by Nicola Marsh
He spun her around and around, only registering the applause of people surrounding them when he released her.
‘Go, you two, I’ll handle this lot.’ Otto placed a hand in each of their backs and gave them a shove.
Jax nodded and Ruby shot Otto a grateful smile as she waved to the crowd with one hand and slipped her other into his.
They made it outside the doorway before he kissed her, trying to convey one tenth of what he was feeling for this amazing woman.
When their hunger for each other eased, she smiled against his mouth. ‘We did good.’
He pulled away, holding her within the circle of his arms. ‘You’re the talented genius they wanted a piece of.’
Her radiant smile made him want to kiss her again and never stop. ‘And you’re the one who made it all happen.’
‘We make a good team.’
The instant the words left his mouth he wondered if she’d read more into them, wondered how he felt about that.
Still stoked over his acceptance into Harrod’s old boys’ club and the chance to make his dreams come true for Maroney Mine, he didn’t want to make any rash promises, especially if he couldn’t keep them.
He needed to sort through his mish-mashed feelings first, needed to acknowledge what he was feeling in order to process it before telling Ruby.
‘We sure do.’
She cupped his cheek, her eyes glowing with tenderness, and right then he knew this marriage had somehow evolved into more than just a business deal.
‘Harrod invited me to schedule a meeting on Monday,’ he blurted, needing to establish some emotional distance before he blabbed every uncertainty ricocheting through his brain.
Some of her warmth faded as she lowered her hand. ‘That’s great. Congratulations.’
‘Yeah, looks like we’ve both had a win tonight.’
‘Go us.’
She did a funny little happy dance. So why did he get the sudden feeling she wasn’t all that happy?
‘Welcome to the club.’ She slugged him on the arm, something off about her false chipper.
‘What club?’
‘The old boys’ club.’ She intertwined his fingers. ‘They’re like that. Rarely let anyone in.’
‘Let alone Denver Maroney’s son.’
She shrugged. ‘Businessmen in this circle know you’re nothing like your father. They would’ve had you vetted extensively before coming anywhere near you, let alone approve you for admittance to the mining corp.’
Jax skimmed her cheek with the backs of his knuckles. ‘When did you get so wise?’
She wrinkled her nose. ‘I’ve been a part of this crowd for a long time. The private-school club, where they slap each other’s backs and do favours for each other. It’s just the way things are done.’
She gestured towards the crowd. ‘They’re suspicious of ring-ins, so, while your pedigree wouldn’t have helped, they would’ve held you at arm’s length for a while regardless.’
Interesting observation, and he wondered if he’d been so wrapped up in his own prejudices he hadn’t given these people the benefit of the doubt.
‘Anyway, you’re finally in.’ Ruby stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, an odd gesture devoid of their usual passion. ‘Watch your mine shoot to the top.’
‘Thanks to you,’ he said, angling his head to capture her lips.
‘Sorry to interrupt, but the natives are demanding some one-on-one time with Ruby.’
He glared at Otto, cursing the guy’s timing.
Ruby hesitated, her shuttered expression niggling him as much as her cheek-kiss, and he gave her a gentle nudge. ‘Go. We can talk later.’
Much later, once he’d got his head around the fact he might be falling for his wife.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A WEEK later, Jax was no closer to figuring out his convoluted feelings for Ruby.
Not that he’d had much time to dwell on them, considering he’d been tied up in meetings for most of the time.
He’d achieved so much over the last seven days, gaining authorised and endorsed entry into the global mining corp, setting in motion plans to expand Maroney Mine globally, sealing more business deals than he could’ve thought possible.
She’d made that happen.
Thanks to her family’s stellar reputation, they didn’t question his.
Too classy to bring up his father’s impending appeal, the corporation focused on the business at hand, happy to align with Maroney Mine and his latest proposals to make profit margins skyrocket.
Good business sense; something they hadn’t seen before his marriage.
