Riding Mr. Benson: A Fake Marriage Romance Page 3

  Violet only wished she was as comfortable with how her scar looked like as she was with what it represented for her. Her decision to leave law school and pursue her art independent of her family’s wealth. Her promise to herself to not sit idly by while other people planned her life for her.

  Sure, she avoided relationships with men. But that wasn’t the worst thing, she was good on her own. She didn’t need a man to complete her. But sometimes on the lonely nights she wondered what it would be like. What would it be like to be held, kissed, and worshipped? She wasn’t sure she could handle the look of disgust or worse pity that would inevitably find its way to her lover’s face when he saw her scar for the first time. No, it was definitely better to be alone, and pursue her dreams on her own.

  Oh well, she thought, slipping on a navy blue t-shirt and a pair of well-worn yoga pants. Not everyone needs sex.

  She moved into the kitchen and put on a tea kettle. What she definitely needed was this day off. The couch and her television beckoned to her, a lazy day of vegging out was exactly what she needed. That would be better than any man in her bed. Even Rafe Benson.

  She had just settled into the couch, with a list of romantic comedies cued up on her screen when the doorbell rang. “Who the devil?” she asked the air. Arc started barking and came rushing into the living room. “Oh now you get off the bed, huh girl?” Violet scratched the beast’s head as the doorbell rang again.

  Reluctantly she got up from the couch. Whoever it was, wasn’t going away. “Hold on!” she shouted, pausing only to double check that her hair didn’t look crazy. She hadn’t bothered doing anything with it after her shower, she wasn’t planning on being seen.

  She took the chain lock from the door and swung it open. Rafe Benson stood in front of her holding what looked like a picnic basket and a kite.

  “Ready to go?” he asked, with a smile charming enough to disarm an army at war.

  “Shit,” was all she could say in response.

  Chapter Five

  “Chloe said this picnic was your idea?” Rafe said. Even as the words left his mouth, he knew his sister had somehow managed to trick both him and Violet.

  And Violet certainly didn’t look like she was in the mood for a picnic or anything else for that matter. Her long blonde hair fell in damp waves past her shoulders. And the simple t-shirt and yoga pants combination she wore gave the impression that she was looking for a lazy day inside.

  There were telltale red circles under her eyes that indicated to Rafe his sister may have plied Violet with more than just stories the night before. Violet looked like she had had a rough night. Yet he still found her absolutely alluring.

  “I vaguely remember her talking about picnics last night, but I didn’t know she meant today,” Violet responded, rubbing her temples. She moved out of the way and let him past the threshold of her apartment. Rafe was impressed, it was a small unit with the kitchen only separated from the living room by a half-island. But Violet looked like she managed to make the rented space her own. There were intricate pieces of metal art hanging on the walls, and even though the furniture was sparse what she did have was nicely appointed.

  “Nice place,” he said. “Look, um, it’s obvious my sister set this up and you don’t look like you’re into the idea. She said we needed to get to know each other better, but don’t feel like you have to—” He watched as relief washed over her. But before she could answer Travis came bounding in.

  “Daddy, can Arc come with us on the picnic?” He watched as the lab that destroyed his foyer happily wagged her tail and rushed his son. Maybe after the company sold and he had more time, Rafe should consider getting Travis a puppy. He seemed to really like animals.

  “Oh, Travis, I think Violet and Arc aren’t feeling well. They might need to skip the picnic today.” He tussled his son’s hair and looked up at Violet. The last thing he wanted to do was push her, and he hoped he was getting that point across, but she wasn’t focused on him at all. Rather she was watching Travis with her dog, and the smile on her face melted a tiny piece of his heart.

  She leaned down to eye level with Travis and placed a hand on Arc’s back to steady herself. “You are really looking forward to a picnic today aren’t you buddy?” she asked.

  “Uh, huh. Dad said it’s windy enough we could probably fly a kite. I don’t know how to fly a kite but he said he would teach me.”

  “Wow, well how can I disappoint you on such a windy day,” she said, smiling. As she stood she nodded to Rafe. He couldn’t believe how good she was with his son. He mouthed a simple thank you. Surprised to find himself wishing she would flash the same warm smile she gave Travis his way.

  “Give me a minute to change and we can go. I know it’s not what you’re used to, but make yourselves at home.”

  * * *

  Rafe offered to drive them to the park, but Violet refused.

  “It’s such a nice day, wouldn’t it be better to walk?” Besides, didn’t driving to the park kind of defeat the purpose of being outside and enjoying nature?

  “How far is it?” Travis asked.

  “Not far, Arc and I walk there together every day that I’m not working. She loves to chase the squirrels.”

  “Yeah Dad, let’s walk!” Violet was happy she found herself an ally, even if he came in a small package. As they walked Travis pointed out words he recognized on street signs and asked lots of questions about the plants and flowers they saw. Violet loved how engaged Rafe seemed as a father. He was different than she thought after their first meeting. As they entered the gates of the park, Travis took Arc and ran ahead leaving Violet and Rafe walking together in step.

  “You know a lot about plants and trees,” she said, immediately regretting how stupid the comment made her sound.

