‘You think Scott wouldn’t have done it for you if the situations were reversed?’ she challenged.
Her words were like huge fists punching him in the solar plexus and driving the air from his lungs. God, he missed Scott. He closed his eyes momentarily on his grief. The pain of his friend’s death was still agonisingly raw. ‘That’s a low blow, Melissa.’
‘Just think about it, Logan,’ she told him quietly, as though she were reasoning with a child. ‘You and I both know what it’s like to grow up in a dysfunctional family. I know how damned lucky I was to have you as my brother, but it would’ve been great to have had one mother and father and not the endless procession of women Dad brought home after Mum left him. Right now, Charlotte doesn’t have anyone but her horrid grandmother. She can’t afford for you to lose this case. You have to do whatever it takes.’
And just like that, Logan knew she was right. He owed it to Scott and Kathleen, and most importantly to Charlotte, to do whatever it took to provide a happy, safe and healthy environment for his little goddaughter to grow up in. The kind he’d never known, but what Charlotte would’ve had if her parents had lived.
But marriage?
There had to be another way. He’d sworn he’d never contemplate marriage again. The mistake he’d made had caused him so much grief. On top of that, he’d been angry with himself for not learning from his father’s experiences. The errors his father had made needed to be learned from, not repeated.
‘You’re staying at your city apartment?’ Melissa asked.
‘Yeah,’ he replied distantly, his mind still trying to sort out the best way to win this court case.
‘Then I’ll be there around ten tomorrow morning for a coffee, and in the meantime I’ll contact the woman who was number two on my candidate list and see if I can talk her into meeting you.’
‘No.’ The protest was adamant. Nobody was talking anybody into marrying him. ‘If I decide it’s necessary, I’m capable of finding my own temporary bride.’
She ignored him. ‘See you tomorrow — and I’ll look forward to seeing your new look. To see you without your ponytail will be amazing, but I can’t imagine you without that famously sexy pirate’s stubble on your upper lip and jaw. It’s no wonder women go into a tailspin whenever you’re around. I’d go nuts for you too, if you weren’t my brother and I didn’t know how damned pig-headed and —’
The rumbling sound of his extreme annoyance only made her laugh.
‘Love you, Logan,’ she told him before she disconnected.
Love you too, he thought as he replaced the phone inside his jacket pocket. He really did love her. Madcap Melissa he’d called her when they were kids, and she hadn’t changed a bit. Yeah, she was crazy and bossy, but she was also like a breath of fresh air.
Being sent away to boarding school had been tough initially but in some ways it had been easier than facing his father every day and knowing that his father blamed him for his mother’s departure. The only good memories he possessed of being at home during his childhood holidays had been the times he’d spent with Melissa. Now, when everything in life had been going according to his plan, he’d been thrown another curve ball. Melissa would say it was the universe trying to prove to him that he wasn’t the master of his own destiny.
The same waiter he’d waved away previously, approached him again. ‘Would you like another drink, sir?’
Just bring the whole damn bottle of scotch, he felt like saying. He could sure use it.
Refraining, he nodded. ‘I’ll have a bottle of your Margaret River Merlot now. My guest isn’t able to make it so I’m ready for the menu as well.’
‘Of course.’ The young man hurried away.
Logan looked around the restaurant at all the seemingly happy couples. Happy now, but how many of these relationships would last? How long before the yelling and screaming started between them and they began to rip each other apart in nasty divorce settlements?
Scott and Kathleen would’ve made it. Their devotion to each other had been undeniable. The love they’d shared had been precious and rare. It made their deaths even more unfair.
Charlotte needed a stable, loving environment. He could provide that.
Charlotte needed a mother.
For a moment he buried his head in his hands.
He knew all about needing a mother. He’d only been a kid, not much older than Charlotte, when his mother had walked out on him and his father. The upheaval from his parents’ divorce and from his mother’s abandonment had been traumatic. He wouldn’t wish it upon any child.
