone,” I said.

  “None for me.” Sara looked at me. “Just in case.”

  “So soon?” Ash asked.

  I didn’t get a chance to respond as the door opened and my father walked in. I hoped I told Sara the truth and that my father would treat her right.

  My father made his way to me and Ash. As he got there, Kade and Hunter arrived as well.

  “Dad, I’d like you to meet Sara, my wife.” I kept my hand on her lower back. “Sara, this is my father, Cameron Raven.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Raven.” Sara held out her hand.

  My father studied her. “Do you work for me?”

  “She was an intern,” Kade said.

  My father’s gaze flicked to mine, and I knew whatever thoughts that were in his head, they weren’t good. Fortunately, he kept them to himself, probably to be shared when I had my meeting with him on Monday.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Ms…”

  “It’s missus,” Sara correct him, and I wanted to give her a big kiss.

  “Yes, of course.”

  “But you can call me Sara.” She smiled, but I saw the worry in her eyes.

  “Okay, Sara. Do you love my son?”

  What the hell dad? “Our guests are arriving,” I said as several other people came into the restaurant. I took Sara’s hand and led her to the group. As more people showed up, I worked to introduce her and stay close, partly to offer her support, but also to keep my father away.

  Within a half-hour, Sara seemed to have settled down, and acted more herself. She was chatting and laughing with our guests, mostly people from other prominent families as well as some people from Raven Industries. At first, they seemed curious about her since she was so young and the marriage came out of nowhere, but within moments, Sara had charmed them. Several of the women invited her to various volunteer groups and other activities. A few men ogled her, which had me wanting to punch them.

  “If looks could kill, half the men here would be dead,” Hunter said.

  “People shouldn’t look at her like that.”

  “I imagine it’s a curse for her.”

  I looked at Hunter. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that’s probably all people see. They don’t see a smart woman who’s willing to stand up to a Raven.”

  She’d said as much to me once before, but I hadn’t really thought about it.

  My father made his way to her. I started to join them but Hunter stopped me.

  “She can handle him.”

  “She’s nervous.” The need to protect her was fierce in my gut.

  “She needs to handle him,” Hunter rephrased his statement. “He’ll respect her for it.”

  Hunter was right. Since Sara didn’t seem to be looking for me to come save her, I acquiesced and headed to the bar for a drink with Hunter.

  “I’ve got some info on her ex,” Hunter said.

  That got my attention. “What?”

  “He went to the same school as her. Apparently they were engaged.”

  “What?”

  “But she left. She didn’t seem to have a lot of friends, but some acquaintances suspected he was controlling. He was also fucking her roommate while they were supposedly engaged.”

  “Not her though.”

  Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

  “She was a virgin.” I wasn’t sure why I told him that.

  “Really? Wow.” He looked over at Sara. “She gave you her V-card, huh? She must really like you.”

  I had twin feelings of guilt at having taken her virginity without much care, but also warmth that she’d chosen me. She constantly surprised me. She was young and innocent, and yet smart and brave. She entered into a business deal with me, but she didn’t act like it. She was ready to mother a child we didn’t know if we’d made yet. She put up with my brothers, and me, with wit and grace.

  From across the room, my father laughed, something I hadn’t seen him do in a long time. Sara smiled at my father. It was radiant, and my heart turned over in my chest with pride and something else. Jesus, was I falling for her?

  I remembered how earlier in the week I’d reminded her she had an out in this relationship, and for the first time hoping she wouldn’t take me up on it.

  “You okay?” Hunter asked.

  I nodded, even though I felt a little unsteady at the prospect that I was falling in love with my wife. />
  “I’m going to check on something in back,” he said.

  “Yeah, sure.” I turned to the bartender and ordered two seltzer waters, with the intention of taking one to Sara, and drinking the other. As I waited, I saw an unfamiliar middle-aged man approaching Sara. She caught sight of him too and her face dropped, moving quickly to unease.

  Immediately, I made my way to her, but couldn’t reach her before he did.

  “You owe me,” he said as I finally reached him.

