While the waiter cleared their plates away and made their conversation impossible to continue, Logan imagined Sophie in Charlotte's position. He saw that as an adult, she was still emotional about the loss of her parents. It underlined his need to do all he could for Charlotte.

Your grandfather looked after you?' he asked when the waiter had left.

Yes.' A flash of grief flitted across her features. It was a confusing time. I was already staying with my grandfather because he always looked after me when Mum and Dad jetted off somewhere together.'

You're lucky you had him.'

We've had our moments but I know that as domineering as he can be, he loves me completely.'

I want Charlotte to know that love.' Would Sophie help him achieve that for Charlotte? You spoke about women wanting to snare a rich husband, and your first fiance wanting your fortune, but Mrs Winston is trying to get her hands on Charlotte's inheritance. If you knew Scott and Kathleen, then you'd know that Scott owned several boutique hotels around Australia, and Charlotte is worth a considerable fortune.'

If money's her grandmother's motivation, have you tried to settle this out of court?'

Yep, to the tune of five million dollars. The woman's not stupid. She knows Charlotte's inherited a lot more than that.'

Five million's a lot to turn down.' Sophie shook her head in disbelief. You're sure money's her sole motivation?'

Charlotte hardly knew her grandmother before the accident. The woman never took the slightest interest in her. From things Kathleen said, the only time Thea ever contacted her was when she wanted Kathleen to bail her out with money when her electricity was about to be cut off, or her rates needed paying. Kathleen was a means to an end for her mother, nothing more.' Logan thought back to the funeral. Back to the woman's obvious crocodile tears. Just the sight of Kathleen's mother churned his gut. In some ways the woman reminded him of his own mother - a woman whose sole goal was wealth.

Perhaps she regrets that and now Kathleen's gone, she's trying to forge a bond with her granddaughter?'

I don't believe it for a second. I'm sure money's her motivation.' One finger tapped against the table. But, as my sister has pointed out, even if I paid Thea off, the court still has to approve of me as guardian.'

So you need a wife to convince the court that you can provide a stable home life for little Charlotte?'

Exactly.'

He could see she was deep in thought as she looked at him. Was she seriously considering his plight?

You don't really need a wife. You need a mother for Charlotte,' she said at last.

His lips twisted but he couldn't deny it. You're right. If it wasn't for Charlotte, I would never consider marriage. But you know Charlotte. You must know a little of what she's going through right now.'

I don't know her that well, but I can imagine.' She picked up her wine gla.s.s, inhaled the bouquet and drank.

For Charlotte's sake, will you be my wife?'

Sophie coughed hard, choking on her wine. Placing the gla.s.s back on the table, her lips twisted. You're really serious?'

Totally.'

A few moments pa.s.sed and she took another sip of her wine before admitting, There's something I haven't told you.'

Sophie Hamilton was certainly intriguing. He was interested in what she was about to say, as she didn't look particularly comfortable.

My grandfather gave Felix and I six months each to take over the reins of Carlisle Mining. I went first and Felix has almost finished his term. Grandfather's about to make a decision as to who will take over permanently.'

You said you want to run the corporation.'

Yes. I know I'm the better person for it.' Her lips thinned. I can't stand the thought of Felix having it. He's not trustworthy, and I don't think he has the best interests of the company at heart. He especially has no time for our employees or the environment. His management style infuriates me and...' She stopped. Sorry. I tend to go into a tirade whenever it comes to Felix.'

Don't apologise. I took an instant dislike to him earlier. From what I've heard, he's had a lot of trouble with the unions.'

Yes. And he's gone against my advice and made bad decisions, which have led to us being summoned to appear before the Land and Environment Court. Grandfather realises I'm the better person for the job, but he's also spoken of how lonely he was when my grandmother died.' Her fingers began pleating a linen napkin. He says if I become the Managing Director before I am in a committed relationship, he doesn't believe I'll ever marry, and he thinks it's important I have someone in my life to share all the ups and downs.'

Logan nodded. That's why he's so keen to see you married.'

Yes.'

It seems to me that marriage could work for both of us.' He leant back in his chair, looking entirely satisfied with the situation.

Her fingers moved on the stem of the wine gla.s.s, twisting it round and round on the tablecloth. This is all completely hypothetical, but let's say I agreed, how long would you expect the marriage to last?'

I'd need it to last until I knew for certain I had custody, but for you to also gain from the arrangement we could agree to stay together until you're appointed into the top position at Carlisle.'

She gave him a hard look. Haven't you realised that it would be rough on Charlotte thinking we were a couple then having us split?'

To be perfectly honest, I'm thinking on the run here, but surely if Rigby is ill, he'll want to settle the MD position as quickly as possible and we won't need to stay married for too long?'

