Her Accidental Husband (16 page)

Here she was all this time chatting up Brad, trying to let him down easy, when Cruz was back at his room with God knew what kind of doubts running through his head. He knew they weren’t married. That they didn’t have anything that really kept them together anymore. They could walk away from—

She was being paranoid. Last night had been more than she could ever have hoped for. She’d never felt closer to anyone in her life. Not being married didn’t change that.

Still. “I’ve got to go.”

She headed down the hallway, trying to calm her anxiety. Brad had mentioned something about dropping off a contract.

He’s just distracted
. It had nothing to do with them. Right? Maybe it was something to do with the deal with Dick?

For some reason, that possibility didn’t make her feel any better.

Outside his door, she knocked. After ten seconds, she was ready to knock again when he opened the door wearing loose khaki shorts and a white T-shirt that accented the natural depth of his warm, tanned skin. He’d showered, just like her, his hair still wet and slicked back, and from the dab of shaving cream under his ear, freshly shaven.

“Hey,” she said, suddenly nervous and tongue-tied.

“Hey,” he said just as carefully. He watched her warily, as they stood there in silence. Her instinct begged her to wrap her arms around him, to ask him to hold her as he had last night.

But fear gripped her. What if instead of sadness at hearing their marriage wasn’t real he felt…relief?

So she waited, the sound of her own breathing seeming unnaturally loud. He took a step back finally, opening the door wider. “Come on in. Guess it’s time we talked.”

S
he looked pretty and sexy as always in a white strappy sundress, the sides of her hair twisted and held back leaving her lovely face exposed. But she kept her gaze down, unable to meet his eyes, which sent an alarm through his system. He’d been sweating bullets since Brad left, wondering with every minute that ticked by and she wasn’t back, if she was having second thoughts.

Because maybe she’d just been making the best of a bad situation before. And now that there was nothing holding them together, she was seeing an out.

“I’m guessing you got my note?”

He shut the door, taking his time. “Note? No.”

She walked to the veranda where he’d left the French doors open earlier. “I left a note explaining that I was heading over to talk to my mother and to change.” She turned to face him. “I’ve spoken to my mother and—and to Brad. I gather he told you? About the marriage?”

His eyes met hers, solemn and maybe a little wary. “Yeah. He did.”

She smiled and finally met his gaze. “I guess in hindsight, it was kind of silly for us to think that we could get married so easily.”

“Maybe it was.”

“But…” she bit her lip, trying to decide something. “Nothing has changed for me. About you? About us? I still…I still want to be with you.”

A weight that had been pressing on his chest seemed to suddenly fly away and he could breathe again. He couldn’t stop the smile that slid across his face. He took a step toward her. “Yeah? And what exactly did your mother say to that?” He reached her and slid his arms around her waist. “Should I expect the firing squad to arrive any minute?”

“She’s putting a call in now.” Her eyes were so expressive, filled with hope. “Actually, I’m hoping she’s packing her suitcase and getting ready to head home with Brad. Giving us complete privacy and time to ourselves.”

“Well, save for the fifty-odd family members staying here with us. And the lunch downstairs in about…twenty minutes?” He slipped a finger to her lips, outlining their softness.

“Twenty? That should be enough time.”

“I have no idea what you mean.” He kissed her then, feeling her open to him completely, stretching up on her tiptoes so she could wrap her arms around his shoulders, deepening the kiss.

When they were together, like this, he could shut everything else out.

Pretend they were the only people who existed.

Except… “Payton?” he pulled back, tucking a stray strand of hair from her face. “Although there is nothing I’d love more than to figure out the ties on your dress and have it lying in a pool around your feet, I have just one call to make. Two tops. I have some good news.”

She looked up at him, curiosity lighting those green eyes. “Does this have something to do with the contract that Brad said he delivered?”