How many times had he approached companies in this corporate sector, only to have doors metaphorically slammed in his face? Too many to count, which was why he’d entered into this farcical marriage in the first place.
A marriage that now, thanks to his incredible wife, was fast making him re-evaluate priorities.
With his business expanding around the world and his corporate headquarters in Melbourne, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to relocate. His deputy in Western Australia could step up into the CEO role with ease, leaving him free to expand his base in Melbourne.
And allowing him to remain married to Ruby.
That was the crux of his newfound restlessness and he knew it.
Dressing it up in business terms was a crock.
Time to start worrying about other stuff besides business. He hadn’t had a chance to question her subtle withdrawal from him after the auction, considering they’d barely seen each other.
But now his manic week was over, he had every intention of reassessing the state of his marriage. A marriage he intended to make real.
By instigating a first step in a plan to win his wife over.
* * *
This time, Ruby was more than happy to make the hour drive to Daylesford alone.
Last thing she needed was to be cooped up in the car with Jax. Not that he would’ve come if she’d asked.
He’d been scarce the last seven days. She’d expected it the moment she’d seen the triumph in his eyes after the auction when he’d scored his long-awaited meeting with Harrod and the mining corporation.
She’d been happy for him, but a small part of her had shrivelled and died right then for she’d known what it meant.
The beginning of the end for their marriage.
She’d texted him her weekend plans out of decency, not expecting him to care. If the guy couldn’t take time out from his hectic schedule for more than a few snatched moments, why would he bother where she’d be spending a few days after visiting her sister?
The fact he hadn’t responded spoke volumes. He had better things to do with his time, like schmooze his way into Melbourne’s aristocratic society, seal more deals, make more millions.
Good for him.
The fact Seaborn’s steady climb out of the red continued to move ahead should’ve been vindication she’d done the right thing in proposing this convenient marriage.
But it wasn’t enough. Not any more.
Somewhere between saying ‘I do’, that special night at Crown, the decadent interlude in her workshop and the auction, she’d opened herself wide open to potential heartbreak.
She couldn’t fathom it.
Jax Maroney was so not her type.
Maybe if she kept telling herself that long enough she’d start to believe it.
Tenang looked the same as she turned into the long driveway, a peaceful oasis. She could do with some of what this place was offering right about now.
How long had it been since she’d made the journey here with Jax? Six weeks? Enough time to ensure she’d done the unthinkable.
Fallen for her husband.
That was another thing. She kept thinking of him in those terms, her husband, as if it was something to be proud of and treasured.
Wonder how she’d like it when they divorced and he quickly became her ex-husband?
Muttering swear words under her breath
, she parked, signed in and headed for the river. Saph would be there for sure.
She caught sight of her sister, lying flat on her back on the wooden bench, her bare feet dangling over the ends, a floppy straw hat shading her face.
Doing absolutely nothing but soaking up the glorious spring sunshine.
Her heart lightened. She’d never seen her workaholic sister sit still for two seconds let alone lie in the sunshine.
This place had worked wonders and she couldn’t wait for Saph to rejoin her at Seaborn’s.
Okay, so her wish for a speedy return wasn’t entirely altruistic: the faster Saph returned to spokesperson duties, the faster she could go back to doing what she did best. Create.
She needed to put the finishing touches on that commissioned engagement ring by Tuesday. According to Opal, the buyer had paid in full already. Impressive. And handy, considering their overdraft at the bank.
Another surprise: Sapphie hadn’t asked her about the financials once. Sure, she asked about Seaborn’s when she made her allowed once-a-week call, but never delved into specifics. Very un-Sapphie-like.
They talked about general stuff, Ruby taking her cue from her sister, who seemed mellower and more relaxed than she could’ve hoped for.
Yeah, she couldn’t wait for her sister to come back to Seaborn’s. She had a feeling she’d need her once Jax Maroney strutted out of her life.
