Then she realized she was actually thinking about it. Good grief! There was no way she was going to consider marrying a man for money. No way at all.
Her hand tightened around her glass. As delightful as your offer sounds, she said with sarcasm, I really cant accept it.
His gaze penetrated to the bone. Youre between a rock and a hard place. How else will you get the money?
Perhaps Ill go to the newspapers and sell them a story. Im sure theyd be very interested in your offer.
His look was of faint amusement. But then Id have to tell them about your financial crisis. And Im sure theyd be equally as interested in that, if not more.
Damn him. She had to protect her mother, especially now, when Felicia badly needed to get her career back on track. After all, the one time shed really needed her mother, Felicia had been there for her, helping her through the divorce. Not to mention, her mother had given her money to help start up her fashion design business in the first place.
But as Olivia looked at Alex, her brow crinkled in a frown. What was this actually about? What was his reasoning behind it all? A man like Valente didnt need to marry her. His own family had plenty of wealth and privilege. She couldnt see how Valentes Woman could possibly fail in America. Not with Alex Valente running the show.
She tilted her head and considered him. Theres more to your offer than youre saying.
Wary surprise flickered in his eyes. He took a sip of his Scotch before answering. Thats very perceptive of you. Youre a sharp lady.
Her heart gave a little flutter at the compliment. This isnt about me, she reminded him.
Sudden tension tautened the hard line of his shoulders. My father thinks its time I married. He says hell sell the business and give the proceeds all away to charity if I dont, and neither of my two brothers nor myself will get a cent.
She blinked in shock. This man would hate to be told what to do. That seems rather drastic.
My father never does anything in half measures, he said, somewhat cynically. Hes being forced to retire for health reasons, and hes tasked me with the American launch. I expect hell want me to take over as head of the company, only he wont do that until Im settled.
So youre after your fathers approval then? she said, somewhat surprised by the thought. Not that there was anything wrong with wanting a parents approval. It was just thatAlex seemed too independent, too remote to worry about what anyone else thought.
Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face. No, I couldnt care less about his approval, he said, confirming her intuition. This is for the sake of the company and for my two younger brothers.
She frowned. Its a big request.
His mouth set in a stubborn line. Ive decided to play along for a year.
So our marriage wouldnt be permanent then?
No.
This was beginning to sound much more favorable. And we wouldnt be sleeping together?
The corner of his lips curved up, yet his eyes darkened. This isnt make-believe, Olivia. It would be a real marriage.
Her stomach flipped at the thought of them in bed together.
Making love together.
Feeling flushed, she had to drag her eyes away from himthen back. If the Cannington name is all you want, you could always marry my mother, she joked, but instantly regretted it. Her mother was still a beautiful woman. And shed been married three times already.
His gaze strayed over her. No. Youre the one I want.
His comment snatched her breath away. With a supreme effort, she mentally fought to put up a wall. Ive been married before, you know.
His eyes narrowed. I know.
Panic rose in her throat. She couldnt do it. No, not for the business. Not for her mother. Not even for a year. The heartache had been too much last time.
Somehow she managed to get a grip. But Im divorced. Doesnt that make me less than perfect? she said, giving him an out, putting a stop to all this craziness. She had to.
Someone had to.
A frown creased the skin between his brows. No, it doesnt.
A warm feeling bounced inside her chest, but she tried to stay strong. I swore Id never marry again.
His eyes took on a softer look. This wouldnt be for love, Olivia. You wouldnt have to worry about me hurting you.
She wasnt so sure about that. Heartache and marriage usually went together. It had happened in her mothers three marriages, and in her own one.
Alex placed his half-empty glass on the table. Ill give you twenty-four hours to think things over.
How generous, she quipped. Somehow she didnt think a lifetime was enough to think things over with this man.
Be home tomorrow night. Ill drop by your apartment.
Or you could just phone me, she mocked, using the same comment hed used when shed first arrived.
No chance. Im not letting you escape.
Her chin lifted. You may not have a choice.
You may not either.
Just then the waiter returned and she bit her lip to stop from making a remark. Fine. Shed allow him the last word.
This time.
Olivia spent a restless night thinking over Alexs offer, trying to decide whether she needed to take the drastic action of marrying a man for money. One minute she convinced herself she could do it, then she couldnt. She would, then she wouldnt.
Heavens, if itd just been for the businesss sake shed dismiss it out of hand and take her chances with a bank. But the opportunity to earn some money without needing to pay it back, and without needing to explain why half of that money needed to go to her mother, was sobering.
Yet marriage?
She couldnt.
And then she reminded herself how her mother had helped her through the divorce. Shattered by Erics betrayal, the last thing Olivia had expected was that her mother would bring her back home to Australia for a few months to recover. Olivia wouldnt forget her mother being there for her.
But marriage to Alex? Dear Lord, she wasnt sure she could ever learn to trust another man.
She froze. Or did she really need to worry about trust? Alex had said it wasnt a love match, so at least he was being upfront about it.
The next evening she opened her apartment door to him with a noncommittal expression, but her pulse had quickened. There was no doubt he affected her. Everything about him suggested an intense and indelible masculinity that made her tingle.
This isnt make-believe, Olivia. It would be a real marriage.
She swallowed hard and closed the door behind him. Would you like a drink?
He stood a few feet away in the open-plan living room. What do you have?
She pasted on a false smile. Prune juice?
He gave a husky chuckle. Coffee if you have it.
I do. She went to turn toward the kitchen.
Remember those words.
She stopped with a frown. What do you She realized what he meant. Oh.
They sound perfect for a wedding ceremony, dont you think? His eyes were watchful.
But she wasnt about to give him the satisfaction of telling him her decision yet. Let him wait. He had to learn he couldnt always get his own way. Or control people. Not her anyway.
