Marrying the Enemy Read Free

through her like a jolt of electricity. ‘Not so brave now, huh?’
    Bravery had nothing to do with it. Self-preservation did. This instantaneous spark between them was too powerful, too potent, too potentially troublesome.
    She didn’t need complications in her life, not now when saving Seaborn’s was her priority.
    And a delicious-smelling, beyond-gorgeous, bad boy was one giant complication waiting to happen.
    ‘I flirt with everyone—you shouldn’t take it personally.’
    ‘Is that right?’ He took a step forward, bringing him tantalisingly close.
    He didn’t touch her. He didn’t need to, her pebbling skin a dead giveaway of how his proximity affected her. ‘Better learn to control that habit because some guys may get the wrong idea.’
    She shouldn’t bait him, she really shouldn’t but she couldn’t resist. There was something about him, something untouchable, that made her want to ruffle his assured poise. ‘What idea’s that?’
    ‘That you’re offering more than you’re willing to give.’
    His innuendo rippled over her like submerging in the warmest, most decadent bubble bath and she clamped down on the urge to see exactly how willing she could be.
    She tilted her head up. ‘I’m offering coffee. Take it or leave it.’
    He hesitated and disappointment doused her ever-growing attraction to a guy she barely knew. There went the little fantasy of fending off his lusty advances.
    He searched her face, looking for something, and it made her uncomfortable to the point of squirming.
    On the verge of retracting her offer, he slowly lifted his arm and gestured towards the back of the showroom.
    ‘Lead the way.’

CHAPTER TWO
    J AX had lucked out.
    His reasons for attending tonight had been twofold: show the Melbourne snobs he’d returned, ready to infiltrate their closed ranks, and plant the takeover seed in Sapphire Seaborn’s mind.
    Sadly, the Seaborn spokeswoman hadn’t been in attendance but he had the next best thing: her sister.
    Glancing at Ruby, matching him stride for stride as they headed towards the rear of the showroom, he amended his earlier assessment.
    Maybe he hadn’t lucked out after all.
    The younger Seaborn was a firecracker. All mouth and defiance.
    Not his type at all but for a few decadent hours he’d like her to be.
    He didn’t intend on getting physical, not with so much at stake. He had big plans for a proposed takeover but for a moment, with the down-lights making her hair shimmer like spun gold and her breasts straining against satin with every step she took, he wished he didn’t have so much to lose.
    ‘You’ve never been to Seaborn’s before.’
    It was a statement, not a question and he admired her bluntness.
    ‘No. Why? Because you would’ve remembered me?’
    Her lips quirked at his teasing. ‘I remember all our customers.’
    ‘All?’
    ‘Each and every one.’
    ‘I find that hard to believe.’
    She chuckled and held up her hands in surrender. ‘Okay, I lied. I remember each and every piece I’ve ever created and, in turn, the people who acquire them.’
    ‘Impressive.’
    As impressive as the showroom she led him through. The long, cavernous room gleamed, from its honey polished boards to soft ivory walls to spot lights strategically placed to highlight the merchandise.
    From what he could see of the one-of-a-kind pieces in gems of all shapes and sizes behind alarmed glass cases, the merchandise took centre stage.
    While he’d worked in the mining side of the gem trade for a few years now, he’d never been interested in the gems themselves. The bottom dollar floated his boat. The end-product sparkly stuff? Not so much.
    ‘What do you think of my work?’
    She’d caught him checking out the jewellery. Observant and astute, as well as refreshingly blunt and gorgeous.
    ‘Not bad if you like that sort of thing.’
    She stopped and pretended to clutch her heart. ‘Not bad?’
    She jabbed a finger in his direction and he resisted the urge to grab