“Good. Come out with me. Be my date to a benefit. We’ll dress up, drink champagne, eat appetizers, and afterward I’ll take you to sushi.”

“Um.”

“Too late. You already agreed.”

“Um is not agreement. What benefit is this?”

“It’s a museum benefit. Daisy will be there. Levi too.”

“I’m not really benefit date material, Jonah.”

“Bullshit. You’re beautiful. I know you can dress up. Don’t forget I saw you all fancified Monday night. You don’t pick your nose or spit on the floor. You are indeed benefit date material.”

Against her better judgment she accepted it in her head. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to drill him for more information and make him work for it. “Is it like formal?”

“I sent you something. I’d bring it myself but I have a meeting in a few minutes and then tomorrow I’ll be slammed all day and into the evening. It’ll arrive at the shop since I didn’t want it sitting around on your doorstep all day.”

“What did you do?”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re a very suspicious woman? It’s a dress. I saw it and I wanted to see you in it. Wear it for me and I’ll show you why doing what I tell you to is always in your best interests.”

“I don’t know, Jonah. I’m not much for society stuff.”

“I know you like art. I know you like me. I know you like doing some good. I already bought the tickets. I already have a driver. I already bought the dress. Oh, and some shoes. It’ll be fun.”

“You have a strange idea of fun.”

“I want you there with me. This is important to me.”

She sighed. “All right.”

She knew he was grinning, though she couldn’t see his face. “I’ll pick you up at seven. We’ll get drinks first with Levi and Daisy.”

“Okay.”

“See how easy that was?”

“Hm.”

“You know what that sound does to me.” He paused a moment. “You doing okay? I miss you.”

“You just saw me on Monday.”

“But that was three days ago.”

She smiled, flattered. “Yes, well. I’m good. Busy. Worked ten hours today so my back is killing me and my wrist is messed up. You all right?”

“Better now. I’m talking to Carrie later on tonight. I like to catch her first thing in the morning, before her classes start. She’s actually off to Paris in a few days so I want to check in.”

“Have a good talk with her.” She knew he missed his daughter.

“I will. Sweet dreams. I’ll see you in a few days.”

He hung up and she was still smiling to herself when she went inside nearly an hour later.

Jonah stood when his mother approached their table. He pulled her chair out and then settled, ordering her a glass of wine.

“You look handsome today.”

Of the brothers, Jonah was closest with his mother. Mainly because she’d tried to break him multiple times as he was growing up and she’d never succeeded. She liked to make a joke that he was the most stubborn being she’d ever known, but really, all she had to do was look in the mirror. He came by it honestly.

Still, she could be a stone-cold bitch and a pain in the ass, especially when it came to how people might perceive what her sons did and how that might reflect on the family and their position.

“Thank you. Carrie gave me the tie for Father’s Day last year.”

“She’s got good taste. Thank heaven she takes after you and not her stupid twit of a mother.”

“So.” He moved on, not wanting to get into a bash-Charlotte conversation. It wasn’t that he still cared, but that he didn’t. He didn’t want to spend any time on her. “I’m seeing someone.” He figured it was best to just get it out there. Not present it like it was an issue, but a done deal. He was mainly telling her because he wanted to answer in the affirmative if Raven asked if he’d told his family about them.

His mother gave him a look as the wine was delivered to the table. “Do I know her?”

“No.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Well, stop evading. Did you get some girl pregnant or something?”

He laughed and they held off discussing it further until after they’d ordered.

“I know how to use birth control and I wasn’t evading. I’d only gotten a few sentences in. No you don’t know her. Her name is Raven. She’s an artist.”

“An artist? Well, with a name like Raven I guess that’s appropriate. Who does this girl come from? Where did you meet her? She’s not twenty or anything, is she?”

Jonah laughed. Everything was going to be just fine.

She gave herself one last look in the mirror on her way to the door. The dress he’d sent, she had to admit, was perfection. Black. Simple but elegant.

She’d worried her ink would show too much, but the sleeves, though sheer, gave her enough cover to feel comfortable and yet not that he’d wanted her to hide.

The bodice had pretty beading to add some shimmer, but not so much it looked tacky or shouted “hey, look at my boobs.” Though the cut was generous, she also wasn’t concerned she’d be having a wardrobe malfunction. It was figure hugging without being tight.

The material was gorgeous. The dress was really well made. It was clear he’d paid a pretty penny for it. But at the same time, also clear he’d really given thought to what her personal style was.

In short, instead of feeling bought and paid for, she felt treasured. Spoiled even.

She’d done her hair in a chignon at the base of her skull. One of the first hairstyles she’d learned when she came out to Los Angeles and one she had used time and again.

He’d also sent along shoes. Shoes she’d actually drooled over a few months before so she knew how much they’d cost because she’d said to Erin that she couldn’t, in good conscience, pay that kind of money for a pair of shoes.

She smiled, looking at herself one last time. She was still Raven. Only fancified, as he’d said. And the shoes were a dream and made her legs look a million miles long.

Partial payment for the hell she was sure to endure at this thing.

He knocked again. Impatient.

She opened the door and he sucked in a breath. “You look magnificent.”

She blushed but got a load of him while she did. “Says the gorgeous man in the tux standing in my doorway.”

He handed her roses. “Just because. I saw them and knew you needed them.”

She took them, burying her face, inhaling. “Thank you. Come in while I get them in water.”

She grabbed a vase and got the roses settled, taking one, trimming it and adding it to her hair.

“Oh, I like that.” He took her hand, kissing it. “Do you have a wrap?”

“Yes. Thank you for the dress and shoes, by the way.”

He looked her up and down. “I really have to take credit here because you look so good. I had to guess on the sizes.”

“You know women’s bodies well. Though that’s not really a surprise.”

He took the wrap she’d picked up after she’d unwrapped the dress and put it on her shoulders.

Outside, at the curb, a sleek black car waited with Daisy and Levi already inside.

“Hey, Raven. Wow, you look fabulous.” Daisy smiled and Raven couldn’t help but smile back.

“Thanks. You too.”

“I think it’s necessary to say just what good taste the Warner men have.” Levi tipped his chin at his brother. “Evening, Raven.”

They drove to the hotel where the benefit was being held. “We can get a drink here. The bar at the top is quite lovely.” Jonah helped her out and then kept his hand at the small of her back as they went up.

“I’m really glad you’re here tonight.” Daisy sipped her martini. “These things were fun before I got together with Levi. But usually I was working at them.” She laughed and Raven relaxed a little. “Being here as Levi’s fiancée is different. It makes me nervous because they’re always sizing me up.”

Jonah and Levi had excused themselves to hit the men’s room so it was just the two of them at the table.