by Lauren Wood
“Okay, now what?”
“Do a search on Keenan Hall.”
It wasn’t the first time that I had said his name, but I wanted mom to see that the man was a billionaire and a very respected business man. I had spent hours poring over everything that I could find on him. He was handsome and rich, the perfect mate, although I wondered why he would agree to this. What was he getting out of marrying me, a girl he has never even met before? What kind of man does that?
When Caroline started to read some of the articles, it quickly got them off of me and back onto him. They were getting excited to really meet him and it was strange to realize that they were more excited about meeting him than I was. I knew what he was or rather what he was willing to do, but for what I didn’t know. I wasn’t so ready to meet the man that I was going to have to marry. There was no reason to be happy about it.
“Oh Gemma, he is gorgeous. No wonder you kept him a secret. He is absolutely yummy!”
I rolled my eyes at Caroline and I made it like that was the reason for all of the secrecy. It was easier for her to believe that it was all because of her. She was a little vain, but I did love her. We had been best friends since I could remember.
“That’s what it is Caroline. I knew I couldn’t trust you around him.”
That made her pout and I was thankful for the distraction. We were able to leave the dress shop and get home without having to talk about my mystery guy. They had seen enough to slacken their curiosity and I was just happy for a breath. All of their comments played in my head as I made my way upstairs. This was going to be my last night as a single woman and all I could think about was what that was going to mean for me. Tomorrow was going to be a long day and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it or not.
***
The morning arrived and I was bothered by the dreams that I had the night before. I knew that I had a lot on my mind, but I was more than a little surprised that all I could think about was Keenan. Mom and Caroline had talked about him so much that I had thoughts of him in my head that I couldn’t get out. They were going on and on about the wedding night, something that wouldn’t be a problem for us. I didn’t think so anyways. My father could expect me to marry him, but there was no way that it was going to be a real marriage like that.
But my dreams played out a lot differently than my mind let me imagine. His arms had been around me, his hands all over me and his tongue flicked and licked down my body. It was hard to think of anything else even now when I thought of how hot and bothered I was. If Keenan was anything like he was in my dreams, I was sure that I was going to have a hard time keeping up with the idea of not going all the way in the marriage. I was more than a little afraid of how I was going to have to face him after thinking about and fantasizing about all of the dirty things that my mind could think of.
“Good morning Gemma. Are you decent?”
I looked down at the night gown that I wore. I told her that I was decent and mom flitted into the room. She was glowing and I knew that it was because she was excited about today. “It’s not every day that my little girl gets married!”
Mom gushed and I just shook my head. How was I supposed to deal with her today when I was so nervous? She was just too happy and I felt like my head was going to explode. This wasn’t the time for this.
“Come on sleepyhead. Do you have any idea what time it is?”
I shrugged and told her that I didn’t. The fact that I was still in bed underneath the covers would have been a good indication that I hadn’t gotten that far yet.
“It’s ten o’ clock Gemma! You are going to be married in a couple of hours and you are still in bed.”
“It will be fine mom, trust me.”
“Why are you not worried about how you look?”
I just smiled at her and told her that Keenan didn’t care what I looked like. Since he was just marrying for some plan of my father’s, it didn’t make sense to worry about it. I was just a name and relationship to my father to Keenan, I was sure of it.
“Because he loves me for who I am, not just what I look like.”
Mom asked me and acted like I was being silly. “A man always wants a beautiful woman on his arm. You have always been a very beautiful girl and now you are a woman. You have to learn to flaunt it a little bit.”
I wanted her to just stop talking, but she kept on and I was left to take in all of her advice. After she had gotten me to the vanity and got me in the dress, she started to do my hair and makeup. It was something that I had wanted to do myself, turning down the offer of a makeup artist. I wanted this to be simple, but everyone was fighting me on it.
I looked in the mirror and shook my head. “Mom there is no way.”
Caroline walked in at that moment and she exclaimed how beautiful I looked. I wanted to punch her in the face, but it was already out and mom was gushing.
“Doesn’t she just look perfect?”
Caroline agreed and I looked back at the dark eyeliner and red lips. This was not my style at all, but I had to admit that I liked the effect. I may be nervous and literally shaking on the inside, but I looked like I was all put together on the outside. It was already 11 when I looked at the clock and we all started to pile into vehicles to get to the church.
All I could think about on the drive over was what I was going to say to Keenan, or how this was all going to go. I didn’t know how to be a wife and I certainly didn’t know how to handle how to be a fake one. I had a feeling this was all going to go badly. I hadn’t seen dad all day and I was starting to wonder where he was. This was all his idea, the least he could do is show up to see it.
The car stopped and my heart sank. The church was beside us and it was now or never. Today was the first day of the rest of my life.
Chapter 6
Keenan
“You look nervous old friend. Are you sure you want to do this?”
