He was fresh out of ideas.

And the clock was ticking.

Faith wiped her nose with the tissue she’d dug out of her purse, hoping the tears would dry up by the time she walked in the house.

She sniffed, wanting nothing more than to sit on the front porch stoop and bawl like a baby. Really, she’d been doing this for years. One would think she’d be hardened to it by now.

But she wasn’t. Every time it happened it broke her heart, tore her up, and took her days to get over it.

If Ryan saw her like this, knew the reasons behind it, he’d think her a child. She was a grown up, and needed to be more stoic.

She dropped her purse on the porch and sat on one of the wicker chairs, focusing on the view as a hopeful distraction. The view of the Las Vegas strip was breathtaking. The McKay mansion sat atop a hill overlooking the best sight in town.

The lights weren’t as visible now as they would be in the dark, but the sun had begun its slow descent over the horizon, lighting up the glitzy hotels lining gambling central. And right in the middle of all the grandeur sat The Chalet, its stark white towers looming like Heaven’s gate in the middle of Babylon.

She swiped at the tears continuing their relentless roll down her cheeks, willing herself to stop crying. She really needed to learn to hold her emotions in.

“Mrs. McKay, is something wrong?”

Faith turned to see Leland standing at the front door, ever formal as usual. She hadn’t even heard him open the door.

“No,” she sniffed. “I’m fine.”

He stepped outside and pulled the front door partly shut. “You’re crying.”

“Just a little.”

“Is there something I can do?”

“It’s silly, really.”

Leland pulled a chair and sat next to her. Funny, he never sat when she did.

“Would you like to tell me about it?” he asked.

She smiled at him, touched that he would even consider asking. “I volunteer at the animal shelter.”

He nodded.

“Someone brought a litter of kittens in, along with the mother cat today.”

“Go on.”

She sniffed again. “The vet checked them and they all had feline leukemia, were malnourished and had to be put down.”

“I see.”

The tears fell again, despite her efforts to keep them at bay. Leland handed her a handkerchief, which she accepted gladly.

“I told you it was silly.” she said.

“It’s not silly to you.”

“They were so sweet, even the mama. But, because their owner hadn’t had her tested, she passed it on to her babies. Oh, and Leland,” she said as she turned and rested her hand on his knee, “they were adorable. Orange-and-white–striped, like little tigers.” She couldn’t hold it in any longer. She burst into tears, burying her face in Leland’s handkerchief.

Leland placed his arm around her shoulders and patted, offering what to him must have been an unprecedented amount of emotion.

“Thank you,” she managed when she could catch a breath. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me today, but every time they put one of those sweet little things to death a part of me dies too.”

“You love animals.”

She nodded. “I was never allowed pets as a child, and my apartment has rules against them, so I’ve never had one of my own. That’s why I volunteer. So I can at least be around them once a week, but then when they have to be…”

There she went again. She was a basket case, pure and simple.

Leland continued to pat her back. He really was so sweet to her. He and Margaret both. Over the past weeks she’d come to think of them as family. Truthfully, they were the only family she had.

Leland stayed with her in the growing darkness and held her until she’d finished crying over the lost babies.

Thank God Ryan hadn’t been the one to see her out here blubbering like a baby over a few dead kittens.

Faith hadn’t seen her husband all evening. After her crying jag she’d gone to her room to wash her face. At dinner, Margaret told her Ryan had gone to the office to do a few things and would be back later in the evening.

Margaret and Leland went to a movie, so that left Faith home alone.

After a relaxing shower, she spent the evening curled up on the window seat with a book.

Funny how just a few short weeks ago this was her normal routine.

Now it seemed…lonely.

The front door opened and she heard Ryan’s voice followed by his footsteps up the stairs. Instead of opening the door he spoke to her from outside.

“Faith? Are you in there?”

How strange. “Yes, of course. Is the door locked?” She started toward the door to check.

“Don’t move!”

She halted mid-stride. “Okay. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Turn away from the door and close your eyes.”

Now what? More jewelry? Faith sighed, hoping he hadn’t gotten extravagant with her again. Really, fancy jewels just weren’t her style.

She did as he asked and turned to face the window.

“Are you turned around?”

His voice had an excited edge to it. No matter what it was, she was going to act surprised and delighted, not wanting to disappoint him.

“Yes, I’m turned around.”

“Are your eyes closed?”

“Yes, Ryan, they’re closed.”

She waited in the middle of the bedroom, feeling a little foolish. She heard the door open and shivered when his warm breath caressed her shoulder.

“Still closed?” he whispered.

“Yes.”

Nothing happened for a few seconds. She felt a tickle at her nose, and then her cheek, as something soft and fuzzy was passed against her face.

She frowned, trying to imagine what in the world he had in his hands.

Then she heard the sound.

A soft mewling.

Her eyes flew open and in the palm of Ryan’s hand was a tiger-striped kitten. She gasped and turned to her husband.

Ryan smiled like a man who knew he had just found the perfect gift for his wife.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed as he handed the small kitten to her.

She cradled it in her arms and ran her palm against its back, feeling its rhythmic purring. Her traitorous eyes welled with tears again, but this time they were tears of joy.

“I can’t believe you did this. How did you know?”

“I eavesdropped on you and Leland outside today.” He slid a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry about the kittens, Faith. I know that must have been difficult for you.”

He stroked her cheek so softly, his voice so sincere she was certain she was going to need more hankies soon. She picked up the kitten and held it at eye level. Its clear blue eyes stood out in contrast against its orange fur.

“This is mine? I can keep it?”

“Of course you can,” he said as he stroked the kitten’s head with his fingertip. “Kinda cute, isn’t he?”

