Ty tucked a strand of her soft, silky hair behind her ear. No doubt about it, even with her jaw bunched and her eyes boring into his hide, she was a beautiful woman. And those green eyes gave away every thought in her head. She’d actually been considering marriage. Guess she was willing to do just about anything to keep Prescott Rodeo.
Too bad he was such an honest guy.
“You know I can’t promise that, because I made a different promise to JM. But I will promise that I’ll do my best to help you keep the business viable. Whether the company is sold or kept, it’s in my best interest and everyone’s best interest to do that.” Ty moved her across the dance floor further from their booth. He hadn’t intended to be so blunt, but in his experience, truth was the best anecdote to wishful thinking.
She stared, her chest rising and falling seductively in deep breaths, just like he imagined would be the case when he made hard and fast love to her.
“Has Stan made you an offer?”
“I’d liken it to our situation, Mandy. Stan’s in the courting stage, so to speak.”
“How is that anything like our situation?”
“I’m trying to court you.”
She scowled. “You haven’t been trying to court me, Martin. You’ve been trying to get me in your bed. Big difference.”
He shook his head. “No. I’ve been trying to marry you. That’s the big difference.”
“So you can have your cake and eat it too…”
He arched his eyebrows. Now that was an intriguing metaphor. She blushed—an angry blush.
“You know what I mean.”
He stroked his thumb across her smooth back. Just touching her had him hot. He could just imagine what he’d feel if he were inside of her. “What I know is that we have an opportunity to enjoy each other for half a year, at which time you would get to lead the company if I don’t have a better deal on the table by then. Worst case for me, I’d get a larger share of Prescott. So, if selling is such a bad idea…marry me.”
The last two words almost caught in his throat. He’d sworn he’d never say them. Now here he was, asking a woman who didn’t even like him. Desire and money were potent motivators for sure. Made men do crazy things. He was apparently no exception.
“That’s some proposal.”
“Seems your best play.” He counted on her preferring honesty to sweet talking. “I’m willing to abide by the provisions of that bizarre will. But I’m a realist. We will end up in bed. Married or otherwise.”
“You’re awfully sure of yourself,” she challenged. She lifted her hand to smooth down her hair and then returned it to his shoulder. Despite the air-conditioning, the room felt warm.
“We’ve been circling around each other for ten years now. It’s time we tested out what we’d be like together. Hell, marriages have been based on a lot less than the physical attraction we have—and don’t go spoiling my sense of your integrity by lying about what you feel. Your lips didn’t lie.”
She swallowed hard and rested her chin on his shoulder, facing away from him. The fact she didn’t snap right back or refute his assertion about their sexual attraction, he’d take as tacit agreement.
“Can you think of a good reason why we shouldn’t marry temporarily?” he said against her ear. He hadn't closed deals by laying back.
She lifted her head. “You’ll get more shares in the company, and I might never be rid of your interference. If you agreed, in writing, not to sell Prescott, however, I’d be much more interested in marrying you.”
Ty released a smile. This was the oddest negotiation he’d ever been involved with. “No deal on that score. I gave JM my word. I owe it to him to do the best thing for the family. Besides, sounds a little too much like blackmail.”
“Then guess you’ll have to be content with getting the ranch house.” The way she scowled, he knew she hated that idea almost as much as she hated the thought of marrying him.
“I told you before, I’m not interested in the ranch house, Mandy. I’m interested in us being together after all this time.” He held her closer, tighter. He could feel every inch of her body against every inch of his. Damn she felt good in his arms. She’d feel even better in his bed.
“Just for another notch on the old belt?” She looked up at him and thrust out her chin. He admired her fight, but she was choosing the wrong battle.
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a woman I find…challenging. And desirable.”
She blushed, the color suffusing her cheeks with a rosy pink glow, making her look like a cute little Kewpie doll.
“As for the company,” he continued, “after the six months, I wouldn’t own enough shares to sell it or block you in whatever you wanted to do, even if I could make a case that I had ideas for a better use of capital.”
She picked at something on his shoulder. “I don’t trust you, Martin,” she finally allowed.
“No kidding.”
“I guess that’s been obvious.” Her eyes shimmered in the light, like pools of deep water under the moon. There was something about this woman. Something that challenged him to dig deeper, try harder.