I didn’t really answer Rick. He was being smart and I didn’t want to explain why I felt and no doubt looked like I was about to pass out. I didn’t want to get married. All of a sudden I realized that this was madness. The woman I had never met and was supposed to promise myself to for the rest of my life was about to be here. I felt like I was going to come out of my skin and Rick was just rubbing it in.
“You looked pretty green at your own wedding I hear.”
Rick smiled and agreed, though he wouldn’t come right out and say it. “It is an intense experience. I never thought I would see you going down this road.”
“The same could be said for you. How is married life treating you?”
“Not bad, I must say. We are expecting our next kid soon.”
I made a face and couldn’t imagine what he was smiling about. Surely he didn’t want to have another one. There was so much to be done and one of the last things on my mind was having a family. It was seen as a requirement because of the business, but I was more than happy to let it all go.
It’s a new era. It wasn’t like bloodlines meant that much…
“It isn’t that bad. I thought I would hate it, but there is something about being a dad that makes life just a little bit sweeter.”
I figured that he was just saying it because I was about to get married. It was better than most who told me that I should just run or even better was the advice to make sure I have a prenuptial agreement before I went down the aisle to protect myself.
There were no more arrangements needed. Our whole marriage was a business arrangement and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn’t have those sorts of things to worry about. I was marrying a rich man’s daughter to set her up and give him peace of mind. I got that, but there was so much more to be unsure of.
“I guess I will have to take your word for it.”
“You don’t plan to have kids?”
Rick was genuinely surprised and I looked around to make sure that no one had heard him talking. He was really loud and I wish he would tone it down. The last thing I needed was f
or Ronald to overhear that I had no intentions on getting his daughter pregnant. I was here because I wanted to work with him, learn from him. I wasn’t here to make babies or tie together two family dynasties. None of that was my mission and I didn’t even want to think about that path.
“Not really, but don’t tell her old man that. He is looking forward to grandchildren. All he could talk about.”
“You got in good with Ronald. You are very lucky to have gotten in good with a family like his. I think there are a lot of men that would kill to have him as their father-in-law. You have to see how this marriage will be great for your career and your bottom line.”
He gave me a knowing look and I had to stop myself from chuckling. If only he knew what I had gone through to get this position, Rick wouldn’t think that it was worth it. He wouldn’t think that men would be lining up to marry a complete stranger to get where I was.
I really needed to get him off of this subject because I was running out of things to say. “You are still looking to get into investing?”
Rick shrugged and set his drink down. “I don’t know if I would say that I am not already in it, but I would like some advice where to put a sizeable chunk.”
“Is that why you came, to get my father in law’s advice?”
I knew he was there for more than that, but since he liked to razz me, I thought it was only right to do the same to him. Like me, he took it personally and I almost laughed harder when he realized his guilt was unneeded.
“You know you really are a jerk Keenan. I don’t know why I am here. Maybe I just want to get a look at this new bride that changed your ways and see if she realizes that she is marrying a bona-fide player. Out of all of my friends from college, I never would have thought that you would be getting married.”
“Trust me Rick, it was a shocker for me too.”
“I bet it was.”
He thought I was just saying that to say it, but it was a shocker for me that I was getting married. A week ago, I never would have thought that I would be standing here. I was amazed at how well planned everything was for only a couple of days. Although it was Ronald and I doubted that he waited for anything in his life.
“So how did this happen? I know we have been out of touch, but this is ridiculous. Last time I saw you, you were face deep in tits at the titty bar, now this?”
“You always were so crass.”
“And you were never this shy. What is going on? You are marrying into the richest family on the east coast. I think I should know why. Do you love her or was this your plan to get ahead? You know I wouldn’t just you Keenan or say anything, but I really just want to know.”
I scoffed and didn’t even answer such a question. How could I love someone that I had never met before?
“Of course I love her.”
Rick just smiled and shook his head. “You better do a better job of convincing people Keenan. I don’t know what is going on with you, but you never were a good liar and what you just said is pure bullshit.”
I didn’t really comment on what he had to say, I knew he was right. I was going to have to do a better job of proving that I was in love with her. Ronald said he didn’t care what people thought, but I was sure that he wasn’t going to be happy if people found out that his daughter was being told to marry me. That couldn’t look good on him that he had to go to such lengths to marry her off.
“Don’t worry about it Rick. It is all going to be okay. Love comes later right?”
Rick shook his head. “No, love is everything.”
I rolled my eyes. “I forgot that you were married now and all domesticated.”
“It is the best decision I ever made, but if I didn’t love her, I would have gone back to my nightly piece of ass as soon as we were married. I haven’t thought of another woman but my wife that way.”
I knew the feeling all too well. Rick and I were cut from the same cloth. That was why I was so surprised when he got married, but it was for love with him. You could tell by the way he smiled all of the time like an idiot. Have nothing going on and I would catch him in a meeting staring off like he was somewhere else. His work was still impeccable, but there was something to his marriage. It was almost a shame that I wouldn’t ever feel the same way.
