Chapter 11 #2
Sounded reasonable in theory. In practice, it would suck. She didn't want to get close to him, didn't want to risk complicating their business-deal marriage with sex. The guy's rigid self-control would ensure he remained emotionally distant, but could she remain indifferent to his charms?
She was renowned in her family for throwing herself into any project, committing one hundred per cent. Mentally, it made sense to commit to this marriage. Emotionally, she'd be a fool to consider it.
It would be so much easier to be like him. Closed off. Probably a learned response: ashamed of his jailbird dad, detached from people, putting up a tough-guy front.
Her mother had been like that. The quintessential matriarch who'd lost her husband far too young and had emotionally closed down because of it.
Not that Mathilda had been a bad mum, she'd just been so focused on Seaborn she'd often had little energy left for her daughters.
Sapphrie hadn't minded; she'd been Mum's protégé, groomed to take over.
And while Ruby preferred to fly under the radar, every now and then when she glimpsed Mathilda and Saph with their heads bent close, poring over catalogues, she'd wished her mum would acknowledge she was more than just a ditzy designer.
Cutting her out when it counted most proved it.
And it hurt, damn it, it hurt deep.
Her mother should've trusted her and told her the truth about Seaborn before she died, and she never should’ve made Sapphire promise not to tell her.
She was more than an airhead who swanned through life playing with gems and dating easy-going creative guys like her, despite fostering that image, content not to assume too much responsibility.
Her determination to prove her family wrong drove her every day since Sapphire had been forced to confide in her before heading off to the health farm to recuperate.
It had driven her to propose to Jax in the first place.
She'd do whatever it took to save Seaborn and prove to everyone, particularly herself, she could do more than design pretty jewellery.
"Let's worry about the honeymoon later." Much later. Like never. "For now, we need to co-ordinate tasks."
She held her breath, expecting him to push the honeymoon issue, relieved when he slid out his phone instead.
"I'll take care of the marriage licence and register office." He started tapping out a to-do list. "What about witnesses? I can ask my manager Murray. Is there anyone you have?"
Her submerged bitterness surged again and she swallowed. In an ideal world, her sister would be beside her on the momentous day.
"Yeah, my cousin Opal."
"Okay." He paused, his thumb poised over the keypad. "Will your sister be there?"
She bristled, not wanting to discuss Sapphire's condition with a virtual stranger. A stranger she was about to marry. Sheesh.
"No."
He touched the back of her hand, and she carefully placed the latte glass on the saucer before clasping her hands in her lap.
She didn't want his sympathy. She wanted his cooperation in ensuring this wedding went as smoothly as possible so she could get back to the task of saving Seaborn.
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really." She pointed at his phone. 'Type into that thing: "I'll take care of the wedding, leave the reception to Ruby".'
"Reception?"
His eyebrows shot high, as if she'd announced he'd be waltzing up the aisle naked.
"We're having a quickie wedding at the register office. Do you really think the people you want to schmooze in this city will accept this marriage if we don't throw some fancy party?"
He threw the phone on the table and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'm not the fancy party type."
"Too bad. You want doors to open for you in the corporate sector, you have to get to know these people socially. What schools their kids attend. What vacation spots they frequent. What golf courses they play.”
She entwined her index and third finger. "They're like this, a clique. I've been raised in those circles and have seen what they do to outsiders, let alone someone with…"
"My background?" He spat the words out.
"Yeah."
She wished she could sugar-coat this, or know the exact words to ease the obvious burden he carried around because of his dad. But she'd been nothing but blunt with him so far, no use changing the habits of a lifetime now.
"I'll be honest with you, Jax. If you want to make inroads with this crowd, lose the attitude.
You're Denver Maroney's son, so what? You're a successful businessman, you own a flourishing mine, you're nothing like your dad.
So quit glaring at anyone who approaches within two feet, lose the chip factory on your shoulders, and start lightening up. "
"Chip factory? Funny. I’ll try if you do.”
Confused, she said, “What do I need to try?”
“To deliver.”
"Deliver what?"
"Everything a marriage entails."
His silky smooth tone alluded to what he meant, and she reached for her latte, belatedly realising she'd finished it. "You mean—"
"Sex." He didn't blink or look away, his cool declaration hanging in the air between them. "We've joked about it, but just so you know." He placed both palms on the table and leaned forward. "I don't play games. We get married, we're monogamous. No fooling around."
His intent rammed home the seriousness of their situation as nothing else could.
Once she said, 'I do', she'd have to say 'I don't' to many things she valued: her freedom, her spontaneity in socialising all hours and answering to no one, her casual flirting with guys who didn't threaten or bamboozle or confuse.
She sure hoped Sapphire appreciated the sacrifice she’d be making for the sake of their beloved company.
Jax misread her silence, and probably her horrified expression too, sitting back abruptly.
"Don't worry, despite what I intimated at the races, it's not forever. Once we get what we both want, this ridiculous marriage is finished."
His honesty didn't scare her.
The unexpected hurt slashing through their best laid plans did.