Echoes & Ink: Raven by Emily Rose
Chapter Fourteen
SLOAN
“What’s got you grinning like a fool, boy?” my grandfather, Martin Lincoln, demands, drawing my attention. I look up from my spot at the conference room table, where we’re all meeting to go over the monthly reports.
“I want to know why you’re sitting on a bag of peas,” my father says, taking me in as he comes in behind my grandfather. “You piss off your sister again?”
I smirk. “Nope. Different crazy woman this time.”
My father chuckles and my grandfather shakes his head. If you put the three of us together, it’s like a time lapse to how looks change with age through each generation. The only difference is I have my mother’s eyes instead of my father’s silvery ones. Plus I have an extra inch over both of them.
“You got a habit of that, boy,” Dad remarks in amusement. “I have my doubts I’ll be getting grandchildren from you at this rate.”
I roll my eyes. “She sent me the peas as an apology of sorts so I took a picture with it,” I explain. “My boys are in perfect working order.”
“She sent you a bag of peas after kneeing you in the balls?” Grandpa asks in surprise.
“That and a warning to hold on to them for future use,” I grin.
“Who is this girl?” Grandpa asks. “Sounds like a real ball buster.” Then he laughs at his terrible pun.
Dad looks at me curiously. Before I can answer, the conference room door opens and Maverick and Asa walk in, laughing about something. Maverick is two years younger than me and our CFO. He’s an inch shorter than I am, and has our father’s dark hair and the same silvery eyes, but where I sport a beard, he prefers to be clean-shaven. The asshole hates to have anything on his face..
Asa, on the other hand, looks like our mother, but with the Lincoln jawline. He has our mother’s honey blonde hair and blue eyes, and he’s our resident jokester. Probably why he does so well with the marketing department. He’s the kind of guy you initially think would goof off at his job, but he’s just as focused as the rest of us. Behind those laughing eyes is a genius brain that has spearheaded some of our biggest, and most profitable, marketing campaigns.
Both of them stop when they see us, and like Dad and Grandpa, they zero in on the bag of peas I’m currently sitting on. “Pissed off Ash again, huh?” Asa snickers.
“Nope.”
They sit in their seats and look at me in surprise. “Who was it then?” Maverick demands.
“I bet it was Mabel,” Asa announces. “You finally made her snap, didn’t you?”
I roll my eyes. “No. I pissed off Raven.”
Every man in the room winces and gives me a sympathetic look. It’s no secret Raven is feared in our family. The same way Ash is, but where Ash will just not talk to us or pull a prank, Raven has an edge to her that makes you wonder if she’ll murder you in your sleep if you piss her off. Probably why I’m so attracted to her. “What did you do?” Maverick asks.
“Called her a pet name and kissed her,” I say honestly. Silence echoes in the room at my statement. You can almost hear crickets.
“Say what now?” Maverick gapes at me. “You kissed Raven?”
“When did this whole relationship start?” Dad asks. “And does your mother know about this? Because I’m not about to be sitting on a bag of peas myself when I tell her and she’s surprised.”
I laugh. I explain the social worker situation, and the plan for our fake relationship. I leave out anything to do with Raven’s past and the background check, because that’s not something I’m about to share with them. When I’m finished, Maverick and Asa are grinning like idiots, and my father is chuckling. Grandpa is the only silent one, though his eyes are bright with mirth. “I was being funny and calling her pet names, she doesn’t like those by the way, and I kissed her.”
“And she kneed you in the balls because of it,” Dad summarizes. “I don’t know whether to call you brilliant or a dumbass. I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Better buy stock in an ice company,” Asa laughs. “Sounds like you’re going to need it.”
“If you need to, call the lawyers and have them handle things if it gets to be too much,” Dad offers.
“I will if it comes to that,” I agree. “But for now, I think we’ve got it handled.”
Grandpa chuckles. “We all say that until they have us by the balls, boy. Now, enough about women and lets get down to what we’re here for so I can get back to my day. I got a special lady waiting on me.”
Dad looks at Grandpa curiously. “You seeing someone, Dad?” he asks.
“My equipment still works just fine, son,” Grandpa smirks. “They make these little blue pills that make me ready to go for—”
“I get it,” Dad interjects quickly, holding up his hand. Grandpa winks at us and we all hold back our grins. He loves to rile our father up. Knowing him, the lady he’s going to see is some sweet grandmotherly type that’s more into cooking for him than getting crazy between the sheets. “Let’s get to it,” Dad orders.
By the time we finish our meeting, I’m in good spirits and ready to head out for the day. I glance at the clock and note it’s already four. Normally I’m here until well past six, but not today. Mabel is packing up her things when I reach my office. “I’m heading out myself,” I inform her.
She stops and looks at me in surprise. “You are?” she asks. “Are you ill, Mr. Lincoln?”
I chuckle. “No, just caught up and have some errands to run.” And a certain lady to see, though I don’t add that.
She nods. “Alright. I’ll be a bit late tomorrow morning,” she reminds me. “I have an appointment. Should be here by nine. Oh, your mother and sister are waiting for you in your office,” she adds with a smirk before she walks away.
Shit.Wanna bet on why they’re here, and why I got no warning? I grab my phone and immediately send a group text to Asa and Maverick.
Me: Which one of you assholes told Mom and Ash?
Maverick: Wasn’t me.
Asa: Me either. Though now I’m heading down to your office to watch the fireworks.
My father and grandfather definitely didn’t tell them since they never have their cellphones when they’re in a meeting. Maybe they’re here for something else, I think as I make my way to my closed office door.
Walking in, Ash is sitting behind my desk, and Mom is on the couch with Knox sleeping in her arms. It’s only been a couple days since I’ve seen him, and he’s already grown like a weed. Damn. I shut the door softly so as not to wake him.