He couldn’t stop the grin that split his face. “It does. It’s mine. No—it’s ours. The contract with Eastman Motors. Dick Eastman signed it yesterday and, as of ten minutes ago, I added my own signature. Do you have any idea how much this deal is worth?”

Her eyes shone back with something akin to pride and she took her hand and wiped a smudge of shaving cream from above his ear. “Substantial, I take it. So we’re celebrating, then? Have you told your father?”

“Not yet. But there was a small hitch on the contract in that Dick has moved up the time table a full month, which means I need to call a couple of my subcontractors and get things rolling. I’ll meet you downstairs as soon as I’m done.”

She sighed and took a step back, still smiling but a little less brightly and nodded.

“I promise,” he said and took her hand to his heart, enjoying the feeling as he had that first time at the airport all those days ago. “And then you and I have a date. I’m seeing the two of us on the beach, you in the tiniest bikini you can find. On the other hand,” his smile turned a little more devilish, “maybe we should stay closer to the room.”

“Okay, I guess I should at least go see my mother off anyhow. But you had better hurry. I don’t think our escape last night went entirely unnoticed and I can just imagine the questions those sisters of yours are going to ask me.”

“Just look at it as baptism by fire.” He leaned down and placed one more peck on her lips.

He’d been worried for nothing.

For a brief moment, he considered just bagging his plans to get in touch with his subcontractors. In just enjoying this moment and calling Payton back so they could fully appreciate what they had in each other. It could wait until tomorrow.

But it was just twenty minutes. It was only fair to give everyone a head’s up. Then there was the matter of the press release that was ready to be sent to the news outlets tomorrow morning. The new employees and subcontractors he’d need to hire to get started on the new projects in the coming months.

Payton understood how important this deal was to him, to the future of his company, and ultimately, to both of them. He’d be downstairs and at her side soon enough.

Chapter Sixteen

K
ate and Dominic were, not surprisingly, ten minutes late to their scheduled brunch, arriving with the same flush and glow of excitement and happiness they’d been exuding for the past twenty-four hours. What had surprised—and more than a little disappointed—Payton was that Cruz had still not arrived.

Nor had he arrived by the time she’d finished her fruit and morning coffee and successfully headed off any questions from Benny or Daisy about how her night had gone. They very well knew where she’d been and what she’d been doing, but other than a few wide grins, they’d managed not to pester her for the finer details. Which was no small relief.

She’d just asked for a second cup when Kate slipped in the seat next to her.

“I’m going to need sunglasses to look at you if you don’t stop beaming like that, Kate.”

Kate looked her over carefully and smiled. “I might have to say the same thing. I’ve heard a few…hints that maybe you and Cruz had a busy night yourself.”

“Good grief. You’re kidding. Was it Benny?”

“Actually, it was his Aunt Glenda. I dare say they’re already estimating how long it will be before wedding bells are ringing again. But in all seriousness, contrary to everyone’s belief that Dominic and I were only gazing into each other’s eyes all night, I did see you and Cruz together and I can honestly say, I’ve never seen either of you look happier.”

Payton remembered the long night the two of them had spent getting a lot better acquainted. Kate giggled. “I can see that you’re still reliving some of those finer moments.” She looked around. “But where is the lucky guy? I don’t think I’ve seen him.”

Payton told her about the contract being finalized and the push up of the dates that had Cruz trying to take care of a few things. “He’ll probably be down in the next few minutes.”

“I haven’t seen your mother, either. Tell me you didn’t duct tape her to a chair and hide her in a closet.”

“Tempting, but no. I expect she’s packing right now and getting ready to head back home with Brad on the Eastman jet. I’ll tell you all about it later, but for now, I can see Dominic is looking for you. Go on, Mrs. Sorensen.”

It was strange to say the title, the same title that for a little while, she thought she’d shared. Payton Sorensen. Or Payton Sorensen-Vaughn—she shook her head. What was she saying? Putting the horse ahead of the cart, wasn’t she? They weren’t married anymore.

