by Lauren Wood
She punched him lightly in the arm. “Aren’t you supposed to ask, first?”
He shook his head. “And give you a chance to say no? Absolutely not. You’re mine.”
“I am yours,” she said with a smile. “But what about your pack?”
“They’ll love you. And no one is going to be upset with a witch by our side. But I have to warn you. I think something big is about to happen. And I’m not sure I want you in the middle of it.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not leaving your side. If you’re going to be in the middle of it, I’m going to be in the middle of it. That’s what marriage is. That’s what love is.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and Natalie suddenly didn’t care about her being a witch or him being a shifter. She didn’t care about their past, and she didn’t care about the future. At that moment, he was a man that she loved. She was the woman that he loved. And life couldn’t be more perfect.
THE END
LAUREN WOOD ROMANCE
SNEAK PEEK!
BE MY BRIDE: SNEAK PEAK
PREVIEWS
Be My Bride
A Billionaire and Virgin Romance
Blurb
I had a decision to make, that would change everything.
Could I say ‘I’ do for business?
I had one rule in life, don’t fall in love. Now I have fallen for my wife.
I had everything that a man could want.
My bank account was stuffed, I had a new woman every night of the week and every guy wanted to be me.
Life was perfect.
I thought I had everything that I wanted.
Then something was offered that I hadn’t been able to secure myself.
I wanted to win the favor of the best investor in the country and learn his ways.
Ronald Gary was a hard man to get a hold of.
When I did, he had a proposal that I couldn’t refuse.
I was to marry his daughter.
A woman I had never met.
I met her on our wedding day and she was beautiful.
Long legs and a curved body called to me from underneath the veil.
I fell for her charm and wit, but I wanted more.
I wanted the real marriage, the real wife.
I wanted my hands on her.
Once I knew that she was to be mine in all ways,
I had to figure out a way to convince her.
All I had to do was get my hands on her and I would show her what I could do.
Her innocence was intoxicating and I was drunk from my own need.
I was going to be her first.
Her only.
I was going to be the man to make her scream.
Chapter 1
Keenan
“Sir, can we please have a picture?”
I tried not to look annoyed as I got out of the vehicle. I was here for a charity event, but there was never a situation in this world that didn’t involve the press. I smiled for the cameras and then put my hand out to get Ashlyn out of the limo. She was my date for the night and I might as well get the picture part over with.
We stood together for a few moments while the flashes blinded my eyes before I told them that it was enough. I was there to give away a large amount of money, the last thing I needed was to be blind for the rest of the night. As I walked into the banquet hall, there were still bright colored blotches in my eyes that I was trying to blink away.
“It is so beautiful Keenan, don’t you think?”
I looked around and agreed. It was a nice place, decorated to the hilt and I had to wonder how much of the donations tonight were going to pay for that. It would have been more fiscally responsible to just send the money in, but this was how the charity world worked. Half of the money raised was spent to congratulate the ones that donated. It was a vicious cycle and I was only here because my father insisted. He didn’t insist much, but tonight was for him. He had even remarked that I should bring a lady of class with me as well. When I found out about those on the guest’s lists, I heeded his warning.
Ashlyn was as close as I could get on such short notice. Most of the women that I saw were models and debutants, but that didn’t make them any kind of classy when a few drinks were in them. My father had asked that I didn’t bring one of my whores with me. Ashlyn was a woman I had met through the family years ago. We had a few dalliances until we realized that we were better as friends. She was the only one that I knew I wanted around that long and I loved the look on her face.
“You act like you haven’t seen a place like this before.”
She gave me a look that reminded me what else I knew about her. She hadn’t come from the same world as me and I was sure that was part of why I got along with her so well. She had none of the airs that the usual women I dated did. She didn’t care what designer she had on or what kind of drink was in the glass. I didn’t have to spend all of my time trying to impress her and she could just enjoy herself. I was almost envious at the way that she could see everything in a positive way.
“Sorry, I didn’t think about it.”
Ashlyn waved me off and was going for a tray of drinks. She looked back at me and asked if I wanted one. It was rather ridiculous for her to ask, but that was just how she was. Ashlyn didn’t have time for how things were supposed to be.
“Here. At least they have good food and drinks. I don’t know why you were so hesitant to come. It looks like it is going to be a good time.”
“Only you would think so.”
“Only you could be a sour puss in the middle of all of this. Come on, let’s get something to eat. Is there going to be any bands playing or anything like that? I really want to dance.”
Her brown eyes were alight and I wished for a moment that there was something more than a friendship between us. For all intent and purpose, we should have been more. My father would have hated me not marrying a rich woman, but that would almost be a bonus. There just wasn’t that chemistry between us that a woman and man needed to be more. It really was a shame. She was perfect, just not for me. I almost felt more like her brother, protective of her in that way.