  “One of my mother’s hobbies is (was) horticulture. Growing up, she would drag Chloe and I to all sorts of plant shows and exhibits. Have you ever heard of the Corpse Flower?” he asked, as he scooped down and plucked a dandelion from the grass and handed it to her.

  Violet shook her head no, carefully placing the yellow flower behind her ear. The gesture so sweet, she had to force herself not to swoon. Damn he is charming, she thought. Even when he said the word corpse he made it sound alluring.

  “The Corpse Flower,” he continued. “is a plant with a huge, long stalk that runs down the center, it takes years to grow before its first bloom, and after that first bloom it could take years more to bloom again, if it ever does. When it blooms however, it is the most beautiful flower, yet it smells like death. Literal death, and when we were younger my mother was obsessed with the thing, and she would take us all over the country to see, and smell the blooms.” He laughed clearly thinking of the memory. Violet laughed with him.

  “I don’t know whether to think your mother was amazing for cultivating your interest in the world, or think it was some horrible punishment to drag you to see a flower that smelled like dead people over and over.”

  “It was a little bit of both, I think,” he replied, still laughing. “What about you, did your parents take you on any unusal (unusual)adventures when you were young?”

  The question was so innocent. A normal question that one person would ask another when they were getting to know each other, yet it made Violet cringe. It wasn’t that her childhood was unhappy. Her parents made sure she and her sister Ivy didn’t want for anything, except the one thing they wanted more than stuff or money, their parents attention and affection.

  “My parents weren’t around a lot when my sister and I were young. It’s a bit of a strained relationship.”

  “That’s sad. I’ve met your father, same social circles. He seemed like a hard man to get to know, were they working a lot when you were young?”

  “Honestly, you probably know more about my father than I do. All he did was work. The only interactions I remember having with him were financial, or health related. I was…well I was sick a lot, and I don’t think he had the patience for me. Then when I was older, I got better and I think he was angry when I decided that life was too short to be unhappy and I dropped out of law school. I think he wanted me to be like my sister, who is the perfect daughter, straight-A student, and now a high-powered attorney. But that wasn’t me. I would have been a horrible lawyer.” Violet never talked about her family, but something about Rafe, his openness and the way she witnessed him with Travis made her trust him, if only a little bit. She felt comfortable, much too comfortable for only their second meeting. She promised herself she would think about it more later, but right now she was going to try and relax and enjoy his company.

  Rafe spread out a picture perfect red and white checked blanket under a huge Magnolia tree, and Violet began unpacking the overstuffed basket filled with all sorts of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. “Wow you really packed for an army,” she said.

  “I think my cook, Mrs. Davis, got a little over excited. Plus we thought Chloe was joining us as well, and if you haven’t learned already, you soon will. My sister can eat three times her own weight in one sitting. She is a bottomless pit.”

  “Mrs. Davis? I heard you call the butler Davis the other day. Any relation?”

  “Yes, actually, they are married.” Violet laughed out loud, and Rafe gave her a curious look.

  “It’s just I couldn’t imagine that sour faced man being married to anyone, let alone a woman who prepared such a feast on what I have to assume was no notice.” Rafe appeared to think about it a minute, before responded. Violet hoped she hadn’t insulted him.

  “Now that you mention it, Davis is kind of sour-faced.” He smiled at her and they both laughed more.

  The rest of their afternoon passed in what Violet could only describe as a perfect showcase of companionship. They told more stories and laughed. Rafe helped teach Travis how to fly a kite as promised, but their lesson was cut short by an over eager Arc who ended up tangled in the string.

  As the sun began to set Violet couldn’t believe how late it had gotten. Travis was snuggled in her lap, and she casually brushed his hair out of his eyes. He was a sweet boy. He had his father’s dark, almost black hair and deep green eyes. His mouth was a perfect bud, with just a hint of dried chocolate in the corner. He looked so content, Violet’s heart pulled just a bit.

  “He’s pretty great,” she said to Rafe who was looking at his son, with such love.

  “Yeah, he really is. You know, I wasn’t around for the first part of his life. I didn’t even know he existed. Can you imagine that, not knowing you had a kid?” Violet couldn’t imagine, she wanted to know more but the faraway look in Rafe’s eyes made her think that might be a story for another time. She sat silently, allowing him to continue. “That’s why this stupid pretend marriage is so important to me. I have to be around now. He has no one else.”

  Rafe reached across Travis, and gently rubbed his finger on the corner of her lip. She blinked, unsure of what was happening. “What?”

  “Sorry, you had a little bit of chocolate on your cheek, right…” He touched her lip again, “here.” A shock of electricity ran through her starting right at the point where his finger met her mouth. She pushed down every urge she had to lick the spot where he touched, if only to see if any taste of him remained.

  For just a moment Violet allowed herself to imagine what it would be like if this were her family for real. This man, and his perfect son. She couldn’t fathom how any woman would walk away from Travis, or Rafe. But those were dangerous thoughts. She was no more than the hired help, and she couldn’t allow herself to forget that.