They sound perfect for a wedding ceremony, dont you think? His eyes were watchful.
But she wasnt about to give him the satisfaction of telling him her decision yet. Let him wait. He had to learn he couldnt always get his own way. Or control people. Not her anyway.
She turned and walked into the kitchen, then glanced up to see him following her. Ignoring him, she reached for the coffeepot but could feel his eyes looking around the apartment then on her, no doubt comparing her modest surroundings to a Hollywood lifestyle.
Only she couldnt explain that she lived modestly for a reason. That shed been paying her mothers debts off these past few years. Anyway, this was no hardship. Shed been mostly raised by her grandmother here in Sydney in a comfortable suburban house, far from the excesses of LA.
You enjoy being a fashion designer?
She poured the coffee into two mugs. Yes. I wouldnt do it otherwise.
You never wanted to be a movie star like your mother?
She passed him a mug. I cant act.
He casually leaned against the door frame. So it doesnt run in the blood then?
Im a simple girl at heart, she half joked, then rested against the kitchen counter and looked at him over the top of her mug. If youre expecting more then youre going to be disappointed.
His gaze lingered on her. No, I dont think I will be, he murmured, making the breath hitch in her throat.
I She wasnt even sure what she was going to say. Somethinganythingto stop the overwhelming need to step into his arms. This is crazy, she said.
No, it isnt.
Realizing she was giving away too much of what she was feeling, she swung around and placed her coffee mug in the sink. Taking a calming breath, she turned back to meet his eyes. Alex, look
Whats your decision, Olivia?
Ill marry you, she said, seeing his eyes flare with satisfactionmixed with something else. On one condition. You give me half the money now.
Whatever that something else was that shed seen lurking in his eyes disappeared. He gave a hard laugh as he put his mug down on the table. Im a businessman, Olivia. Im not about to give you any money before you marry me.
She felt a spurt of anger. My word isnt good enough?
Irritation swept over his face. Look, this isnt about your word. Its not personal. This is a business decision.
Not personal? You want me to marry you and share your bed and you say its not personal? Her brow arched. Just when does it get personal, Alex?
His jaw set but he acknowledged her words with a nod. Okay, I concede the point.
Olivia met his gaze levelly. Then we have an agreement?
A brief hesitation as he scrutinized her, then, Yes.
Relief swept through her. Relief she would get the money, not relief she was marrying him, she told herself. Good.
For a moment she wondered if she should tell him about her mothers money problems. Could she trust him? No. She didnt know him at all. Besides, it was her mothers secret.
As for her own secret, shed never tell him about that. She wouldnt have to tell him about it, considering the briefness of their upcoming marriage.
Suddenly he was all business. Can you be ready in two weeks time?
Her mouth dropped open. Two weeks?
We have to do this as soon as possible. Ive already booked the Sydney Opera House for the ceremony.
She swallowed, ignoring for the moment that the Opera House was one of the most beautiful venues in the world. You were that certain of me?
Yes.
Youre an arrogant bastard.
I believe youve mentioned that already, he drawled.
I cant possibly be ready in two weekstime. Im off to LA in a couple of days. I promised my mother I would visit with her. She hasnt been feeling very well lately.
And that was an understatement. Her mother knew she couldnt continue with her lavish parties and her high maintenance. She knew it was coming to an end unless she found herself a major role.
All at once Alex looked thoughtful. You know something. This could play in our favor. If you keep a low profile while youre over there, it will add to the mystique of our wedding.
Our wedding.
She sent him a cynical look. Yes, and we definitely want mystique for those perfume sales, dont we?
He glanced at her oddly, as if it was a given. Itll help your sales as well.
Okay, so he was right. But getting her mother to keep a low profile when the media were bound to be knocking at their door? Impossible! Of course, using Alexs mystique angle might be the way to go. Felicia loved mystique. She knew the value of it.
What about your father?Alex asked, drawing her from her thoughts. Do you want him at the wedding?
An old heartache jarred but she quickly stomped on it. No. He lives in Vancouver with his family and I have little to do with him.
He nodded with a grimace. Some men dont know when theyve got a good thing.
She shrugged. Owen Cannington was a B-grade actor who gave it all up years ago. He divorced my mother when I was two.
She kept his name, he pointed out.
Only because she was becoming well-known as Felicia Cannington. Her lips twisted. Mum said she may as well make some use of him.
Sounds like the divorce was amicable, he mocked.
She couldnt help herself. She had to smile, if only the tiniest one she could find.
Taking her by surprise, Alex was suddenly in front of her, putting his hand under her chin. She started to speak, but his mouth closed over hers, holding her there beneath him, taking without asking, as if it was his right.
And then his tongue dipped inside her mouth and did a sweep, exploring her, getting to know her, until she shuddered from a flood of sensation that shook her world.
He eased back, his eyes dark with a passion that didnt surprise her at all. There, he murmured huskily. At least thats one thing weve got out of the way.
She swallowed hard. UmI didnt know it was in the way.
He arched a mocking brow before leaving. They both knew she was lying, if even to herself.
Chapter Three
Alex watched Olivia walk toward him in her wedding gown. The white, off-the-shoulder, satin dress was slim and elegant, and it looked absolutely stunning on her. How had he not known she existed before this? he wondered, filled with a deep satisfaction that hed found the woman hed wanted for his temporary wife.
God, she was beautiful.
Beautiful and lovely and so very picture-perfect.
Surprisingly hed missed her these last two weeks and had actually been pleased to see her when shed arrived back in the country only forty-eight hours ago.
Thered been a hell of a lot to do with a high-profile wedding such as theirs, the time having gone fast, though not fast enough for his peace of mind. Hed wanted this marriage signed and sealed and he wanted Olivia Cannington in his bed. Just the thought of making her his sent the blood rushing through him.