Her lips firmed, but she didn't respond immediately and his heart lifted as he thought she might be seriously considering his proposition.

You're talking about marrying before the court case. What happens if you don't win?'

From my point of view we could divorce straight away,' he said easily. However, this has to be a win-win, so if you needed for us to stay married for longer in order to secure your position in the company, then I'd go along with that.'

A waiter dropped some crockery a few tables away, causing a momentary distraction.

Sophie regarded Logan and shook her head. I must be mad even contemplating this. Marriage is a huge step and I'm seriously not prepared to go there again, especially as a business deal.' She raised one finger in a gesture of concession. But I might be prepared to consider a temporary engagement for the purpose of putting my grandfather's mind at ease and helping you gain custody of Charlotte.'

A temporary engagement isn't enough for me, because the court could believe it was a set-up. Marriage would be viewed as more permanent.'

Marriage is supposed to be permanent.' She held out her hands, palms up and shrugged. That's the problem, because even though you're proposing a temporary arrangement, we'd still have to face all the media speculation when it came to filing for a divorce. Questions would be raised and frankly, I don't think I could cope with that level of interest again in my personal life.'

Our marriage and divorce would raise no more interest than our engagement.'

A strangled sound of frustration emerged from her mouth. To even be talking about this is nuts.' He heard the refusal in her voice. We don't know each other so we certainly don't want to tie ourselves together through marriage.'

He sat straighter. But we've already come to know so much about each other in such a short time. I'll bet some of the things you've told me tonight, you haven't told anybody else. Haven't we both opened up to each other about the most serious personal issues we're facing right now because we've already figured out at a very instinctive level that we can trust each other?'

She frowned at that statement, but didn't voice a denial before she objected, We don't love each other.'

In my experience, love doesn't hold a marriage together. You're divorced. I'd say that speaks for itself.'

Sophie held out her hands in a gesture of pure exasperation. I don't want to marry you.'

But you want to know me as your lover. You know d.a.m.ned well there's a special connection between us. I'll be honest and admit that I've never felt anything this strong or this instant.'

She gulped. Being attracted to you is completely different from wanting to be married to you.'

At last, an admission that you're attracted to me.' That was something!

Logan, I don't know a lot about you, but I do know that by reputation you're a serial womaniser. Even as a purely business arrangement, I have no intention of being married to a man who has affairs all over the place.' Everything in her body language and her tone told him she was adamant. Having been betrayed by the first guy I was engaged to, I don't want to go through it again.'

Determined to persuade her, Logan willed her to see that marriage could be a win-win situation for both of them. I told you earlier that I insist on exclusivity during a relationship. I've never offered marriage. I don't make promises I can't keep. I'm promising you now that I'd work at our marriage so we're both happy for as long as we're together and I can tell you in all honesty that I've never been a cheat.'

Those are pretty ma.s.sive promises. Just how long has your longest relationship lasted?'

That's not the point.'

How long?' she demanded.

Emerald eyes bored into him and made him feel uncomfortable. d.a.m.n it all! Did he even know the answer to that? What did it matter, anyway? He'd never been married when he'd gone from one woman to the next. He willed himself to sit still in his chair and think.

A month,' he replied after consideration. It had only lasted that long because he'd been taken hostage and hadn't got around to breaking it off with his lover, but that wasn't something Sophie needed to know.

Her short laugh was pure exasperation. How can you possibly tell me our marriage would work even in the short-term? You can't declare you'd be faithful. Exclusivity in any relationship is easy when the whole relationship is based on something both parties know is transient. As soon as your interest has waned in a woman, you've probably just said "It's over" and moved onto the next woman who's caught your eye.'

Well, that was how things worked, and all his women had known the score so why was it wrong? He'd never cheated on any of them, but he'd never promised commitment before either. He was about to tell her that when she held up a hand to stop him.

Eyeing him cynically, she said, Your record of faithfulness to the partners you've had that last a night, a couple of days, a week or a month is no shining testimony.'

I wasn't married then. I'll be making a commitment to you for the duration of our relationship, just like I'm making a commitment to Charlotte. My whole life is going to change,' he argued. You and I would both benefit from being married and we'd be going into this with our eyes wide open. We both understand business deals. Think of it as a business contract. Fidelity and working at making each other happy - both in the bedroom and out of it - are part of the terms until both of us have achieved our goals.'

A blush stained the exposed skin of her chest, but her features moved into an expression of amused disbelief. It's not enough. You can't turn something personal into a business contract.'

