Page 21 of Heartbeat

“Just wait until you see the art. Sasha is a genius!” Her eyes twinkled with excitement, and I’d never seen her smile so wide. I liked the look on her.

“Can’t wait.” I pulled our intertwined hands up to my lips and kissed her soft skin.

As soon as we entered, I automatically knew that this event was a more significant deal than Raven had let on. I recognized a few people from our wedding reception. A few of the Founder’s high society was here. Mr. and Mrs. LeClaire, and their middle daughter, Esme, who helped with our wedding. And although Ainslee and Jagger aren’t here, his mother is. I shook a few hands and kissed Mrs. Hanlon’s cheek. It was once again a who’s who of Founder’s Island.

Raven was working the room like the proverbial belle of the ball. My first impression of my wife had been sorely incorrect. I thought she was a wilting flower unless she was arguing with me. When I’ve seen her interact with her family, she’s usually in the background. She hides in the shadows trying not to draw attention to herself.

But tonight, she’s smiling and laughing. Raven looks like she’s genuinely enjoying herself. I’m watching my wife from across the room like a fucking stalker when her whole demeanor changes.

A tall man with reddish-blond hair was heading in her direction. Raven took a deep breath and pasted a fake smile on her face. I continued to watch the scene play out. I wasn’t familiar with the man, and he wasn’t a guest at the wedding, so I wasn’t sure who he was. The man approached Raven with a lazy gait. I recognized the look on his face because it was the same one I held last night, while I fucked my wife into oblivion. I scowled. That look on another motherfucker concerning my wife will surely get his ass kicked.

Before I could head in their direction, my brother popped up out of nowhere. He stood in my path, and I stared him the eyes. Sawyer and I were three years apart, but we looked like twins. However, where I had my mother’s blue eyes, he had our father’s green ones. We were identical in height, standing at six-three.

“You look like you’re about to beat the shit out of someone,” Sawyer quirked a teasing brow.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I questioned instead of moving his ass out of my way like I wanted to.

“I saw a few buildings that caught my eye. I thought I’d stick around for a while to see what real-estate investments I can make on the island. I have a few meetings with Oran Hale set-up,” Sawyer answered.

I figured as much. Sawyer was just like our father. Now that we had an in on Founder’s Island, Nash Industries would be able to make some investments. If Sawyer was already meeting with Oran, he was as good as gold. The Hale’s owned the majority of the real-estate on the island. Real-estate was a considerable business for my family, but I chose to invest my money in things that had nothing to do with my father. I thought I was safe.I was foolish.

“Are you here alone?” I questioned as a moved to the side of him so I could see my wife as she continued to carry on a conversation with the mystery man. They were standing close, so I could tell she was familiar with him.

“Yeah, Parker and Brady went back home. Mom and Dad are leaving in a few days,” he answered, breaking into my thoughts as he snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waitress.

I nodded, I knew my younger brothers, Parker and Brady, wouldn’t stay long. I was surprised they even came. Only my parents knew about the arrangement, but the way Sawyer was acting, I have a feeling he was told.

I was about to reply when the asshole that was talking to Raven stepped closer, crowding her before caressing her arm. I saw red. Red! I stormed across the room like a raging bull.

“Raven. Introduce me to your friend.” My demand was calm, and my smile was easy. And although Raven and I were still getting to know one another, I knew she could read my body language.

Raven stepped away from the man and put a calming hand on my chest. I stared over her head at the motherfucker, who dared to caress my wife in front of me. His smug smile made me want to beat the hell out of him.

“Baby?” Raven’s soft endearment garnered my attention. I looked down at her, and she smiled before standing on her toes and kissing me lightly on the lips. She rubbed my lips, wiping off the red color of her lipstick that had transferred to mine.

I licked my tongue out and swiped her finger before she pulled it away with a giggle. For a full minute, while I playfully teased my wife, I forgot I was about to kick someone’s ass. That is until he cleared his throat.

“Raven? Are you going to introduce me toyour friend?” The man asked, eye-fucking my wife. I was definitely going to off this asshole.

“Cullen McGregor, this is myhusband, Dr. Lennox Nash.” Raven wrapped her arm around my waist and smiled up at me. My body went rigid with tension.Did she just say, Cullen? The name she called out on our fucking wedding night?

CHAPTER 11

RAVEN

When Lennox froze at the mention of Cullen’s name, I knew something was wrong. But I had no idea what the problem was. I’m pretty sure that I had never mentioned Cullen to Lennox. Although I talked about my company to Lennox at length, I wasn’t specific when talking about clients. Especially the McGregor’s account.

I wouldn’t discuss his ass with anyone, I was still having nightmares about him calling and ruining my wedding. I’m not sure why I kept having that reoccurring dream, especially since the wedding already happened.

“Oh yeah, I forgot you got married.” Cullen was being his usual passive-aggressive self.

“I don’t know how you could forget something like that,” I responded with a tight smile. Lennox was still standing rigid at my side, not saying anything.

“Maybe, because I wasn’t invited,” Cullen stated with a hard glare.

“It was a private affair with family and friends. Business associates weren’t included,” I responded using the politically correct version of “why the fuck would I invite you?”

“Hmmm. I was under the impression our families were more than business associates.” I was perplexed by Cullen’s words. Our families definitely weren’t that close.

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