  It’s only a week, she thought. Surely she could make it a week, the only question was what would she lose in the process?

  Chapter Six

  Rafe tucked Travis into the car once they arrived back at Violet’s. It hadn’t been easy walking back carrying a sleeping six year old. Even after six months Rafe still hadn’t gotten used to how heavy a sleeping child could be.

  “He looks so peaceful,” Violet said as Rafe finished buckling him in. He took the offered, now empty picnic basket from Violet and set it on the seat beside him.

  “He really has changed my life, for the better,” he said, before adding. “Thank you again for coming along today. I know you didn’t feel up to it, but it was good for Travis to have you there.”

  “What will you tell him about us, you know, next week?” she asked. It was a question Rafe had been struggling with. He didn’t want to ever lie to Travis, and realizing he would have to enlist his son’s help in the ruse was something he hadn’t thought of. He kicked himself for not realizing that Travis could easily bring the whole house of cards down.

  “I don’t want him to lie, and Skylar Dennis already thinks my wife is his stepmother. I’m not sure what to do, actually.” He hated admitting weakness, but at this point any idea Violet could bring to the table might be better than what he had come up with, which was nothing.

  “Maybe we don’t tell him anything. We get along great, he is a terrific kid. All he needs to know is that I’m coming along on the trip. We can always cross any other bridge regarding our relationship when we come to it.”

  Rafe thought about it, and it was a reasonable solution. The kids would rarely be with the adults, Dennis had a slew of activities planned for them. And why would anyone even question it. He hated that this deal was making a liar out of him. It’s only one week, he thought. Then it will be over and our real life can begin.

  He didn’t realize how long he had been quiet until Violet put a hand on his shoulder. She stepped closer, and he felt the heat from her touch radiate down his arm. For the first time he really looked into her eyes and realized they weren’t the pure blue he had thought before, but rather a soft blue, with a hint of turquoise. That was what made him think of the ocean, yet there were small flecks of gold scattered throughout the blue as well. He found himself wanting to get lost in their depths. He felt his body leaning in closer to hers. This is insane, he thought and pulled away before he became too overwhelmed with the need to kiss her.

  “I better get him home,” he said. “Do you need anything else before the trip?” He knew that rapidly changing the subject was totally obvious, but he couldn’t risk what would happen if they stayed standing there without words filling the weighted silence between them. With the sun setting behind her, and after the day they had, Rafe didn’t think he would be able to stop himself from taking her into his arms if he didn’t step back.

  Violet looked flustered as well. Could it be possible that she wanted him too? It didn’t matter, they had a deal. A business arrangement, that didn’t involve anything like what he was thinking.

  “I have everything I need,” she finally said. “I’ll meet you at your house, Saturday morning?”

  “Yea, Saturday morning.” He said, suddenly realizing Saturday seemed so very far away.

  “Great, drive safe,” she added before walking into the apartment building. He told himself he watched her until she was indoors to ensure she got into the building safely, but Rafe knew that was a lie. He watched her because he couldn’t not watch her. In two short meetings Violet Chambers had gotten under his skin. Now Rafe worried about what she would do to him after spending the whole week together.

  * * *

  “I don’t know Ivy, maybe I should call the whole ridiculous thing off.” Violet paced her sister’s office. The plush oriental rug soft and comforting under her bare feet. She knew it drove Ivy crazy when she took her shoes off in the office, but Violet felt like she was in crisis mode, and her sister’s weird fascination with shoes was not her problem at the moment.

  “It’s a crazy idea for sure, Vi. But it is a lot of money, and you said he is doing it for a great reason.” Ivy, sat behind her mahogany desk, looking chic and put together with her ash blonde hair cut into a stylish bob, and her Navy business suit perfectly wrinkle free. Meanwhile Violet was a mess. Her hair hung down her back as loose as her too big jeans, and her Tulane sweatshirt had all kinds of stains and holes from being worn to the bone over the years in the studio.

  The two sisters could not be more different, yet whenever Violet needed to work through a problem it was Ivy whose calm, measured responses helped her to think.

  “It really is a great reason. You should meet his kid. Travis is smart, funny, and Arc loves him. Oh god, Arc. Are you sure you can take her for the week?”

  Her sister laughed. “Yes, of course, it’s not a problem at all. I already told David to expect her, and he is excited to not be home alone all week.” Ivy’s husband David was a work from home economics writer, and Violet suspected Ivy always willingly agreed to dog sit Arc more to convince David to get up and walk around during the day. She worried that he sat in front of his computer too long. “Now back to your handsome, single, wealthy employer for the week at a posh family estate on Jordan Lake. What are you worried about exactly?”

  How could Violet express what she was really worried about that she would totally get hooked on Rafe Benson, and he would laugh at her and she would walk away in ruins after an amazing, fairy tale week of pretending to be the perfect bride in a perfect family? She would end up alone, and before she agreed to such a stupid plan, that wasn’t an issue, but now, after one amazing picnic she wasn’t sure she could handle it? How could she tell Ivy any of that and not sound insane?

  “I’m not sure what I’m worried about,” she said. Chicken, she thought.