The music started to play and we moved to the front of the church where I was supposed to stand and wait. Rick followed me out and stood beside me. It was the moment of truth and I realized only then how hard my heart was beating in my chest. It was so hard that it actually hurt. I was about to meet the woman I was going to marry and now I knew how all of the people in arranged marriages must have felt.
“You are practically shaking Keenan.”
I tried to pause the trembling in my hands, but it was impossible. This was all happening much too fast. Ronald had been right to do it now. If I still had the option, I would have walked out. Nothing was worth marriage, not even an insane amount of money.
“Just nerves. Cold feet.”
“I wouldn’t have cold feet if that was what was waiting for me tonight.”
I looked where he was looking and my heart just stopped in my chest. The woman that I had waited to see was still not very visible, but her body was and my eyes took in all of the accentuated curves from head to toe. She was beautiful and she was all mine. The veil covered up her face, but I already decided with the streaming blonde hair that she would do.
“She is beautiful.”
Rick cracked something about acting like it was the first time I had seen her before. Little did he know that he was right about that. This was my first time ever seeing her and as she got closer, my anticipation for the night rose dramatically.
It was all so surreal. As she got closer, I could tell that there was beauty under the veil that was going to be awarded to me soon. Ronald was beaming and I could sense that at least someone in the room was happy. I was starting to get a little horny, but I was nowhere near happy about everything.
The priest started to speak and Ronald gave his daughter away to me in a ceremony. I was left with a tiny, cold hand in my palm and a woman that I still hadn’t seen. She was several inches shorter than me and I could see right over the top of her head.
I was meant to say my lines which I stumbled across to my own chagrin. It was only a few syllables, but I was left in a mess. Why was I so damn worried all of a sudden?
The first time I heard Gemma speak it was so soft that I had to lean in like everyone in the room collectively did as she agreed to take me as her husband. She had only looked up at me once through the whole ceremony and now I was left to reveal the bride and kiss her. The rings were on our fingers, we were now husband and wife.
I pulled the white lace back off of her face that did such a good job of hiding her features. When I finally saw them, they were nothing at all what I expected. She was so tiny and feminine, yet the curves were so vibrant. How could she have the face of an angel and the body of a professional escort?
Leaning in to kiss her, I heard her sigh ever so softly and tasted the sweetness of her lips. It was supposed to be sweet and innocent, we were of course in front of lots of people, but something came over me and when she submitted to the kiss, I pulled her in close for more. I wanted to feel the soft curves against my body, as well as let her know what was going to be waiting for her when we got out of here. Everything changed and I was no longer nervous.
Gemma pushed back finally and I was in the end thankful she did because I don’t know if I would have done it of my own volition. The woman was intoxicating and I had so quickly forgotten about everything and everyone in that room except her.
Chapter 7
Gemma
My hands shook as well as my insides as I walked down the aisle with my hand in my husband’s. I looked up once and locked eyes with him and I felt this vibration inside of me. He was cute, I knew that, but in person he was something else altogether. Once he put his hands on me and his lips on me, I was lost. This wasn’t at all what was sup
posed to happen and I was afraid that I was falling for a man that I didn’t even know, one that married me to get my father’s money in some way.
“Would you like to change before the reception?”
“No, I am fine, thank you. This dress is almost impossible to get out of and it took two people to get me in it a little while ago.”
“I can help you if you need some help.”
I stopped at the idea of it and I shook my head a little too vehemently. I didn’t want him touching me again. There was no way that I could take it, since my nerves were already frayed from the kiss we had shared at the altar. I had learned a lot about the man that I had just married, but nothing that I read could have prepared me for what had come next. Nothing would have been able to describe the way I felt about him when he kissed me or all of the feelings that would well up inside of me with just a little touch. Why hadn’t I know about this?
“No thank you. This will be fine.” I didn’t want to feel that way again, so I couldn’t let him touch me like that. I wasn’t going to be able to handle it another time.
“Suit yourself. I am going to get out of this jacket at least. I haven’t worn a full suit in a long time.”
“Did my father make you wear it?”
“What?”
“He found you and made you marry me, so it just seems right that he dress you as well.”
“Have I done something to you?”
“Nothing at all Keenan, but let’s not pretend that this is a real marriage. You want my father’s money and I didn’t have a choice. So I will smile in front of all of these people and pretend that I didn’t just meet you, but when we are alone like we are now, let’s not pretend this is anything different than it is.”
He was speechless and I was happy with the silence. We were now driving over to the reception and though my body and mind were in conflict, I was sure that I knew one thing. I was not to fall for him. I couldn’t fall for a man that would do such a thing. It wasn’t right and I would never be able to forget the fact that he married me for money, even if he did have enough of his own. Men like him never had enough, always hungry for more.