  “Who are you and how do you know my wife?” I demanded, pulling Sara close to me.

  The man jerked back in surprise. “I was her professor. I wasn’t aware you were married to her.”

  I looked at Sara wondering what the hell her professor wanted with her and why she looked so unsettled that he was here. “Did you invite him?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  I turned to him. “You’ll need to leave.”

  The professor’s demeanor turned ominous. “She owes me.”

  “Send a bill to the Rookery.” I scanned the room looking for Hunter.

  “This is a bill only she can pay. She seduced me to get her internship. I guess she’s worked her way up and you fell for her innocent and helpless scam too.”

  Rage fired through me, although I wasn’t sure which I was pissed about more; that this man just called Sara a whore and gold-digger, or that she might have duped me.

  22

  Sara

  When I imagined all the things that could go wrong at this party, having my professor show up and demand sexual favors hadn’t been on my list. I thought I’d say something stupid or spill on my dress. My worst-case scenario was that I’d embarrass and disappoint Chase.

  I could only hope Chase didn’t believe what my professor was saying. I glanced at him and my hopes drop.

  I stepped out of his arm that just a few minutes ago made me feel safe.

  “I’ll never learn.” I murmured and was about to walk off but decided one more time to stand up for myself. I pointed at my professor. “How dare you, you fucking pervert?”

  Chase flinched at my words. I wasn’t one to use the f-word, but this seemed like an appropriate time for one.

  “How many students have you helped in return for a blow job, huh? News flash!” I briefly looked at Chase before turning my attention back to my professor. “Just because I’ve got tits doesn’t mean I want to fuck you. Or anyone.”

  “What’s going on?” Chase’s father stepped up to join us.

  “It’s nothing dad,” Chase said through gritted teeth.

  “Your new wife sells her body to get ahead. She’ll take you for everything you’ve got,” my professor said.

  “How dare you,” my father-in-law said. He leaned toward the professor. “What’s wrong with you, taking advantage of helpless young women just to get your rocks off?”

  Tears formed in my eyes at his support. I wished Chase could do that.

  “She offered,” my professor said.

  “So what if she did,” my father-in-law quipped. “You’re an asshole for agreeing to it.” His face turned dark. “I suspect she’s not the only one you’ve taken advantage of. You can be sure that won’t be happening anymore.” He turned to Chase. “Get your wife out of here, Chase.” Then he turned back to the man. “Hold on tight, professor, I’m going to ruin you.”

  My professor sneered. “And I’m going to ruin the Raven name by what I know?”

  Oh God. I didn’t think this could get worse.

  Chase’s father stepped closer to the professor, until they were nose to nose. “Did you just threaten me?”

  “What’s going on?” Hunter’s voice came up from behind us.

  “This man is trying to extort Sara,” my father-in-law said. He looked at Chase. “Why are you still here?”

  Chase wrapped his fingers around my arm and I had a flashback to when Glen had done the same.

  I yanked my arm free. “I can walk by myself.” I moved through the crowd, mustering a smile at the people as I worked my way to the door.

  “She’s not feeling well,” Chase said when our guests asked.

  “Chase!” Kade rushed toward us. “Dad’s limo is outside. He says for you to take it.”

  Chase nodded and followed me out the door. The last thing I wanted to do was get in the car with him. I started walking up the street.

  “Sara. Get in the car.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “Jesus.” He trotted up next to me. In my periphery vision I saw the limo creeping alongside of us, as horns honked behind him. “Let’s not do this in public.”

  “Why not?”

  He leaned sideways toward me as we walked. “Because you’ll come off looking bad. If you don’t want the press to print unsavory things about you, we talk in private.”

  I whirled on him. “You’d do that? Say that to the press?” I didn’t think he would. No one knew me, but everyone knew Chase Raven. He wouldn’t want to look like he’d been conned by a college student.

  “I wouldn’t have to.” He nodded over his shoulder where people were watching. I didn’t know if they were reporters, but I supposed they could be.