Marriage for Charlotte’s sake would be a paper marriage. A business contract. The nanny he’d already decided to employ was too old for the role, and as Melissa had so rightly pointed out, none of his lovers would be suitable women to play a role in Charlotte’s life, even temporarily. There must be an appropriate woman somewhere who’d take on the role. A woman who’d agree to a marriage of convenience at least for the time it took for the court to award him custody.
Would marriage under those circumstances be so bad? If he set the terms, marriage needn’t tie him down or restrict his lifestyle. He could be discreet in his relationships. No emotion involved, and therefore no heartache for either party. All he had to do was find the right woman, compensate her generously, and convince the court it was the real deal. Melissa’s idea was taking root. Perhaps his sister’s idea wasn’t quite as scatty as he’d initially thought.
Turning over the possibilities in his mind, he glanced out of the large window. He stilled. It wasn’t the panoramic view of northern Sydney by night that caught his eye but the woman whose image was reflected in the glass.
Stunningly beautiful Sophie Hamilton was entering the restaurant. Even though he’d never met her, he recognised the granddaughter of Australia’s richest mining magnate. Three years ago, when Logan had been home in Australia recovering from his capture at the hands of an African militia group, her divorce from media mogul, Jake Formosa, had been splashed across the front page of every newspaper Formosa didn’t own. Journalists had circled like vultures, eager to dig up dirt on the split of Australia’s ‘golden couple’. Virtually hunted by the press at that time, Sophie had handled the relentless media pack in a calm, dignified way and spoken respectfully to them, even though they had disparaged her and dubbed her the ‘Ice Princess’.
Even had she not been instantly recognisable, a man would have to be dead from the waist down not to notice Sophie’s classic beauty, her flame-red hair and perfect body. Logan turned away from the window to look at her more closely, because the mere reflection of the woman wasn’t enough. The short, emerald-green dress she wore clung to her body lovingly, outlining full breasts and a narrow, hand-span waist. His eyes ran appreciatively over the female hips that flared gently and the luscious long legs that went on forever. Unbidden, the image of those legs being wrapped around him as he made love to her sprang to his mind in vivid Technicolour.
Sophie’s sensational legs were momentarily obscured as she weaved her way in between the tables where couples were seated. Seeking her face, Logan saw her features relax into a warm, friendly smile as she greeted the head waiter.
Whoa…Logan’s breath caught in his lungs. The woman was a knockout, and just looking at her caused his blood to rush south in a very disturbing manner. He looked away in case his desire was stamped too blatantly across his features. Ordinarily he’d make no secret of his interest in a woman. In his current circumstances, however, he didn’t want whoever she was dining with to take offence and deck him. A public brawl was the last thing his reputation needed in the lead-up to the preliminary court hearing.
‘Hi,’ a slightly breathy, female voice said a few moments later, as he was still wrestling to refrain from looking back at Sophie Hamilton. ‘I’m Sophie. Sorry I’m late.’
Logan looked up to see that the object of his fantasies stood opposite him. The waiter had accompanied her and was beginning to pull out a chair for her — at his table.
&n
bsp; Chapter 2
Sophie Hamilton was the woman Melissa had arranged for him to meet?
‘Hi.’ Logan stood automatically, but his brain was so busy rejecting what was happening, he didn’t even introduce himself.
This couldn’t be happening. Surely Sophie Hamilton had been shown to the wrong table?
She extended her hand in a very business-like gesture. All his senses were on high alert and his awareness of her was acute. The second he accepted her hand, a powerful pulse of energy raced up his arm and sent arrows of desire shooting straight to his groin.
No way! That he was growing hard just shaking her hand was a reaction way over the top. Yes, she was beautiful, but hey, all the women he dated were equally as stunning and his body didn’t normally behave like that of a hormone-driven adolescent.
