A Proper Wife. Sandra Marton

looked up. She saw the faint smile on his handsome mouth, the chill in his eyes, and she stiffened. It was time for someone to make the first move, and it might as well be she.

      “Good evening, Mr. Kincaid,” she said. Her voice was steady, though her heart was thumping. “What an unpleasant surprise.”

      It was like throwing a bucket of water on a red-hot stove. There was an instant’s silence, and then, with a hiss like supercharged steam, Bettina swung toward Devon, eyes wide.

      “What did you say?”

      It was Ryan who answered, his voice icy.

      “She said that we’ve met before. Isn’t that right, Miss Franklin?”

      “We certainly have. We met this afternoon, at Montano’s.”

      Bettina gave a nervous laugh. “I don’t understand. Devon, you naughty girl, you never said-”

      “I didn’t know. We weren’t formally introduced.” Devon’s smile was rimmed with frost. “I had no idea this—gentleman—was Ryan Kincaid.”

      Bettina looked from Ryan to Devon. “You mean, you sold something to Ryan today, at Montano’s?”

      Ryan gave a harsh, cold bark of laughter. Devon shot him a furious look, then turned toward Bettina.

      “No, Mother. I didn’t sell Mr. Kincaid anything.”

      James cleared his throat. “Ryan? I’m afraid I’m lost here, too. How do you and Devon know each other?”

      Ryan smiled thinly. “I went into Montano’s today. Miss Franklin works there. Isn’t that right, Miss Franklin?”

      “I worked there until this afternoon,” Devon said defiantly. “I was fired.”

      “How unfortunate.” Ryan smiled and leaned back against the edge of his grandfather’s desk. “Why not tell us about it?”

      Devon felt color rush into her cheeks. Damn Ryan Kincaid! Hadn’t he embarrassed her enough today?

      “Miss Franklin?” His voice was silky. “We’re all waiting to hear the details. I’m sure it’s a fascinating story.”

      He smiled, folded his arms over his chest and rocked back just a little on his heels. That was just how he’d looked at Montano’s, that smug, superior smile curling across his too handsome face, that arms-folded, back-on-his-heels stance that said he was far too good for the rest of the world and especially for mere peons like her.

      Devon drew a deep, deep breath.

      “It’s not fascinating,” she said, “it’s depressing. To think that a...a male chauvinist pig like you could—”

      “Devon!”

      “It’s the truth, Mother,” Devon said furiously, “and I’m not going to pretty things up just so we don’t offend the Kincaids!”

      “The truth is never offensive,” James said mildly. “Why don’t you tell us what happened, girl?”

      Devon spun toward him. “I’ll tell you what happened,” she said through her teeth. “I was doing my job and your grandson here decided to make an ass of himself, that’s what happened!” She flung back her head, crossed her arms over her breasts, and glared at Ryan. “And when I refused to let him insult me, I was fired.”

      Ryan smiled thinly. “It’s amazing, how a few details left out of a story can change it so completely.”

      “The only detail I’ve left out is my full opinion of you,” Devon retorted, “but I’ll keep that much to myself.” Her eyes glittered. “I wouldn’t want to shock your grandfather.”

      “How generous of you,” Ryan said.

      “Listen, you...you—”

      “Careful, sweetheart. Watch your language, or you’ll blow the Miss Innocent image completely.” He smiled with malice. “Actually, I think you already have. It’s probably too late to salvage anything now.”

      “Devon?” Bettina, her knuckles white as she clenched the back of a chair, stared at her daughter. “What on earth is he talking about?”

      Devon gave Ryan one last glare, then swung toward her mother.

      “He’s talking lies,” she snapped. “I told you, I was at work—”

      “She was coming down the steps in an ankle-length, velvet cape,” Ryan said coldly, “looking like every man’s dream, and I said—”