But then I saw Sienna Ford in that room and knew it had to be her.
I can’t say why this petite, almost fragile-looking girl draws me in. Why it had to be her from the second my eyes locked with hers, but I just knew. I couldn’t look at anyone else from the second my eyes landed on hers and now, I’m out of my depth.
Where the fuck do you start with a girl that looks like a frightened bird, eyes darting around the room and fidgeting like she'd rather be anywhere but here. Her hands are on her lap, knuckles white as she twists her fingers nervously. I watch thatslender neck visibly swallow and notice the rapid rise and fall of her chest with sexy tits pushing against the little dress that’s at least a size too small.
It doesn’t make sense, the instant attraction I feel for this woman.
And I need it to make sense.
What I am about to do is going to affect us both. I am going to live and sleep with this woman. I should know better than to let my heart and dick lead me into this decision instead of my head. Logically, I need a spouse who will be a match for me, almost an equal. In this world, you cannot afford to be sweet and…fragile.
Fuck, I'm running out of time as it is. I’m already one month into the three-month window I was given to find a bride. I've reviewed countless files, including those of women who already work for the casino but found no match. I also reviewed the paperwork of the new women but since those were created and filled out when the women arrived for the interviews, there wasn't much to go on. So I went into the conference room to see if any particular woman would catch my eye.
It makes no sense that it would be her. Her innocence and inexperience were written so plainly on her face. I doubt the girl has ever so much as kissed a man before. Fuck, she reminds me of a timid little rabbit and seated here, behind this desk—in a position of power that's always meant to intimidate—I feel every bit as a big bad wolf ready to gobble her up.
“Miss Ford.”
"Yes," she says, sitting up, her trembling hands evident even as she tries to hide them. “Sir?”
“Please, you don’t have to be nervous, whatever you’ve heard about me, it’s exaggerated,” I offer in an effort to put her at ease but despite the shaky smile she offers me, I can tell it doesn’t work. “How about you tell me about yourself and where you work now?"
“Um, I…well, I’m twenty-four. I mean, I turned twenty-four like two months ago, sorry,” she says, clearing her throat when it croaks a bit. “I’m a waitress but do a little costume-making on the side.”
"And why do you want to be an escort?"
A myriad of emotions flicker over her face and one of them, I realize, is caution. I wait for the lie she’s prepping to give me and realize that it would be a deal breaker to start our relationship with a lie. I don’t intend to lie to her and I would hate for her to do the same. I brace myself for the disappointment that will come with the lie but notice her expression turn resigned. “I need the money,” she admits, and I feel the tension in my chest ease up a bit. “My brother is sick, very sick and my family needs whatever money we can get to afford his medication and other expenses.”
“Perfect,” I say, impressed by her honesty. “Now about the position I want to offer you…”
“Yes?” she whispers, a little too eager as she leans forward.
“I want you to marry me.”
Sienna blinks up at me, for a second then another and I let the words float between us. “What?”
“Since you were honest with me, I will be honest with you in turn,” I say, leaning forward and linking my hands over the desk. “I am looking for a bride and I need to be married in two months. This is a condition that my old man left for me in orderto have full ownership of the casino. My wife will need to be pregnant by the end of the year.”
“W-what?”
“I want that to be you, Sienna Ford.”
"Wife, pregnant? Are you joking?"
Her eyes search mine, hoping for me to call this a joke and I can’t say I blame her. I felt the same way when I read my father’s letter. “Unfortunately, Miss Ford, I am not joking.”
“B-but, marriage?” She falls back against the chair and stares unseeingly ahead. “I don’t even know you. Or you, me.”
“We can learn about each other as we go.”
Sienna is silent for a long moment and I leave her, figuring she needs a little more time to process my proposition. When she finally responds, I am not surprised by her answer. “I’m sorry,” she says, shaking her head for good measure. “I can’t marry you. I’ve always wanted to marry for love and I…I don’t know you, much less love you.”
"Of course, that makes sense," I offer, even if it doesn't. Not to me at least. Attraction, lust and even mild affection, I can understand. But love? I've never cared to explore those emotions, uncertain I'll ever realize the feeling in this lifetime. No, that doesn't matter. It's definitely not needed for this marriage to work out. Just her signature on the marriage certificate and sex should seal the deal. Now the latter will not be a problem at all. Just looking at her makes my dick hard.
“I’m sorry I can’t…help. I guess I’ll leave.” Sienna starts to get up and I try not to look at how her dress pulls up to expose those milky thighs. That pale porcelain skin that I long to touch.
“I’ll pay off your family’s medical debt immediately,” I tell her, watching her eyes widen to saucers.
“Y-you don’t know how much it is.”