I told her that we would dance in a little while after we ordered our plates. I was just tired of the same people around me all of the time and it was shocking how many of the same people I had seen at the last charity drive. That one was for children’s relief fund. I really couldn’t be sure because all of these things seemed to run together.
When we found our names for the seating, I saw that I was going to be next to Ronald Gray. He was a business man that was old to the investing game. He was a man that I had tried to get ahold of several times, but I was never able to secure an appointment. It didn’t matter that I was worth a few billion. He had more money than God from what I heard and I wanted a piece of it.
It was one of the main reasons that my father had told me to make an appearance and Ronald was literally the only reason that I had. To my chagrin though, the man wasn’t there yet. I had to hope that he hadn’t sent someone else in his stead. It would be my luck.
Ten minutes later, I saw the older man coming to the table and I started to relax. Everything was going to be okay. I really needed to listen to Ashlyn about that sometimes. She was convinced that I wished bad things on myself always expecting them to happen.
“Well I didn’t expect to see you here Keenan.”
I stood up a little to shake his hand and cover up the surprise that he actually knew who I was. He was like an investment guru and anyone that was taken under his wing was made richer in days. Ronald had the magic touch and I hoped for that now.
His hand was firm and I smiled at the woman that he had with him. She was an older woman and I was as equally shocked that he would take his wife to one of these things. Most men his age would have taken a beautiful young woman, most likely the mistress. If I had to guess, they were about ninety percent of the women that were in this room.
“This is my wife Evelyn.”
She was beauti
ful and had kept up well with her age. I don’t know why, but her being in our midst puzzled me so much that I had to have it pointed out that I hadn’t introduced Ashlyn. When I did, I felt a little embarrassment.
“This is my friend Ashlyn.”
The older woman smiled at Ashlyn and I could tell that she found me rude. It was not very often that I was looked on that way and I knew I was going to have to win her back if I wanted to work with her husband. I had heard that he was a family man and now I was starting to see how real that assertion had been.
We all sat down and the waiter was there almost immediately for Ronald. I didn’t like to point out in my mind that we had been sitting here for several minutes and was still not waited on. It was a humbling moment if nothing else that just drove me to want to get to know him more and figure out how I could make the money that he does. I had the capital. I just needed a nudge in the right direction.
“You know, it’s funny Keenan.”
“What is that Sir?” I hadn’t been paying too much attention, too much in my own head.
“I think that it is strange that you are here tonight. I had my assistant check and see who would be at this table and I was told a few extras that don’t seem to be here at all in attendance. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester.”
I looked away for a moment and took a drink of the wine in front of me. I had made sure that I was at his table. I didn’t care how it happened. I didn’t know what to say and I figured that if Ronald was saying anything, then it would be because he already knew what was going on.
“What can I say Sir? You are a hard man to get a hold of.”
Evelyn agreed with me and told me that she liked my initiative. I was surprised that she had anything good to say, however her and Ashlyn had been talking for some time. Leave it to Ashlyn to make me look good. She was the reason that I had brought her here, not knowing how much I was going to need her in the end.
“Yes, I suppose you are right dear. Not much of a loss I must say. The Winchesters would have most likely gotten drunk and fought the whole time anyways.”
Evelyn gave him a look like he was saying more than he should, though she didn’t disagree with him. I had heard the same thing about them, though I had only met the husband a few times and never with his wife around.
I was just glad that he hadn’t taken it as underhanded, even though that was exactly what it was. Ronald had a high moral compass and I was sure that I would have to tone down a lot of my actions if I was going to go into business with him. I was so sure that it was going to happen. I had convinced myself that all I had to do was meet him and I would be on my way. Ashlyn’s optimism seemed to be rubbing off on me.
***
“Wow Ashlyn, you were magnificent.”
She giggled and pushed me away. “I am serious. I have never been attracted to you as much as I am right now.” Her brown hair was coming down in waves and she had the most beautiful smile on her face. She had done well and I was thankful moreover that I had come and I had brought her with me. She charmed the couple enough that my first few missteps were quickly forgotten. Not only did I get the face time that I wanted, I also got him to agree to see me later in the week. Ronald hadn’t agreed to take me on, but he had agreed to let me run a few ideas that I had by him.
“Well I am not attracted to you Keenan. We tried this before. You are like my brother.”
I sighed and opened the door for her. I have to say that I wasn’t having very brotherly feelings towards her at the moment. I was instead trying to remember the last time we had tried. What had gone wrong?
“You don’t even find me remotely handsome?”
“You know you are gorgeous, but you are too much of a player for me. You always have another woman on your arm Keenan and I am a jealous girl. It is better this way.”
She was getting serious and I guess the look in my eyes said I was getting that way as well. How badly I wanted her and I don’t know what came over me. She suggested that I just needed to get laid. Ashlyn could be right, she knew me too well.
