She readjusted her hold on her bag, her palms feeling sweaty now. “I am not a dog, nor indeed am I any type of pet. Rephrase.”
He chuckled, a dark sound that poured over her like melting honey. That made her shiver. “Okay, why don’t you tell me what you came here to tell me so that I can go take my shower?”
Her patience was wearing thin. She was still standing in the sweaty gym and, frankly, his bare chest was having more of an effect on her than she would like. Was making her feel as if there was a gaping hole in her plan. All of that was conspiring to put her in a very cranky mood. And that was the only thing that could account for the words that came out of her mouth next.
“All right, Mr. Markin. I just came here to ask you a question. Will you marry me?”
* * *
Dmitri looked at the powerhouse blonde standing in front of him. She was pale, with slim curves, long, lean legs and an expression that could make a lesser man wilt where he stood. And if the look of her didn’t accomplish it, that crisp English accent, so posh it made a man feel as if he ought to put on a tie before he could speak to her, would.
He, however, was not a lesser man and was therefore not wilting. Not in the least. And he wasn’t putting on a damned tie.
“Sorry, you might have had better luck with the proposal if you had taken the dress off.”
“Cheap thrills are your thing, then?” she asked, arching a finely shaped brow.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah. I like a cheap thrill. Though, these days I can afford an expensive thrill, too. But honestly, why not just embrace every thrill available?” He looked her over again, taking in every curved line, every enticingly female part of her. “I would have picked you for an expensive thrill. But as you’ve price checked yourself...”
“You’ll find me short on thrills, Mr. Markin,” she said, her voice biting. “Unless what I have to offer you is a thrill—and do not get too excited. It has nothing to do with bare skin.”
“Marriage usually does have something to do with bare skin. It is the only reason I can see anyone would enter into the union. Though, I’ve found my share outside of it.”
“Which could be part of why you’re having such a hard time finding support for your charity.”
The back of his neck prickled. “How did you know about that?”
The charity he was working on establishing in Colvin’s name was not common knowledge. Yes, he’d approached a few people about it, but he’d told those people to be discreet. The reactions had all been the same, too.
He would need support. Because a man with a reputation for driving too fast, sleeping with too many women, a man who had earned his fortune in the ring...would have his efforts met with cynicism.
And he could not afford to have a negative reaction. Colvin was dead. There would be no paying him back in this life. But he could show the world what the other man had done for him. Offer choices to children who were in the position he had once been in.
Choices he had never had. Control that had been wrenched from him on a cold day in Moscow.
“I always have an ear to the ground,” Victoria said, “plus, I have sat on the board for a great many charities over the years and have quite a few connections. I use those connections to my advantage.”
“How does supporting a kids’ charity benefit you?”
She blinked wide blue eyes slowly. “What do you mean? I’m only thinking of the children.”
He swore crudely in Russian and laughed. “Right. I’m sure you are.”
“I take it you don’t believe me?”
“Do I believe the Ice Princess is thinking of the children? No. You would have to emanate some warmth before I would believe that.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Sorry. Too busy to emanate today I’m afraid. Perhaps another time. However, I assure you I approach my charity work with complete dedication. But I save my passion for my work, so none for you, I’m afraid. Now, about my proposal...”
“Why did you propose?”
She lifted a brow. “It was love at first sight?”
“No.”
She leveled her gaze, meeting his, her eyes alight with determination. “I want London Diva back.”
He frowned at the mention of one of his holdings. “Excuse me?”
“London Diva. I want the company signed back over to my family.”
“Calder,” he said, repeating her name. Of course he hadn’t made the immediate connection. He’d bought the chain of high-end retail stores out from under Nathan Barrett a few years back, but he knew it had been founded by Geoffrey Calder some thirty years earlier. “You’re Geoffrey Calder’s... Well, you can’t be his wife because you just proposed to me. His daughter?”
“Very good guess. A correct guess.”
“So, you walk in and propose marriage, then demand a portion of my business. And what will you do for me in return?”
“You may have seen some of my charity work in the media. They speak quite highly of me. Some outlets have made comparisons with Mother Teresa, though I think that’s selling her a bit short. It isn’t as if I’ve given up all of my worldly possessions,” she said, flashing her expensive-looking handbag. “But, though I’m not a paragon, I am, compared to you. And I have something you want. Something you seem incapable of buying.”
He waved a hand. “Foolish woman. I have yet to find anything I can’t buy.”
“Except a better reputation.” The expression on her face was almost comically angelic. He imagined she would look innocent of a crime just as she was about to cut a man’s throat.
He liked that.
But what he didn’t like was the fact that she had his balls in a vise. And was tightening it slowly. His reputation as a businessman was flawless. His reputation as a human being had some issues. “And why do you suppose I need to improve my reputation?”
“Because if what I’ve heard is true, you want to launch this charity for children. Gyms offering free and reduced-rate lessons in martial arts and other physical fitness activities for children in high risk situations. But no one trusts you to be involved in anything concerning children. Because let’s face it, who would have you spearheading a charity for children. You are, by all accounts, cantankerous, ill-tempered, foulmouthed and hotheaded. Did I miss anything?”
He took a step toward her and took a great amount of satisfaction in watching her shrink a bit. “Yes. I’m also something of a womanizer. That doesn’t help my cause. I mean, what with all the rumors flying around about how I meet a woman, take her to dinner and have her naked, between my sheets and screaming my name in only a couple of hours—”
She held up a hand, clearly irritated with the line of dialogue.
