Marriage of inconvenience

Chapter 1

Autumn

There were three things that I knew to be true about Lexington Montgomery. 1. He had always been the most handsome guy you would ever have met, and unfortunately had never had to go through that awkward stage that everyone else did. 2. He was also the most arrogant and infuriating guy I had ever met, starting from when we were children. There were 6 months difference in our ages and Lex acted like it was 6 years. From the first day I can remember he had been an asshole, though nobody but me seemed to see this. To the rest of the world, he was charming and handsome but to me he was the devil in disguise. As young children he had stolen all my toys, pushed me over and pinched me when nobody was looking. As older children he had left me out of all the games he played with my siblings and on several occasions had hit me with mud or snow or found a puddle to push me in, though he claimed they were accidents. As teenagers he had stolen all my friends away with his good looks and flirting and had ensured that my entire life was miserable. And, just as I had thought I would be free of him at college, I had been forced to attend the same college as him. Which brings me to the third and most devastating thing that I knew to be true about Lexington Montgomery. That truth was that one day Lex would be my husband.
Neither of us wanted to be married to each other, but unfortunately, we had never had a choice. Lexington was the youngest child of Melissa and Clarke Montgomery, who were not only our closest neighbours but also my mother's best friend and my father's closest business partner/rival. My father had been looking for a way to combine the two businesses without either party becoming vulnerable. The perfect solution occurred when my mother became pregnant at the same time as Melissa Montgomery. Imagine my mother's surprise when she gave birth to not one daughter, but three. That's right, I was born a triplet and had the shitty luck of being the chosen bride for Lex. It made no sense and I had tried arguing this with my parents from the day I had found out about their plans for us. I had two sisters who would be perfect wives to Lex. They were everything I was not and better than that, they actually liked him. Hell, if we were looking for women who actually wanted to be married to Lex then my cousin Amelia would be perfect. She has been in love with Lex half her life and seemed to have an obsession with him that bordered on stalking. I was actually surprised she hadn't attempted to kill me yet just so she could have him to herself though, as far as I knew, she was one of the only women Lex hadn't slept with.
You might be wondering why I am dwelling on this now when the betrothal has been in place for the last 25 years. Well, that would be because today is my 25th birthday, which also marks the day that I can officially become engaged to Lex and the day that my life will change forever. I'm hoping that Lex takes his sweet time asking me, but I don't hold out much hope. I may also be dwelling on the betrothal and my shitty luck because I arrived home from an already tough day, to discover that my father had issued a demand through text to join them that evening for a meal. I knew what that meant, a ring was imminent. It was the last thing I wanted after the day I'd had, not that my family would understand. Ever since I turned 18, I had volunteered at a home for children who had been through trauma and had nobody to turn to. Some were kids in care who had nobody to look after them and needed corporate parents. Others were children who needed a time out from their family as they had nobody who understood what they had gone through. I loved my job, but I knew that there was absolutely no way that my family would understand or would allow me to work there if they knew. For one thing my job could occasionally be dangerous, particularly if we had a volatile child, a disgruntled family member or if narcotics were involved. For another, my family would be horrified that their daughter was doing something 'below her station', their words not mine. The one time I had approached my father about studying to be a social worker he had laughed me out of his office and told me that I had no need to work, for my husband would do that while I raised our children. I never approached the subject again. Instead, I worked a second job that only my sister Summer knew about, and that was only because she did a similar job supporting women in a shelter. To the rest of the family, I appeared to be a frivolous waste of space, with a semi-successful nightclub. Summer and I had bought the nightclub together as an excuse for being out of communication, even we were surprised at how successful it had become.
I was distracted from my thoughts at the sound of my phone ringing and braced myself for it to be my father calling to demand my presence. I was relieved to see that it was Summer and answered immediately. Out of my sisters, Summer was the one I was closest with. It wasn't that I didn't get on with Wynter, but she just didn't understand me the way Summer did. We had similar lives. Both Summer and I longed to work with the underprivileged and help those less fortunate than ourselves, and both of us had been engaged for as long as we could remember in order to help the family. Wynter had never had this expectation forced on her and had followed the direction our parents had wanted for her. She had been a successful model since she was 14 years old and had become the picture of the perfect daughter.