“Come on Keenan, drop me off and call one of your girls over. I will talk to you later. I have a lunch date with Evelyn tomorrow. She was the sweetest woman.”
I just shook my head amazed. “You are an enigma Ashlyn. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Always here to help. Call me when your head is straight Keenan.”
She was getting out of the limo now that we were at her apartment. I waved to her and I knew that she was right. I wouldn’t want to mess up what was between us for just one night of pleasure. There were plenty of women for that.
Chapter 2
Keenan
The meeting with Ronald was scheduled for eleven. We were going to go out to lunch and again I wish that I had Ashlyn with me. Her personality made everything so much smoother and I wanted her there to do just that. Ronald was a hard man to work with from all of the reports and gossip that I had heard on him. But after meeting him I was sure that we were going to work well together. I just had to prove to him that I was worth working with. The man had enough money so I was going to have to offer more than a few more dollars to add to his billions or trillions if some reports were correct.
There was one angle that I thought would work with Ronald. In his old age, he was starting to focus more on philanthropy and I was under the impression that it could be done in tandem with making money. I wasn’t going to push that part of it, but there was no way that I wasn’t going to try to pull him in with the thought of helping. As an investor for new start-ups, there were several that were going to change the world and if I could get Ronald involved, it would turn to gold. Everything he touched always did.
My nerves were banished by a few swigs of the flask in my inside pocket with just enough to take the edge off. I needed to be confident and when I walked into Casp, I was feeling just that way.
When I told the hostess my name, the wattage of her smile doubled. It was once again not because of whom I was, my name was pretty big in Chicago. She was more worried about making Ronald happy and I came to realize then that I was going to have to leave my ego at the door if I was going to be seen around town with him. No one here was going to ask for my picture, not with a guy like Ronald around. I was no longer the big fish in the pond. It was a strange sensation to say the least.
“Keenan, glad that you could make it and on time. Punctuality is the key to life.”
I could have mentioned that he was late the last time I saw him, but I would imagine that he was always on time. No matter where he went, whatever time that he showed up was the time that he was supposed to be there. He just had that kind of pull on everyone. It was that quality in particular that I wanted to harness from Ronald, that and more money.
“I wouldn’t have missed this lunch for the world. Like I said before, you are a hard man to get in contact with.”
Ronald shook my hand and then I sat down. He was dressed in much of the same suit as he had been before. It was one of his quirks. The same brown suit that he had been wearing for thirty years. Some say it was because it was a lucky suit and he was superstitious. Others assured that he had taken away the options of what to wear in the morning for efficiency. It was a question that I would have liked an answer to, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask such a thing.
“I have seen a few calls from you Keenan, but I felt at the time that we weren’t very compatible to work together. We have very different goals and are in different stages of life.”
I had a bad feeling that this was going to be a polite rejection and I raced to think of what to say so that wouldn’t be the case.
“Well you have really ramped up your charitable giving.”
His brow went up. “You have kept up with what I do?”
“Sir, I think there are thousands of people, maybe more, that do. When you drop a stock, everyone scrambles to do the same.”
“But my charitable giving doesn’t make me money. You have done well for yourself son, but it is cl
ear where your priorities lie.”
I didn’t like the way the conversation was going. We didn’t even have food on the table and I was starting to think that we weren’t going to get that far. It was hard to not feel anxiety bubbling up. I really wish that Ashlyn was here. She would know what to say.
“I have made a lot of money and I plan to make more, but I am becoming choosy about how I do so. I want to make a difference, just as much as I want to add to my net worth. That I think is something that we have in common. You did not get where you were just doing the right thing. I believe that multiple goals can be accomplished with only one act.”
Now I had his interest and I was thankful that I was right. I knew that the old Ronald was still in there.
“You are right Keenan, there is always more than one goal. I have a few of my own and it doesn’t solely involve giving away most of my money.”
I hoped that this was a sign that we were getting somewhere. I just had to figure out what his goal was and make sure that he knew that I was the one to do it.
“What kind of goals are you looking to accomplish? I am sure there is nothing that you can’t do.”
The old man looked away and I felt a redness creeping up his neck. Whatever it was, it was something big and I waited on the edge of my seat to see what it was. What would make a man like that, act like this?
“Did you know that I have a daughter?”
I actually did not. I heard and read a lot about his son, doing big things in business like his father, but I had never once known that there was a daughter as well.
“No I did not.”
“You wouldn’t. She is quite a bit younger than Anton. Gemma is our miracle child and I tried to keep her from this life. Now she rejects it all together. I want her married off, but it doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Anton has decided that he is gay, a decision I stand by, but that leaves me with only Gemma to give me grandchildren. I want to see them before I leave this world. That is my goal.”