“Sloan,” Ash greets.
“Little sister,” I return, knowing how much she hates when I call her that. I smile at my mother. “Hey, Mom. What are you guys doing here?”
“What’s this about you and Raven being in a relationship?” Ash demands, getting right to the heart of why they’re here.
I look over at her and arch a brow at her question. Shit, so that is why they’re here. “How did you hear that?” I ask.
“Wolf texted Ember, who texted me,” Ash answers. “Something the two of you cooking up a fake relationship. What the hell is going on? When I left yesterday, everything was fine. Is that why you asked me for her number?”
“Ash,” my mother says calmly. “Let him speak and I’m sure he’ll answer your questions.” She arches a brow at me expectantly.
Raven must have told the guys at the shop and now it’s made its way through the girl squad. Guess I should have gotten a cup after all. My poor balls don’t need to be any further bruised if they don’t like my reasoning.
I explain it to them, leaving out the background check and the knee to the balls. By the time I’m finished Ash looks shocked, and Mom looks intrigued. True to form, though, Ash isn’t sold on the idea.
“Are you sure this is a good idea, Sloan?” she asks, concern clear. “I mean, this could end badly for everyone if shit goes sideways.”
“We’ll be fine,” I say with a wave of my hand, dismissing her concerns.
“Oh is that right?” Ash sneers. “What happens if one of you falls for the other, huh? I don’t want to be drying tears because she breaks your heart. Or you break hers.”
“Neither of us is going to break the other’s heart,” I scoff. “This is a fake relationship, Ash. We’re not going out on dates, we’re not doing the whole PDA thing, it’s just us working together to get the social worker off her back.”
Ash looks doubtful but gives a slow nod. Mom gets my attention when she asks, “Why is the social worker on her case? I would think they would be happy to have Falcon’ own family looking after him.”
I shrug. The question has plagued me, but the only thing I can think of is Ms. Liscumb is judgemental to anyone who doesn’t have an office job in a big building. “Whatever her reasoning, she’s making Raven’s life difficult. I can help, so I’m going to. I’m not always an asshole,” I add with a pointed look at my sister.
Ash rolls her eyes. “Yes, you are,” she retorts, “but you’re also a good guy, so I’m not surprised you’re helping her. I just know Raven’s not the type to accept help easily. She’s been through way too much.”
I zero in on that statement. “She told you that?” I ask in what I hope is a casual voice.
Ash looks at me, and I see the knowledge flash in her eyes, but she just says, “I know bits and pieces. She’s very private about her past, so don’t go poking around.” The pointed glare isn’t lost on me.
“Not planning on it,” I answer, trying not to feel guilty about the report I had requested.
Ash nods, seeming to accept my words for what they are. She opens her mouth to say something else, but my office door bursts open and the rest of my family make their way inside. “Hand him over,” my father orders my mother, walking towards the couch, arms outstretched.
Mom rolls her eyes. “I think you meant to say hello to me and your daughter,” she says pointedly.
Dutifully, Dad says hello to Ash, gives Mom a quick, hard kiss, and then snatches the baby out of her arms to cuddle him against his chest. “So has our son told you about this new relationship of his?” Dad asks with an amused grin.
“He has,” Mom answers. She looks back at me. “I think Raven needs a friend in this, Sloan, and if you’re going to be that person, then good for you. And I mean, if you just so happen to fall in love, even better.”
I skewer her with a hard look. “No one is falling in love here, Mom,” I remind her as patiently as I can.
She waves that off. “Fine, fine, if you say so. Just don’t ignore it if it happens. Though, maybe it will just be sex and not more.”
I’m used to my mother by now, but Ash still curses under her breath and glares at Mom. Mom and Dad have the kind of relationship I want for myself. I won’t settle for less, even if that includes embarrassing mentions about their sex life. Or walking in on them regularly. That I could do without, but I won’t lie and say I’m not happy their relationship is still strong and hasn’t dwindled into comfortable convenience.
“He did kiss her,” Asa chirps in helpfully, making me glare at him. Damn it.
“He did what?” Ash barks, looking at me sharply, eyes wide. “You kissed Raven?”
I open my mouth to answer, but Maverick butts in, “She kneed him in the balls for it apparently, so I think Sloan’s lost his touch with the ladies.”
Everyone snickers and I roll my eyes. “She kissed me back,” I tell them smugly. “But that’s between her and me, not you clowns.”
“Sloan,” Ash says, concern in her voice.
“No,” I interrupt firmly. “I know you’re concerned Ash, but me and Raven, we have things under control. Mom, don’t pick out wedding china, because it’s not going to happen. Now, I have shit to do, so I’m heading out.”
“Are you going to see Raven?” Mom asks me, smiling coyly.
“The boy is looking to get his balls tickled again, so he’s not thinking with the big brain right now,” Grandpa snickers.
It’s probably not very respectful to flip off your grandfather, but sometimes the occasion calls for it. He just grins, not the least bit offended. “Whatever happened to you needing to meet up with your special lady friend, Grandpa?” I ask him pointedly.
He glances at his watch. “I still got a few minutes. Enough to see my namesake, so hand him over, son,” he adds to Dad, who reluctantly does as ordered.
“Wait, Grandpa, you have a lady friend?” Ash says, surprise and delight covering her face.
Glad that Ash has a new target for her questions, I smirk at my father and head for the door. Maverick and Asa are snickering as I make my escape.
By the time I make it down to my SUV, I’ve already got a destination in mind. I’m half tempted to stop and get some flowers just to really make a scene, but I’m probably asking for trouble. I might be an asshole, but I’m attached to my family jewels.