  “Fine.” I walked to the limo. Chase opened the door, and I slipped in as far to the other side as I could.

  Chase got in, shut the door and told the driver his penthouse address. Then he closed the partition.

  “What’s the deal with your professor?”

  “He’s like every other man who looks at a young woman with tits. He thinks they belong to him.”

  He flinched and then gritted his teeth. “Did you seduce him to get your internship?”

  “Like I said, he sees boobs he’s likes and thinks the woman likes him too. They pervert everything to think a woman is coming on to them. They miss parts where the woman is squirming in revulsion and dying a little inside that no one sees them as a person.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “No. He expected I’d repay him and I didn’t dissuade him because I saw the internship as a lifeline. My one chance to escape my life.” I leaned my head against the window, wondering if I should give up, go home, and live the sad life my parents wanted me to.

  “Is that how you always get ahead? Let men think they can have you. Like you did to me.”

  I felt sick inside. “You’re the one that offered the money to marry you.”

  “Just like he offered an internship recommendation.”

  My heart cracked open. “You’re no different.”

  “Don’t you dare compare me to him, Sara.”

  I lifted my head and looked at him. “You think I used some sort of voodoo hypnotic seduction to get you to offer me money to have your baby. I probably knew your father took away your inheritance. God, if I was as smart and cunning and willing to be a bitch, I’d have been living the good life long before this.” I rested my head on the window again. “I’ll remind you, too, that I was a virgin and once again, you’re accusing me of being a whore.” I should get out of this marriage now. Maybe I wasn’t pregnant and I could just leave.

  “Fuck.” He growled. We rode in silence for a while. “The thought of that man touching you makes me sick.”

  “The fact that you think that happened makes me sick.”

  “I’m sorry, Sara.”

  I didn’t respond.

  “I’m an asshole.”

  You got that right.

  He sighed. “Sara, please. Look at me. I’m trying to apologize and grovel.”

  I couldn’t stop the slight twitch of my lips upward. I lifted my head and looked at him.

  “I’m sorry. Christ, I’m so sorry.” He dragged his hands through his hair. “You’re right about it all. I can see that men don’t really see you. I keep thinking I’m better than that, but I fail.” He leaned closer to me. “I do see you Sara. I see that you’re smart and brave. I see your fight to be seen, and I’m sorry I fucked up. I just… the thought of you with another
man ties me up inside. I wanted to kill your professor. Hell, I wanted to kill Kade the other day for the way he looked and talked about you.”

  “And yet you did it too when you believed I could be like that.”

  “I don’t believe it.”

  I quirked a brow.

  “My jealousy got the best of me, honey.”

  He was jealous? And did he just call me honey?

  I studied him. “Do you believe you’re the only man I’ve ever been with?”

  “Yes. And I regret that I didn’t treat your virginity with more care. You gave me a gift, Sara, and I haven’t adequately acknowledged that. I didn’t deserve it.”

  “Sometimes I think you’re right about that.”

  He gave me a wan smile. “I want to make it up to you. The truth is, I do respect and admire you. I don’t know your history, but I’m guessing it was difficult, especially if was filled with men like your professor and your ex. It kills me to think I’ve done anything like them.”

  “You’re not all bad. They are.” I felt my effort to stay angry at him waver at the sincerity in his eyes.

  “I won’t let him hurt you. None of them will hurt you, I promise.” He took my hand in his. “I won’t hurt you either, Sara.”

  “Do you know why I gave you my virginity?”

  He shook his head.

  “It wasn’t because I saw you as my way out or a way to get money.”

  He simply waited for me to continue.

  “I was attracted to you for one, and I could tell you were attracted to me too.”

  He looked down, like he was ashamed.

  I reached over and lifted his chin so he could look at me. “But you didn’t try to use that to get something from me. I know it’s crazy to say considering where we are now, but I never felt like you were going to try to extort favors.”

  “I kissed you in the office.”

  I smiled. “But you felt bad about it. You knew you crossed the line. Do you think the professor cares that he crossed the line?”