Faith rarely saw him at the McKay offices. Ryan told her James was more interested in traveling, tennis and carousing than he was in actual work. But when the occasional social events occurred, he always managed to make an appearance.
“Good morning, James,” she said, trying to be polite. Faith had never liked him. He was sickeningly sweet to the point of frightening her. The leering grins he threw her way made her want to scratch all over. Despite his overt friendliness, James McKay didn’t have a sincere bone in his body. Faith knew the only reason he wanted control of McKay Corporation was because he hated Ryan. It had nothing to do with personal drive or ambition.
“I hear you married my cousin last night.” James helped himself to coffee and sat in the chair next to Faith. “How did you manage that?”
What was she supposed to say? It was a known fact to almost everyone that the terms of Quentin McKay’s will forced Ryan to marry, so James knew it wasn’t a love match.
“Unfortunately, Erica could not marry Ryan, so he asked me to help him.”
“And ever the faithful assistant you are, of course you couldn’t say no.” James cast a patronizing smile. He was plying her for information.
She was bound and determined to give him nothing.
“Of course.”
James circled his finger around his cup. “And the cheapskate didn’t even take you on a honeymoon? He was planning to take Erica to Hawaii.
I’d have thought he’d take you. I guess not, huh?”
She tried to ignore James’s intended slam. So she wasn’t Erica and was in fact Ryan’s last and only hope to meet the terms of the will.
Obviously he and Erica had quite a different relationship. That’s why he hadn’t taken Faith to Hawaii.
Not that she really wanted to go. Not much, anyway. Okay, she would have been delighted if he’d suggested it.
“We have work to do on Monday. Obviously, marrying me was quite different than marrying Erica.”
“Obviously.” James smirked.
No wonder Ryan didn’t like him.
“So now I get to be your watchdog for the next year. I’m looking forward to that.”
“I’ll just bet you are,” Ryan said as he walked into the kitchen.
Faith’s eyes met Ryan’s and he smiled as he headed toward her. She was shocked to the tips of her toes when he bent down and brushed a light kiss on the top of her head.
“Good morning, wife.” His voice was low and warm.
Her eyes lingered on him. “Good morning,” she finally managed in a throaty whisper that sounded more sensual than shocked.
“Well isn’t this cozy? The newlyweds all warm and cuddly after their first night together.” James leaned back in the chair and scrutinized them, arching one brow. “Must have been an eventful wedding night.”
Oh God. Wedding night. Faith looked to Ryan in horror as she realized all her things were still in the other bedroom. The last thing they needed was for James to find out they hadn’t spent their wedding night in the same room.
But Ryan had a calm Faith didn’t possess. He lightly caressed the side of her neck with his fingertips. Despite the fact she knew this was for James’s benefit only, her body responded, tightening and flooding with desire.
“Yes, it was an eventful night,” he said in a husky voice that even Faith believed to be genuine.
“This looks like the right place.” Stan Fredericks entered the kitchen.
Faith had always liked Stan. He had an open, honest face and was sharp as a tack in business matters. Plus, he was devoted to Ryan. As attorney to the McKay family, Stan had been around more than twenty-five years, and the McKays considered him a friend as well as business associate.
“You might as well join in,” Ryan said. “James has already plied us with questions. Now it’s your turn.”
Stan grinned at Ryan, clearly unaffected by his client’s surly tone. “I don’t have any questions right now. Just stopped in to fulfill my official duties before I run off to play tennis. I’m having my things moved in this afternoon, so you can direct them to whatever bedroom you choose.”
Ryan nodded and Stan left.
“This should be a fun year, all of us huddled up together like one big, happy family.” James leaned back and crossed his arms, a satisfied smile on his face.
“Yeah. Right. Lots of fun,” Ryan answered.
Ryan’s clipped tone alerted Faith to his state of irritation. No one got under his skin more than his cousin.
“Well, I think I’ll head on up to my bedroom and have a nap. I’ll take the one down the hall from yours,” James said with a yawn as he rose from the table.
Down the hall? But that was where she had slept last night. Where her things still were. Faith stood, ready to run upstairs if necessary.
“Wait!”
James turned and lifted an eyebrow. “Something wrong with that bedroom?”
Ryan squeezed Faith’s shoulder. “Not at all. My new bride thinks that maybe she’ll make too much noise at night and keep you awake, being so close to our room.”
Her cheeks flamed. James laughed.
“I’ll be sure to keep my ears open for suspicious noises then,” James said with a wink in her direction.
As soon as he left the room Faith turned to Ryan. “My things are still in there! My wedding dress and—”
“Don’t worry,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. “As soon as you left the bedroom the staff moved your things to my room, changed the sheets, made the bed and cleaned up the bathroom. It will look like no one’s slept in that room in years.”
Faith exhaled with relief. “Oh. That was close.”
Ryan chuckled. “Not really. I already figured James would pop up earlier than expected. He may think he’s smarter than me, but he’s not.
If you hadn’t slept like the dead this morning I’d have had it done much sooner.”
Guilt immediately set in. “I’m sorry, I’m usually an early riser. I don’t know what happened. You should have woken me.”
“Hey, relax. I was teasing you. You had a long day yesterday. I’m surprised you didn’t sleep later.”
She wasn’t buying it. “You had a long day yourself, but I’ll bet you didn’t sleep in.”
He shrugged. “I don’t sleep much.”