Marriage of Convenience (The Raven Brothers 1)

By the time I had everything put away, it was dinner time. Along with the sexy underwear, I put on a pretty, sleeveless summer dress.

When I entered the terrace where dinner was being served, Chase looked up from the table. His head tilted slightly, and a shiver of nerves ran through me wondering if I’d picked out acceptable items.

“You look lovely,” he said, standing and helping me to my chair.

“Thank you.”

“Did you enjoy your day?”

“It was interesting,” I said putting my napkin in my lap as Mrs. Childs served us chicken in wine sauce with pasta and salad.

“How so?” He asked, pouring himself a glass of wine from a bottle on the table. Mrs. Childs brought me a carafe of cold water at Chase’s instruction.

I leaned forward. “How much are your socks?”

He quirked a brow. “My socks?”

“I saw a pair of men’s socks for over one hundred dollars!”

Chase’s lips twitched upward. “I think I have a pair that expensive. Most are in the thirty to fifty range, I believe.”

I shook my head. “Until today, my socks were five dollars.”

His brows knitted together. “Were you overwhelmed?”

I exhaled a breath. “A little. I mean I knew I had all this money you gave me, but I found it hard to justify so many of the prices.”

“But you bought things? Is that dress new?”

I smiled happy that he noticed my dress. “Yes. It made me feel pretty and daring.”

“Daring? Marrying your internship supervisor and agreeing to have his baby wasn’t daring enough?”

I didn’t like being reminded that all this was fake. “That’s crazy, not daring.”

He laughed, a loud, free, hearty laugh that made him look stunningly handsome. “Indeed.”

I cut my chicken, hoping I didn’t accidentally get any of the sauce on my new dress.

“Did you buy other things?” he asked, sipping his wine.

“I did. A lot.”

“Is there any money left?”

“A lot.” I took a bite of chicken and sighed at how delicious it was. Rich people really did know to eat.

“Really?” He seemed surprised by that.

“Like I said, I had a hard time justifying hundreds of dollars for a pair of jeans. I did splurge a little on a dress and shoes, just in case I have to go somewhere nice with you. Those were almost a thousand dollars.”

“Each?” he asked.

“No. Combined.”

His lips twitched again, which he tried to hide behind wiping his mouth with his napkin.

“You’re laughing at me.” I felt a combination of angry and embarrassed. “Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouths.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m not laughing at you. I just enjoy watching you discover my world.”

“I don’t want my child to be spoiled. I want him to appreciate what he has.”

Heat flared in Chase’s eyes. “It will be my child too. And I think I’m insulted that you don’t think I appreciate what I have.”

I used my fork to play with my food. “I’m not sure you do.”

“What would you have me do? Give away all my wealth? Chant my blessings to the morning sun?”

I shrugged, not sure how to respond.

“Our child is going to have the best of everything and will be groomed to head Raven Industries someday.”

I looked up at him. “Even if it’s a girl?”

“Even if it’s a girl.”

Well at least he wasn’t sexist. “What if she doesn’t want to work for the business?”

His jaw tensed. “The terms my father set up—”

“Why do you care so much about what your father wants? If I let my parents dictate my life, I’d be sitting home with them in a frumpy dress while they prayed for me.”

He sucked in a breath and I wondered if he was calming down or getting ready to blow. “What I care about is Raven Industries, and unfortunately, my father still dictates how things go, so I have to care about what he wants.” He leaned forward. “That is why you’re here, Sara. As much as you struggle to adapt to my world, would you really want to continue living in yours? Isn’t that why you came to the city, to seek something better?” He sat back again. “Now you have it. You agreed to the deal.”

He was right, but still, it seemed like he was as stifled by his dad and life as I had been by my parents and life.

We ate in silence, and I felt bad for ruining the mood of the meal. When we were finished, Mrs. Childs took our plates away and then brought us strawberries and cream for dessert.

I played with my napkin in my lap as Mrs. Childs finished laying out the spread.

“That will be all. You can head home,” Chase said to her.

“I can stay and take care of these for you.”

Chase shook his head. “We can manage.” I wondered if he said that to prove to me he wasn’t complete spoiled that he could clear his own plates and do his own dishes.