"How are you doing? I heard about Jacob," were the first words out of Summer's mouth and I breathed out a sigh of regret.
Jacob was one of the children from the home I was currently working in. There were 4 children, all teenagers, and all had been there for several months. I had thought we were making progress with them all but Jacob especially. He had come to us when his mother had chosen his abusive stepfather over him, and he had finally come to terms with the fact that he wasn't to blame and had appeared to be overcoming his trauma. All it had taken was one call from his mum to destroy all the progress we had made. Jacob had an episode of crisis behaviour and couldn't distinguish his trauma from his mum from us. He had lashed out and unfortunately a staff member had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and had fallen, straight into a mirror that had shattered and injured both of us. Stricken by the sight of blood and seemingly ashamed of what had occurred Jacob had run, and we had spent the rest of the shift out looking for him to no avail. Luckily the injuries were minor and aside from a bandage on my wrist I was fine. The other staff member had required a couple of stitches but was also fine. Jacob however was likely scared and more traumatised than ever, putting our progress back several weeks.
"I'm just hoping he's okay. They're still out looking for him and I would have been too if it wasn't for this thing tonight," I said on a sigh as I headed to my room to change out of the casual clothes I wore around the kids and into something more formal.
"I can go out looking for a bit if you want before I check on the club. What thing do you have tonight? I had thought we could go for a few drinks later," Summer said in a distracted tone, and I froze, in the process of zipping up a classic little black dress.
"What do you mean what thing? Didn't you receive the text from dad?" I asked as dread pooled in the pit of my stomach.
"What are you talking about? I haven't heard a thing from dad," my sister said, and I had to sit on the bed and a wave of nausea flowed through me and I realised that my day was about to get exponentially worse. If I had been invited for dinner and my sister hadn't there could only be one reason why and despite knowing this day was coming, I wasn't ready for it. Summer appeared to come to the same conclusion as me, as she suddenly sucked in a breath.
"Oh my god. You don't think tonight is the night?" she hissed, and it was my turn to sigh. Unfortunately, I did think that tonight was the night.

An hour later I entered my father's house to be greeted by my worst nightmare. It became obvious why my sisters hadn't been invited when I was shown to the lounge and discovered my mother and father deep in conversation with Melissa and Clarke Montgomery. Of Lex there was no sign, but I had no doubt he was lurking somewhere close by, probably balls deep inside one of the staff. I doubted he would refrain from sleeping from someone simply because he was about to be engaged, if anything that fact may urge him on.
"Ah, Autumn, there you are. We were starting to think you weren't going to show,' my father boomed, and I offered a tight smile as all heads swivelled my way. Then there were the obligatory hugs and kisses as my mother and Melissa greeted me.
"You look more gorgeous every time I see you," Melissa stated, and I offered a polite smile.
"Lex is in the study taking an important call. Why don't you go and fetch him? Tell him dinner is ready," my father suggested while my mother gave a secretive smile.
"Perhaps tell him that we will have champagne waiting," she said. Her and Melissa beamed at each other, and I smothered a grimace. God, I hoped we didn't need champagne.
Instead of arguing, I simply followed instruction and headed to my father's study. I hesitated for a moment outside and heard the low murmur of a voice. Steeling myself I knocked on the door and slowly opened it to find Lex pacing back and forth in front of the large wooden desk. He waved me in absently and continued with his call while I shut the door and plonked myself on my father's leather sofa while I watched Lex and waited for him to be done. God, it was so unfair that Lex looked more handsome every time I saw him. He was wearing a suit and should have looked ridiculous but instead he looked gorgeous, and I had no doubt that my sister's and any other female who saw him would have been swooning at the sight. Instead of being filled with lust at the sight of him, okay maybe there was a little, I was filled with anger at the thought that I should have been out looking for a vulnerable teenage boy and not stuck here waiting for Lex to even bother noticing my existence. Instead of sitting and waiting to be noticed I dug my phone out of my clutch and checked for any messages regarding the search and dug through a couple of emails regarding the club. It was only as I was responding to a supplier that I became aware of the silence in the room and glanced up to find Lex leaning against the desk as he observed me. I finished my email, sent it and returned the phone to my bag as I raised my head to stare right back at Lex who continued to peruse me like I was a piece of art he was examining for flaws.