‘Are you staring at me?’ Sapphie picked up the edge of her hat and squinted up at her.
‘Yep. About to take a pic of this to remind you what you need to do more of once you get back to Melbourne.’
Sapphie removed the hat from her face, swung her legs over and sat up. ‘You’ll be pleased to know I won’t need much reminding.’
She held up three fingers. ‘I’m going to schedule weekly yoga, Pilates and tai chi sessions.’
‘Wow.’ Ruby sat, grabbed her sister’s shoulders and gave them a gentle shake. ‘Who are you and what have you done with my sister?’
Sapphie shrugged, her smile radiant. ‘It’s the new me. You like?’
‘Yeah, I like.’
Ruby released Saph, tugging on the end of her ponytail. ‘I don’t ever want to see you burned out again, you hear me?’
‘Loud and clear.’
Sapphie sat back and tilted her face up to the sun. ‘I wasn’t expecting you this weekend.’
‘Can’t a girl pop up and see her favourite sis for an impromptu visit?’
‘I’m your only sis.’
She smiled at Sapphie’s dry response, a smile that faded as her sister abandoned soaking up the sun’s rays to fix her with a probing stare.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing—’
‘Rube, this is me you’re talking to. What’s that no-good Jax Maroney done now?’
‘Nothing.’
‘That’s two nothings in a row. Will your response be the same if I ask you if you’ve been silly enough to fall for his charms?’
Ruby clamped her lips tight.
‘I knew it.’ Sapphie jabbed a finger in her direction. ‘You’ve gone and fallen for the jerk.’
‘He’s not like that.’
Sapphie’s eyes narrowed. ‘And there’s my proof. You wouldn’t have defended the guy a few months ago.’
‘I didn’t know him a few months ago.’
Sapphie snorted. ‘The guy was screwing our company over.’
Ruby refrained from stating the obvious: now she’d become the target of his screwing.
‘I proposed this marriage as a deal, Saph, not him. He’s gone along with it and he’s helped put Seaborn’s back in the black.’
Sapphie frowned and shook her head. ‘You’ve just admitted your marriage is a sham.’
Realising her mistake too late, Ruby deflated. She couldn’t continue the pretence any longer, not with her sister.
‘Of course I did it for Seaborn’s. What did you think, that I’d seriously fall for a guy like him?’
Sapphie didn’t respond and when Ruby looked up, the pity in her sister’s eyes almost undid her completely.
‘Have you? Fallen for him?’
Tired of lying to Jax, to her sister, to herself, she bit her wobbly bottom lip and nodded.
‘How dumb is that?’
‘It’s okay to have a crush on the guy.’ Sapphie snagged her hand and squeezed it. ‘I presume you’re sleeping together, so stands to reason you’d fall for him a tad.’
When she didn’t answer, Sapphie tugged on her hand. ‘It is just a tad, right? You haven’t...’
Unable to hide the truth from her sister any more, she met Sapphie’s astute gaze head on.
Sapphie dropped her hand and leapt to her feet. ‘No way! Don’t tell me—’
‘Getting overexcited isn’t good for you—’
‘Don’t patronise me.’ Sapphie started pacing, her bare feet leaving indentations in the lush lawn. ‘This is a disaster.’
‘It’s not that bad.’
Sapphie stopped and squatted down in front of her. ‘Really? Tell me this. What are you going to do when he heads back to WA? Because he will, and you’ll be left with a broken heart.’
Tears welled in her eyes and she dashed them away with the back of her hand. ‘I didn’t choose who I fell in love with.’
‘You love him?’ Sapphie collapsed backwards onto her butt. ‘Jeez.’
She loved him?
Oh, no.
Uh-oh.
Not love.
Like. Lust. Lunacy.
Her phone chose that moment to ping loudly and she snatched it from her pocket before realising how desperate she appeared.
Sapphie arched a brow and Ruby turned away, quickly scrolling down the message, from him.
C U SOON.