Judging from the red flush that stole from under the neckline of her dress all the way up to her cheeks, he wasn’t the only one who was affected. The instant they’d touched, her gorgeous green eyes had widened before her gaze flew to where he’d enclosed her soft hand in the strength of his. For a fraction of a second her business-like demeanour had slipped. Oh yeah. She was just as aware of this incredibly strong sexual pull between them. That knowledge made him go a little easier on himself.
Reluctantly, he released her hand.
His eyes were drawn to the slender column of her neck as her throat moved up and down with a nervous swallow.
‘There was an accident in the Harbour Tunnel and the traffic was horrendous. When I went to call the restaurant to explain, I found I couldn’t get any reception,’ she said while her hands made a few little movements of helplessness. It seemed to Logan as though she were trying to pull herself together. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t let you know I was on my way.’
‘Not at all,’ he dismissed easily. Fifteen minutes or so was hardly a long time.
Incredible. This was no mistake. Clearly Sophie was here to meet him. Just how had Melissa managed to pull this off and what was he going to do about it?
Sophie sat down with a fluid grace that was beautifully feminine, but her expression was shuttered. The aura of untouchability about her was back firmly in place. There was a hint of the ice that the media had labelled her with.
A combination of anticipation and hesitancy washed through him. What was her connection with Melissa? Why would a woman like Sophie — one of the wealthiest women in Australia — agree to a temporary marriage of convenience, and why did Melissa think she’d be suitable for the role? A dozen questions hammered in his brain and he was impatient to have them answered, but for the moment he sat down as the waiter unfolded their napkins.
‘May I bring you our wine list?’ the waiter asked.
‘I’ve just ordered a bottle of Margaret River Merlot,’ Logan replied, wishing the man would disappear rapidly.
The smile Sophie gave the waiter was warmer than the one she’d given Logan, and something about that rankled him. ‘The merlot will be lovely, thank you.’
While the waiter fussed with removing the white wine glasses, Logan took the opportunity to study his surprise date. Every feature, from her slender nose, high cheekbones and generously full mouth, was sheer perfection on her finely boned face. But, her expression was still guarded and strained.
‘I’ll see that the wine and your menus are on their way,’ the waiter told them as he departed.
Sophie shifted restlessly on her chair. ‘Thank you for waiting for me. I’m generally a stickler for being on time.’ The nervous tension in her voice was unmistakable and made Logan grow more intrigued by the second. The woman was no nervous debutante. Her upbringing and social status should make her the epitome of a sophisticated woman, yet she seemed to switch between being self-assured and in control one moment and self-conscious and awkward the next, blushing like a young girl on her first date.
Again he wondered what would make her agree to Melissa’s mad proposal. Was her grandfather behind this…? Rigby Carlisle had made overtures years ago for a share in Logan’s company. Only a couple of months ago, Carlisle had approached him again to see whether Logan was interested in purchasing a diamond mine in Australia’s north. Logan had declined at the time, unwilling to forge any Australian connections. Now he planned to live in Australia, maybe the mine would be worth looking into, if it were still for sale.
The octogenarian was well known for the games he played. Would he use his granddaughter to try to manipulate Logan? It was possible.
Logan sat back, wondering how this evening was going to play out. He hadn’t felt so intrigued in ages. Come to think of it, he’d never felt so intrigued.
‘You probably thought I wasn’t coming,’ she said. ‘I wasn’t even sure whether you’d still be here.’
‘I’m glad I’m still here, but I’m curious as to why you agreed to this.’
His eyes were drawn to her hands. Her long fingers with their glossy, lacquered nails pinched the white linen tablecloth at the edge of the table in a gesture that was pure stress. As he looked up, he noticed her chest rise and fall quickly with her shallow breaths. The next moment a change seemed to come over her. Her back straightened as she drew herself more upright and her jaw firmed.
‘At this stage I’m going to keep my reasons to myself,’ she said in a boardroom voice. ‘The point of tonight is simply to see whether or not this is workable between us, and to talk terms.’
Ah. In that split second she was all Ice Princess and the vibe she was giving off was definitely designed to keep him at a distance. Right. That was never going to happen. There’d be no distance between them unless he chose for there to be, and at the moment, all his base needs urged him to get closer to Sophie Hamilton. Much closer. If there was one thing Logan loved it was a challenge.