"Problem?" I questioned with a placid smile and a head tilt. His steel grey eyes narrowed on me, and I fought to maintain the same expression.
"Several problems," he countered in that deep timber of his and I arched a brow as I adopted what I hoped was a sympathetic expression.
"Well, I only came in to let you know that dinner is ready," I informed him as I stood slowly to my feet and brushed non-existent dirt off my dress skirt before turning for the door.
"Not so fast Aut," he said, and I felt his hand catch my wrist to spin me back to face him. I tried to keep the annoyance out of my face and maintain my placid expression, I knew from experience that any sign of anger or a challenge made Lex ten times more difficult to handle. He thrived on a challenge, however when I gave him indifference it got under his skin.
"You needed something?" I asked with that same fake smile, refusing to acknowledge that he held me in his grip. He cursed under his breath and ran a hand through his dark hair that was growing slightly too long. I was surprised his mother hadn't insisted on a haircut before he arrived here.
"I need you to give me a break here," he said, and I tilted my head with that same smile.
"I'm sorry?"
"You will be sorry if you don't stop with this bullshit and acknowledge what tonight is," he growled. Honest to goodness growled.
"Tonight?" I asked sweetly. His eyes flashed and I fought not to give a triumphant smile at getting under his skin.
"It's your 25th birthday," he reminded me.
"Ah, so it is. Wynter and Summer's too if I recall," I said, and he closed his eyes for a couple of seconds while he apparently counted to three under his breath.
"I don't think they're the ones expected to get engaged tonight," he pointed out and my smile dropped away.
"If that was a proposal then it sucked," I informed him. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair again.
"I swear that you are the most infuriating woman I have ever encountered," he told me, and I hid a real smile at that.
"Can I go now?" I asked and he took several steps forward. I backed up immediately and found myself pressed against the wall while he trapped me there with his arms on either side of me. I narrowed my eyes at his bullshit intimidation tactic and was rewarded with a slight smile from him.
"You can go when my ring is on your finger and you acknowledge that this wedding is happening," he told me. He was so close that his minty breath brushed my lips, and I hated the part of me that was curious what they would feel like against my own.
"What wedding?" I asked playing the dumb blonde and his eyes narrowed further.
"Ours, Aut. Yours and mine," he stated, and I was sure it wasn't my imagination that he had moved closer.
"Ours?" I repeated and his smile deepened into a devilish smirk that did annoying things to my girly parts, though I would never admit that to anyone.
"We are getting engaged tonight, Autumn. We are having an engagement party in two weeks and a month from today we will be married. You will be my wife," he informed me, and my eyes widened at the information. No, no, no. This timeline wasn't supposed to happen. I was supposed to have months before we even thought of a wedding.
"We can't get married in a month," I insisted, and I was sure that I wasn't doing a good job of hiding how panicked I felt.
"We are getting married in a month," he corrected.
"No," I whispered, and he gave that lopsided smirk to me, even as I felt a coolness on my left hand, on my finger to be precise.
"We are engaged, and we will be married in a month," Lex told me while I stared in horror at the engagement ring he had placed on my ring finger. Don't get me wrong, it was gorgeous and obviously expensive, but I didn't want any ring or any engagement.
"I need some time," I pleaded as my gaze lifted to his face once more. His eyes appeared to soften for a second, but I knew it must have been my imagination, even as his hand reached up to push a lock of my hair behind my ear.