G.o.d d.a.m.n it! It was a h.e.l.l of a lot more of a concession than he'd first been prepared to make. Initially he'd planned to find a woman to marry in name only, and to conduct a series of discreet affairs. Now he was planning marriage to Sophie, there was no way the marriage would be a name-only one. Was Sophie really going to hold out on him when it was just as much to her benefit that she got married? Was she really hoping she'd find love?

You've already told me you're planning to stay single for the rest of your life. Think of the benefits in a mutually amicable short-term marriage. It could make your grandfather's dying wish come true and help you get the position of Managing Director that you want.'

I have no desire to notch up another divorce. Besides, I don't want to marry you.'

I can think of a number of women who would marry me.'

She sat back with an I-rest-my-case expression. I'm sure that's true. Go ask one of them.'

I'm asking you.'

And I've given you my answer. If I ever decided to get married again it wouldn't be the type of marriage you're proposing, and I don't believe it would be fair on Charlotte in the long-term. She's already lost her parents. You don't want her to have to go through a divorce as well.'

Look at the way you're already thinking of her needs. You'd be a fabulous mother.'

Every facial feature froze and she blanched.

Instantly concerned, he reached out for her. Sophie? What's wrong?' What had he said?

The way she shook her head told him the barriers between them had just been raised again. The colour came back to her cheeks and she released a hiss of annoyance. You've just met me. You can't make judgement calls like that when your G.o.ddaughter's happiness is at stake.'

Her reaction perplexed him. Cautiously, he asked, Don't you think you'd be an excellent mother to Charlotte?'

Of course I'd be an...' Another sound of annoyance as she realised she'd fallen into his trap and was agreeing with him.

I'm a very good judge of character.' He was. He'd only made one mistake in his life. That mistake was the very same reason he was prepared to enter a loveless marriage. The reason he'd never entrust his heart to any woman ever again.

One of Sophie's hands tightened into a fist, but when she said, You're impossible,' the words were almost a sob.

His heart took a dive. I've upset you.' Oh, d.a.m.n it. I'm sorry.' Yeah, he'd pushed her, but didn't she see the merit in his proposal? I'm really sorry.'

Sophie half covered her face with one hand, took a deep breath and seemed to pull herself together. So you should be. You're awfully pushy, Logan Jackson.' She summoned a small smile but it was clear she was working hard at it. Do you ever take no for an answer?'

Rarely.' He couldn't smile back at her. It wasn't my intention to upset you.'

Although she shrugged his apology aside, he got the distinct impression that part of her struggled to keep emotion at bay. What had he said that had caused her so much grief?

You've got to admit the chances of us meeting here tonight are just amazing. You need to convince your grandfather you're in a relationship, and I need to convince the court of the same thing. What are the odds of that? Don't you feel that the dice is rolling in our favour?

This time her smile seemed genuine. I'm not a gambler.'

Maybe just this once you should be.' He held her gaze with his own. We do this, you get to be MD, and we make two people we love very happy.'

The look she gave him was part a.s.sessment, part exasperation. Part of me is tempted. You have a talent for making something that is so complex seem so simple.'

It can be as simple as we make it.' This time he raised a hand to silence her objection. I understand this is all happening too quickly for you. What can I say? I'm a make-things-happen kind of guy.' He smiled and deliberately made his posture relax, even though his brain was frantically trying to think of new ways to persuade her. If we'd been introduced by friends tonight and I'd asked you to have dinner with me tomorrow night, what would you've said?'

She only hesitated for a second. Yes.'

Then, Sophie, will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?'

You really do like to make things happen, don't you?'

Absolutely.'

Her eyes flew upward as though she were looking to the heavens for divine direction as to whether she should accept or decline his offer.

Have dinner with me and let's just get to know each other better,' he urged.

As she let out a deep breath, her face broke into another completely dazzling smile. I'm not going to marry you. As long as you can accept that, I'd love to have dinner with you tomorrow night.'

That's a start.'

One perfectly arched eyebrow lifted. That doesn't mean you're going to wear me down and have me fall neatly into your plans. I'm sure you usually get your way, but I'm not going to be persuaded to change my mind.'

Honey, I can see you're no pushover. I've never had to work this hard in my life to get a woman to go on a date with me!'

Sophie laughed again. Her green eyes flirted with him. Then spending time with me should be good for you. I have a sneaking suspicion your ego could use some deflating.'

Feeling as if he were on the verge of winning a major battle, Logan was energised and challenged. He'd never felt so stimulated by conversation with a woman, nor had he ever felt so much antic.i.p.ation at the thought of making a woman his lover. I have a sneaking suspicion you're just the woman to do it.'

Okay. We'll have dinner tomorrow night. If we both want to see each other again, and if you want to come away with me for the weekend I'll think about doing it - this weekend, I mean,' she clarified.