Short. Sweet. Cryptic.
‘I can’t believe you’re in love with him.’
Sapphie pronounced it as if she had a terminal disease.
Defiant, Ruby glared at her too-smart sister. ‘So what?’
Sapphie shook her head. ‘You proposed this marriage, you proposed this deal. I’m guessing emotions weren’t part of the plan?’
Annoyed by her sister’s calm rationale as much as her pity, Ruby folded her arms and slumped on the seat. ‘I’m an idiot.’
‘You’re a softie who always sees the best in people.’ Sapphie draped an arm across her shoulders. ‘You always have. But are you sure Jax Maroney is worthy of your love?’
Ruby remembered the small things he’d done for her when he thought she wasn’t aware: turning the heating up on the odd occasion he’d stayed over in the wee small hours when she worked, having her coffee ready in the morning, sheltering her from the nitty-gritty financials when backing the auction, leaving her free to create.
Small things, thoughtful things, that belied his toughness and gave a glimpse of the man behind the hard exterior.
‘He’s a pretty good guy beneath the bad-boy brooding thing he’s got going on.’
Sapphie rolled her eyes. ‘A bad boy. I should’ve known.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘As if my bright, beautiful sis would ever go for anyone normal.’
With his towering height and broad shoulders and piercing black eyes, Jax was far from normal.
‘Are you going to tell him?’
‘Hell no!’ The last thing Ruby needed was the guy bolting before Seaborn’s was in the black.
Sapphie squeezed her shoulders. ‘Take it from someone who knows. You can’t bottle up this kind of thing. It’ll stress you out then you’ll end up here painting eucalypts and drinking wheatgrass.’
‘Euw!’ Ruby screwed up her nose. ‘You’ve gone from martinis to green gunk, gross.’
‘Yeah, but look at me, I’m a new woman.’
Ruby had never heard her sister anything but confident and brazen and in charge. Seeing Sapphie exhausted and broken had shattered something in her but now, thanks to this place and her sister’s determination to re
cuperate, her Saph was back. Healed. Better than new.
‘I’ve missed you, sis.’
Tears shimmered in Sapphie’s eyes. ‘Right back at you, Rubes.’
As they hugged Ruby felt as if she was the luckiest girl on earth.
Until she remembered that text message, her newly discovered feelings and the fact she’d soon have to watch her husband walk out of her life.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
JAX paced.
In the tiny Japanese garden, in the boxlike cottage. He was used to the wide-open spaces of Western Australia, not miniature bonsais and white pebbles and breakable lanterns he could trip over at any second.
Trust Ruby to pick a place like this to stay for the weekend. Not exactly fair as she hadn’t expected him to come here too, so why wouldn’t she pick this dainty doll-house?
From what he’d seen so far the only thing he liked was the outdoor shower. Loads of possibilities in that private, shaded oasis.
His groin tightened and he tried to concentrate on a colder version of that shower.
He hadn’t come here to ravage his wife, despite his body urging him to do just that.
He missed the tiny satisfied purrs she made in the back of her throat after she came, missed the mind-blowing combustion every time they had sex.
But he hadn’t come here for that. He’d come here to lay it on the line.
He had a ring in his pocket to prove it.
From the cottage’s vantage point high on a secluded hill he heard the noise of an engine first, then watched her vehicle meander towards the driveway.
He wished he could hide his car, make this surprise complete, when in reality he couldn’t wait another second to scoop her into his arms.
He’d know the moment she caught sight of his car. She’d either speed up in anticipation or slow down, wishing he hadn’t intruded on her weekend away.
He waited, uncharacteristic nerves twisting his gut.
When she hit the accelerator, he made a fist and muttered, ‘Yes.’
A few seconds later she screeched to a stop, tumbled out of the car and ran towards him, her joy obvious in the wide smile and sparkling eyes.
She didn’t ask what he was doing here.
She didn’t question his dishevelled appearance.