"You've had 25 years," he said and before I could protest more, his dark head descended, and his lips claimed mine. I would love to say that I fought and pushed him away or that it was the worst kiss I had ever had. Unfortunately, I would be lying. It was the best kiss I'd ever had, and I didn't even try to push him away. His lips were firm but softened after a few seconds and coaxed my lips open so that his tongue could tangle with mine. It was sensual and rough and sweet and punishing all at once. I couldn't get enough and was shamed when a moan of desire broke free. Lex took his time pulling back and by the time he did I could have sworn I was a puddle of goo on the floor. Damn him!
Lex pressed one last kiss to my lips even as a husky chuckle escaped him.
"I knew we would be dynamite together," he stated, and I decided I had never hated him more.
It was as I went to make a dramatic exit that I realised my mistake. Lex went to stop me and this time he caught my injured wrist. I gasped in pain before I could stop myself and his eyes widened. He immediately let go of my wrist, but the damage had been done. He hadn't been holding me tightly and I had been in pain. He had connected the dots, and I knew that couldn't mean anything good. Sure enough, before I could even think of leaving, he had pushed my sleeve up and was staring at the bandage before those steely eyes of his rose to meet mine.
"What the fuck happened?" he demanded. I tried to laugh it off and pull my arm back, but he refused to let go.
"Just a silly accident. Now let me go," I insisted. He let me go as requested but instead of backing away he moved closer.
"You're lying. Tell me who did this," he demanded. I pursed my lips and refused to say another word. "I will find out," he warned. Still, I refused to speak, and he slowly nodded as though he recognised that I would not give him what he wanted. I expected him to continue asking but he surprised me by rolling my sleeve back down my arm and opening the door before gesturing that I should walk ahead of him. I was thoroughly confused. What was he up to?
Lex led us to the formal dining room where the parents were all waiting with flutes of champagne and big smiles on their faces. As soon as they saw me the mothers' gazes went to my left hand, and they gave a squeal of excitement while the fathers' shared a satisfied smile.
"Congratulations," Melissa said as she grabbed me in a hug before releasing me so she could give Lex the same treatment.
"Champagne," my mother stated as she handed us both a flute. I practically downed mine in one gulp then gasped as I felt Lex thread his fingers through my free hand.
"I'm sorry but we're going to have to skip dinner. We wanted to celebrate privately," Lex said smoothly and the mothers' swooned as he raised our joined hands and placed a kiss on my fingers.
"Of course. Big night for the two of you. But don't forget we all get to celebrate in two weeks' time," my father said, and I offered a tight smile. I would have argued with Lex's decision that we needed time alone to celebrate but I wanted to get out of there as much as he did. Instead, I accepted the hugs, kisses, and congratulations until finally we were free and able to leave the house.
I heaved a sigh of relief as the heavy door shut behind us and tried to free my hand from Lex so I could get in my car and leave but to my surprise he refused to let me go.
"You can let me go now," I said sharply but he simply smiled as he began tugging me towards his car and away from my own.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? I have my own car and I have places to be," I hissed as I tried to tug my hand free but to no avail. When he refused to release me, I began to struggle in earnest and heard him give an annoyed sigh before he released my hand. Unfortunately, I didn't get chance to move away as I instead found myself thrown over his shoulder in a very undignified manner.
"Let me go!" I screeched and as if it couldn't get any worse, I felt his hand spank me. Worse, I liked it.
In a matter of seconds, we reached his car, and he shoved me inside then crouched down to look me in the eyes while I resisted the urge to punch him in the nose.
"Here's the deal sweetheart. I am driving you back to your place and you are going to tell me what the hell happened to your wrist," he informed me.
"Or what?" I said childishly and he laughed softly.
"Or I will have to find the answers myself and I don't think you would like my way of doing that," he told me.
"What way is that?" I demanded, expecting him to employ dirty tactics but I wasn't expecting his actual answer.
"I can have bodyguards on you day and night starting now, and an investigator look into everything you've been doing lately. Or you can tell me what happened," he said, and my shoulders slumped in defeat.
"You win!" I stated as I faced forward so I could ignore his smug grin. I was sure that I could think of a plausible story on the drive to my house. I was damned if I would tell him the truth.