She sniffed, too overcome with emotion to even make an attempt at holding back. Tough businessman Ryan McKay had bought his wife a kitten. “Yes. Yes he is. I still can’t believe you did this for me. Where did you get him?”

“At one of the animal shelters.”

“Oh, Ryan.” More tears spilled. “That’s just perfect.”

“I also bought a bed, litter box, food and some toys. If they’re not the right kinds of things, you can take them back to the pet store and exchange them.”

“I’m sure they’re just fine.” She shook her head, unable to believe this side of him. He touched her heart with this gesture like no jewelry or tropical vacations ever could.

They set up Tiger, as Faith named him, in the upstairs bathroom. He had plenty of tile floor to romp on and ample space for his bed, food and litter box. They sat on the floor and laughed at the kitten’s antics, including its futile attempts to pull the toilet paper completely off the roll.

Despite Ryan’s deep, resounding voice admonishing the kitten, Tiger was relentless. He played like a true wild thing for all of thirty minutes until he was completely worn out. His belly full, he passed out in his tiny little bed.

Ryan closed the door on the bathroom and turned to Faith.

“I think he’s out for the night.”

She nodded, so full of joy her heart couldn’t contain it all. She regarded her husband in a new light. “Yes, I’m certain he is.” She stepped toward him, stopping no more than a hand’s width away. Ryan’s eyes widened.

“Thank you.” She pressed a light kiss to his lips.

“You’re very welcome,” he replied, his gray eyes darkening.

“I can’t believe you did this for me.”

“My pleasure.”

Certain now more than ever of the life-changing step she intended to take this evening, she laid her hands upon his shoulders and inched closer, molding herself to him until their bodies touched, watching his eyes widen with surprise. “Your pleasure? I don’t think so. That’s about to come.”

Without hesitation she slid one hand behind his neck and pulled his head down, pressing her mouth against his.

Chapter Ten

Ryan was sure he was dreaming all this. Faith’s warm lips pressed gently against his, the tip of her tongue dancing lightly along the edge of his mouth.

He could tell she wasn’t well practiced in the art of seduction. That excited him, knowing what she gave to him she’d never given to another man. Archaic way of thinking, but he couldn’t help but feel immense satisfaction at being the first man to make love to her.

She threaded her fingers through his hair and pressed her body closer, an unspoken invitation he wasn’t about to turn down.

In less than an instant he was hard and ready for her. He slid his hands around her waist, pulling her against his tortured heat.

How could innocence taste this erotic? Maybe it was the complete lack of hesitation in her kiss. She held nothing back, gave all of herself freely, abandoning herelf to the moment.

He brushed his lips over hers, searching her tongue out and finding it, tasting it, sliding his over hers in an intensely erotic interplay that left them both breathless.

“Faith, are you sure?” He pulled back and searched her face for uncertainty, but found none.

She nodded. “Yes, absolutely sure. Make love to me, Ryan.”

He needed no further urging and swept her into his arms, her silk gown draping over him. He laid her on the bed and stood at the edge, watching her.

Her hair spread out like a silken, sable fan across the pillow. One lacy strap of gown slipped off her shoulder, exposing the soft, round top of her breast. She seemed completely relaxed, one arm thrown over her head and the other resting across her middle.

At that moment he wished he were an artist so he could capture the look on her face. Her eyes sparkled invitingly, as if she held all the secrets he yearned to discover.

The side slit on the gown parted, showing a slender leg. Ryan swallowed, his throat gone dry at the sight of this wanton creature spread before him.

Her hungry eyes fixed on his as he removed his shoes and pulled the sweater over his head. Her breathing quickened and his gaze focused on that small pink tongue as she licked her lips.

He couldn’t get undressed fast enough.

The thought of ripping his clothes off appealed to him, but he didn’t want to frighten her. Instead, he slowly slipped out of his jeans and boxers and settled on the bed next to her. He waited for a reaction, but instead of fear her expressive blue eyes gleamed in anticipation. His heart rammed in his chest in an effort to pump the blood racing through his body.

He’d never wanted a woman more than he wanted Faith. Despite his self-protestations about this being nothing more than sex, he felt connected to her. Invisible threads bound them together. The thought should have frightened him, made him wary. It didn’t. It simply felt right.

She swallowed, followed by a shaky sigh.

“Are you nervous?” he whispered as he scooted closer to her.

“Not really. I’ve waited a long time for this moment, Ryan.” She snuggled against him and trailed her fingertip up his arm, then grasped his biceps and slowly slid her hand down to his wrist.

Didn’t she know what that did to him? That stroking, soft and gentle, her hands running like silk over his sensitive skin. He wanted her to touch him everywhere, just like that.

Especially in the place that was hard and throbbing.

She kept up her assault on his skin. “I know it’s nothing to you, but to me it’s a once in a lifetime thing. Silly, I know, but still important.”

Nothing? Was she kidding? Making love to Faith was everything to him. He wanted to make this moment special for her, wanted her to know he didn’t take this gift lightly, no matter what she may think.

“It’s important to me too. More than you know.”

Her eyes captivated him, so open and honest. “I know. This is about business, about your grandfather’s will.”

She seemed to accept that as fact. She thought this was all about the will?

He leaned up on his elbow and stilled her hand. “This isn’t at all about business. Not tonight. Tonight it’s personal. It’s you and me—a man and woman together. It’s about making love, and nothing else.”

Her eyes glistened and he swept away the single tear that dropped down her cheek.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked.

The question made his heart crumble. He watched the play of eagerness mixed with uncertainty cross her face.

Tangling his fingers in her soft hair, he breathed in her sweet scent.

“This isn’t a scripted event. There are no rules. We’ll take it slow—touch each other, kiss each other, and let it happen naturally.”