She couldn't sleep, not when this pretend marriage may be on the verge of falling apart.
She had to do something.
"Cold?" He ran a fingertip up her arm, lingering in the hollow of her elbow, tracing tiny zigzags that zapped her in a major way.
But she couldn't afford to be distracted. Not when she had to come up with a solution.
Convince her social circle this marriage was real.
Gain acceptance for Jax.
SaveSeaborn.
Three problems interlinked and she couldn't solve one without influencing the other.
"No, I'm fine." She perched on the edge of the bed. "At least, I will be when I figure out what to do."
"About?"
"Everything."
Smart guy, she didn't need to elaborate as he sat up and captured her hand.
"We could cut our losses before this goes further."
Her heart sank. She'd known he'd wanted to do that earlier yet she’d dragged him up here anyway, trying to obliterate their problems with mind-blowing sex. Monumentally stupid. Ignoring their problems wouldn't make them vanish any more than wishing for a miracle to saveSeaborn.
“Is that what you really want to do?"
He nodded, his penetrating gaze not leaving her. "Makes the most sense."
Annoyed by his capitulation, she snatched her hand out of his. "So I loseSeaborn, you can’t go global with your mine, and we look like a couple of A-grade idiots." She shook her head. "Wrong solution."
"What do you want me to do?" He braced against the headboard, his expression thunderous. "I'd rather sell myself at an outback bachelor auction for charity than face a roomful of those stuck-up pricks again."
Despite her dire predicament, she couldn't help but smile at the image of her gruff, moody husband standing in front of a crowd of women eager to buy him.
"This isn't funny," he said, crossing his arms, impeding her view of his glorious chest.
"No, it isn't. Maybe I'll have to volunteer for an auction too? Though who'd want a jewellery designer…" She trailed off, struck by an idea so far out of left field she leapt off the bed.
"What—?"
"That's it!" She swooped down and planted a swift kiss on his lips, enjoying his wide-eyed shock. "You're a genius."
Some of his sternness faded. "I know that, but what's got you so excited?" He smirked. "Apart from me?"
She bopped him on the head. "Seabornshould have an auction. Loads of hype. Exclusive pieces only. The biggest jewellery auction Melbourne has ever seen."
She paced, ideas peppering her with every step. "Using social media to build anticipation. Short lead in time. Next week maybe? Market it as a great opportunity to pick up exclusiveSeabornsignature pieces at a fair price. We’d need a stunning venue. Melbourne Town Hall maybe? Or—"
"Whoa, slow down." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and she hoped the sheet wouldn't slip. She could do without the distraction. "Wouldn't something like that take weeks to organise?"
She waved away his rationality. "I've got contacts. It can be done."
She paced the suite, excitement making her skip every second step. "I can do this. PutSeabornback on the jewellery map and raise some much needed funds in the process."
She snapped her fingers. "Why didn't I think of this before?"