‘We both know that this is strictly business,’ she stated succinctly, ‘and I need to make sure you understand my terms.’
From what he understood, Sophie Hamilton played a key role in the management of Carlisle Mining and also sat on a number of boards of high-powered Australian corporations. It was hardly surprising, given the corporate power she wielded, that she thought she’d be the powerbroker here, but Logan wasn’t used to being dictated to by anyone, and he wasn’t about to get used to it any time soon.
For now, he’d go along with Sophie and see how this played out. Melissa had never mentioned the connection between the women. Still, his sister had been right that on paper, Sophie would be an ideal candidate to present to the courts as his wife, because she was known to adore children. He’d read somewhere that Sophie had been declared Australian of the Year last year in recognition of her work for children’s charities. That had to be a bonus in the eyes of the court, and surely it indicated there was a heart beating under the icy exterior she was presenting to him.
A temporary marriage deal between them might get Logan what he wanted, but what was in this for Sophie?
Sophie raised one hand and pushed a couple of stray tendrils of stunning red hair back behind her ears. Logan knew an urge to reach over and release the clips that fastened her hair in the confines of the style she wore. He wanted to see her hair cascade loosely around her shoulders. Logan may not decide to go through with a temporary marriage to Sophie, but he would have her as his lover. Hell, he wanted that red hair fanned out about her on his pillow, and caressing his naked flesh as she bent over him to…
The waiter arrived with their menus and wine and hovered while Logan tasted and approved the fine merlot. Sophie gave the menu a cursory glance and ordered. Logan ordered the first thing he saw, wanting to get rid of the waiter and hear more of what Sophie had to say.
‘Tonight we need to lay down the ground rules, agree to the terms and duration of the contract, and negotiate the payment,’ she continued in utterly business-like tones as soon as the waiter left.
His features tightened in response to her mention of payment. With all her wealth, why was she so keen to discuss payment? Suddenly the business-like terms regardi
ng marriage seemed completely inappropriate. He almost said, ‘Forget it, sweetheart,’ but he wanted to know just where she was heading with this and why.
Summoning a cool smile to mask his feelings, he said, ‘You don’t mince your words.’
‘I don’t have time for that.’
That much was true. Charlotte’s preliminary custody hearing was set down for a fortnight’s time.
‘Why are you doing this?’ he pushed.
‘You don’t need to know my reasons; we simply need to come to an arrangement tonight.’
Logan’s eyes didn’t miss the trembling of Sophie’s hand as she reached for her glass. That she was nervous about this and not as callous as her words and manner indicated made him wonder whether the Ice Princess persona was an act she adopted for her own self-protection in the cut-throat world of corporate business, and as a defence against the relentless media pack.
He relaxed a little. In his mind’s eye he remembered the genuine warmth of her smile when she’d thanked the waiter, and the heated blush at his touch. There was definitely a human female under the cool executive exterior. Now, he just needed to get her to relax so he could get to know that woman.
‘I think we should have dinner, get to know each other a little and see if this is going to work before we get down to terms,’ he suggested.
‘Okay.’ She threw a brisk business-like nod in his direction, but didn’t look at him. ‘We’ll make sure we can be comfortable enough with each other or nobody is ever going to believe we’re in a relationship, and there won’t be any need for a contract.’
For a woman who was so beautifully feminine she acted in a commanding way that rankled. Damn that! He’d rankle her. He’d had enough of the boardroom demeanour. He was only interested in her bedroom demeanour. The Ice Princess needed to be melted, and he was just the man to do it.
Determined to succeed, he reached across the table and covered her hands with one of his. There was surprise in her eyes as the current instantly arced between them again. Her outward show of confidence evaporated like early morning mist and she became flustered. The Ice Princess mask slipped again for a few seconds as she reacted to his touch.
Roses For Sophie Page 2
