RAVEN.

“Black, no sugar,” a deep masculine voice from the front of the line pulled me back to earth.

Dad called during a case meeting, asking me to join them for lunch, and since then, I’ve tripped twice, presented a wrong case file, and lost myself to thoughts in different places, including the coffee shop I was in.

We never ate out together unless they had an announcement or a request and what this was for, I couldn’t say. So, all afternoon, I consumed more caffeine than I had in a month, “Ma’am, can I take your order?”

I forced a smile at the barista and nodded, “A latte, please.”

I took my drink, exited the shop, and turned in the direction of the restaurant where my parents asked me to meet them.

A sigh escaped my lips as I tipped the cup and coffee slid to the back of my throat. I barely swallowed it before I collided with a hard chest, sending my cup to the ground and coffee all over the owner’s expensive-looking shoes.

“Shit, I’m so…”

“Watch where you're going, lady,” a thick voice similar to what I heard back at the coffee shop cut me off.

“Excuse me?” I let out a dry laugh. “I’m sorry about this, but you bumped into me. Not the other way around.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Really.”

“I do not have time for this, Miss, but maybe take your coffee in the shop, at the side of the road, or at least keep your eyes open while doing so.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do, okay? It looks like you’d be able to afford it, so why don’t you go buy yourself some manners? Have a good day.”

With one last demeaning scowl at me, he took off.

“What a dick.”

I made it to the restaurant with little caffeine in my system, which made me swear at the hot stranger some more.

“Hey, Dad. Hi, Mom,” I greeted them with kisses and sat across from them.

My dad got right to the matter as I sat down.

“Raven, we called you here to let you know that we’ve found you a match.”

I sighed in relief. “I’m not dating right now, Dad. Chad and I have only been separated for a while, and I’m focusing on other things. But thank you for looking out for me.”

My mom gave me a sad smile. Before she spoke. “We found you a husband, dear.”

“What?!”

“Yes,” my dad said. “It’ll benefit everyone involved.”

“You want me to marry a stranger?”

“Kaden Hawksworth is hardly a stranger to us.”

Hawksworth? Like Hawksworth Jewels and Automobiles? The largest enterprise in Manhattan, New York?

I only remember his grandfather from a charity event my parents asked me to attend with them. Not Kaden.

“Dad, I don't see how marriage will benefit me or them. This is not the sixties where marriages are arranged. I’m not doing it.”

My parents looked at each other before turning back to me.

“What are you not telling me?”

“We have to do this, dear. We don’t have a choice.”

“Why? Are we in debt?” I asked wide-eyed.

“Not exactly.”

“What does that mean?”

“We owe the Hawksworths a favor.”

Mom took over. “Our company is in a good place right now, dear. If we want to keep it that way, we have to do this. Please understand. If there was another way, we wouldn’t have asked.”

I pressed a hand to my head to ease the forming migraine.

“Raven, dear,” Mom called. “The wedding is in a week.”

“Wow.” I couldn’t be any more surprised or angry.

“It’s for the best,” Dad said.

“When do I get to meet this Kaden at least?” The name made my body twitch.

“He’s joining us in a few minutes.”

“You seem to have decided for me already. It’s not enough that you want me to marry someone I do not know, it’s that you also ambushed me with lunch. I thought we were catching up.”

“We have to speed things up. We’re sorry, Raven,” Mom said.

“Are you? Or are you guys afraid I’ll refuse if you don’t?”

Dad cautioned me with his eyes.

“Or is it Kaden that will reject this union? Because I honestly don’t see what benefit me or your small jewel company can provide for him and his family.”

“You’re right, but I will certainly be going through with this wedding, Miss,” a deep velvety voice jolted me from behind.

An oddly familiar one.

I snapped my head around to meet a pair of dark brown eyes, furrowed brows, and coffee-spilled shoes glaring pointedly at me.

“You?!” I almost screamed.

“Have you two met?” I could hear the confusion in Mom’s voice.

“Hardly,” I said with a croak when I found my voice.

“I’m Kaden Hawksworth. It’s nice to meet you,” he said to me.

When I didn’t respond, he took a seat beside me and continued.

“I can’t stay for long. I just came to drop this off.” He pulled a small box from his pants pocket and practically tossed it on the table. “It’s the engagement ring.”

“Thank you, Kaden,” Mom said, somewhat solemnly when I didn't respond.

“The wedding and reception is in a week. Chalamet Barn at 10 AM. Don’t be late. A dress will be sent to you tomorrow…”

“I can afford my own clothes, thank you very much,” I said through the lump in my throat.

Kaden gave a tight nod.

With that, the table fell silent as the waiters brought more wine and menus for lunch.

Unease filled my stomach as my mind wandered in different directions. What favor did Kaden’s family offer my parents that measured up to my freedom?

What kind of a person was Kaden? Why did I feel like I already had that answer?

As my eyes fell on the black ring box that remained untouched on the table, I asked myself, “How did I go from heartbroken to engaged in a space of minutes?”