She sighed. "You talk too much. Typical CEO."
"Typical?"
She puffed out her cheeks like a balloon. "Full of hot air and self-importance, likes the sound of his own voice."
He loved sparring with her. Her quick wit, plus her beauty and intelligence, equalled a potential problem for his self-control.
"Why don't you rationalise your ludicrous proposal before you pump up my fragile ego anymore?"
She snorted. "Fragile? Yeah, right."
"You've got two minutes, starting now—"
"Okay, okay." She held up her hands in surrender. "Sheesh, better add impatient to that list of your questionable attributes."
"Ninety seconds and counting—"
"I want to saveSeaborn, you want entry into Melbourne's high society. I can give you the latter, if you agree to stop undercutting our mine for a year and give us a chance to turn our profit margins around."
He knew blurting the truth about the crowd shunning him had been a bad move. A smart woman like her had picked up on how much it meant to him and was now using it to blackmail him into marriage. Gutsy.
"What makes you think I need you to introduce me to Melbourne's elite?"
She shook her head. "You disappoint me. I'm being honest with you, I expect the same in return."
She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "That mob, the movers and shakers? They have long memories, and will snub without a second thought.”
She paused, the tip of her tongue darting out to moisten her top lip, and his gut tightened. "Especially you, with your background."
Damn, she knew. Of course she'd know. Everyone in this city knew his lineage. They'd driven him away once, and still blamed him for his father’s sins.
It didn't matter how much money his mine had turned over last year. It didn't matter about profit margins or award recognition by the local Mining Commission. It didn't matter that he'd busted his ass taking his mine to the top, lording it over the competition.
They still wouldn't grant him access to what he needed most: Global Mining Corp, the governing body that controlled the fate of Maroney Mine and his dreams to take his company international.
Keeping a tight rein on his bitterness, he feigned a yawn. "I wouldn't believe everything you hear."
She tsk-tsked. "You're taking me for a fool again. Shame, because it's a good deal."
Yeah, if he wanted to be shackled in a loveless marriage with a woman he barely knew.
He'd never really contemplated getting married. He'd have to let a woman get close enough emotionally for a serious relationship to develop and he didn't have the time or the inclination for that.
In the Kimberly region, he focused on business. If he wanted some downtime and female company, he headed to Perth. He liked his dates uncomplicated and his sex with no strings attached, with like-minded, power-driven women.
Married to Ruby Seaborn? A movewaybeyond strings. More like being hogtied with an unbreakable rope.
There had to be more to this ludicrous suggestion of hers. Why would a beautiful, intelligent young woman want to marry him to save her family business?
"A good deal, huh?" He screwed up his eyes, pretending to ponder. “Apart from having my lowly status elevated to Seaborn level in society, what do I get out of this marriage?"
The intent behind his question registered if the faint blush staining her cheeks a beguiling pink and the aquamarine sparks in her eyes were any indication.
"You're talking about sex?"
She blew him away with her bluntness. He'd never met a woman like her: bold, brazen, not afraid to speak her mind.
It turned him on, big time.
