A Proper Wife

Thank God, James had seen Devon as she really was.

“Well?” Devon sprang to her feet. “Aren’t you going to say something? Are you just going to let your grandfather and my mother go on thinking they can arrange our lives? Not that I’d ever marry you,” she added quickly. “Why, I’d sooner—”

“Relax. The idea’s as dead as yesterday’s news.”

“Dead as yesterday’s...” Devon’s eyes widened. “Then, you did know about it?”

“My grandfather may have mentioned something,” Ryan answered casually. He looked at her, his eyes icy. “I told him it was out of the question.”

“I should hope so!”

His teeth showed in a quick, mirthless smile. “I can just imagine how you took the news. Helping your mother get her claws into the Kincaid money is one thing, but—”

“That’s a lie!”

“I’d give anything to have seen Bettina’s reaction to the thought of marrying you off to me with my grandfather’s blessing. She must have figured she’d hit the jackpot.”

Devon flushed. Ryan’s unkind assessment was right on the mark. Her mother had shrieked with excitement.

“Not at all,” she said, lying through her teeth. “My mother is only interested in my happiness.”

Ryan grinned. “Come on, baby, who are you kidding? The two of you probably spent the weekend planning your new life.” He shook his head in a mock parody of sorrow. “Too bad my grandfather never got around to telling her the deal was off before you and she celebrated.”

Devon’s head came up. “What do you mean?”

“James trotted his idea past me Friday night.” Ryan smiled coolly. “I turned it down before you and Bettina were out of the Kincaid driveway.”

“My mother didn’t know a thing about this Friday night.” Her face whitened. “Your grandfather called this morning.”

Ryan sat up straight in his chair. “That’s impossible.”

“He phoned early. Six or six-thirty, I think. I was reading through the paper, checking the want ads, when the phone rang. It was your grandfather, and he asked to speak with Bettina. And when she got off the phone, she said—she said...” Devon caught her breath. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I don’t believe it,” Ryan muttered. “How could he?”

“You’ve got to speak to him. Make him understand that it’s out of the question.”

“Of course it is.” Ryan shot to his feet. “The old man must have lost his mind!”

“He has to call my mother and tell her it was all a mistake. She...she’s rather excited about this, and-”

“Don’t worry,” Ryan said grimly. “Last time I checked, this was still a free country. People don’t get married because other people want them to.”

Devon felt as if a load was being lifted from her shoulders. “Excited” was a pathetic way to describe Bettina’s reaction to James’s call. “Frenzied” was far more accurate.

“Of course not. I just—I want to be sure your grandfather understands that... that—”

“Oh, I’ll make sure he understands,” Ryan said tersely. “He’s got this sudden fixation. But he’s not a fool, Devon. I’ll explain very clearly that I wouldn’t marry you under any circumstances.”

“Just be sure he knows I feel exactly the same way,” she said, her voice brisk.

Ryan’s green gaze darkened as it skimmed over her, lingering on the swift rise and fall of her breasts before returning to her face.

“On the other hand,” he said with a little smile, “I wouldn’t pass up the chance to take you to bed.”

Devon’s hand flew up but he caught it easily in his.

“If you’re honest,” he murmured, “you’ll admit you’ve thought the same thing.”