She was still waiting for her coffee refill a minute later and finally decided to get up and stretch her legs. Maybe call up to the room and see what was keeping Cruz.

She’d only made it to the lobby when she spotted Brad sitting on a chair, talking on the phone. At seeing her, he hung up and rushed over. “Glad I was able to catch you before I left. They just called. The jet’s been refueled and we should be leaving here in the next hour or so. Your mother, too, I’m afraid.”

Payton laughed, and for a moment, it was like before. They’d always joked about her mother’s intensity. It had been what first broke the ice between them when he’d returned all those years later and they caught up at that charity function. He’d likened her mother to a rabid French poodle.

“You’re obviously heading somewhere—and you look beautiful by the way—but I was wondering if you might take a last walk with me. Ten minutes at the longest.”

Payton looked around the lobby, no sign of Cruz. And Brad was taking her mother off her hands, which brought her immense relief “All right. But only because I hate to wait out here like a sitting duck for my mother.”

Out on the beach, the sun seemed to sink deep into her skin and she thought for a moment of the hat she’d left upstairs just as she tipped her head back and felt the sun gloriously on her face.

“You really are lovely,” he said almost softly. “I’m going to miss you.”

She looked over at the man who had been not just her lover but her ally in many ways these past couple years. Her friend. Which had been part of why his betrayal had burned her so bad. “Yeah. Me, too.”

They walked in silence to the end of the marked part of the beach indicating the end of the hotel property and turned back.

“You know what I’m not going to miss?” he asked, delivering her a sly smile. “Family dinners like the one at Christmas when my mother was trying to outmaneuver yours on the dinner menu.” She laughed. “And I’ll confess, I might have peeked into a few of the wedding gifts that had arrived at the house and can definitely assure you that we will be relieved to be able to return the gifts from your Aunt Gertie, my Nana Billick, and someone by the last name of Tiernan.” He pretended to shiver from the horror. “Think gargoyle, a few new age nude sculptures, and—” A high pierced ringing from his back pocket stopped him.

“Sounds like your father’s calling.”

He didn’t pull out the phone, only took the step up from the beach leading to the walkway back to the hotel. “His meeting is probably wrapped up and he’s wanting to pull my leash in.”

“Business meeting? He doesn’t give up even on a Sunday.”

“You know how it is. He can rest when he’s dead as he always says.”

They reached the lobby again, and Brad was looking at her with that sad, achy smile. “I guess I’ll go find your mother so we can get going. I’m sure we’ll touch base in the next few days. I have no idea what’s involved in calling off a wedding but I’m here if you need anything. And if you want to come to my place and get anything you left, give me a call and I can make myself scarce.”

She looked at him in surprise. He was being so accommodating. “Not that I’m complaining here, but I thought earlier you were set on fighting for me and proving to me that you can be better.”

“Yeah. And then I remembered that old saying. About letting something go. Seeing if it comes back to you. And I’m not giving up, Payton, I’m just…going to wait.”

He said it with such confidence that she felt the slightest bit sorry for him. “Sorry, Brad. But have a safe flight.” Tipping on her toes, she kissed his cheek, and let him give her a long hug before finally pulling back. “Now if you could only channel all that charm for good instead of evil,” she said and smiled.

“Where would the fun be in that?”

She watched him go, her heart sad but feeling a little lighter at knowing that he would be okay. Eventually. They both would be.

Turning around, she was more than stunned to find a set of dark eyes, watching her. A face set in a decided frown as he glanced between her and the parting back of her ex-fiancé.

But there was nothing for him to be worried about. The only thing she and Brad had exchanged was their first real good-bye.

She stepped toward the man she was choosing, ready to tell him that. When he turned on his heels and headed to the elevator.

Leaving her openmouthed and gaping.

C
ruz was halfway down the hall when Payton called out to him, but he couldn’t speak to her just then. Not when it took every ounce of strength not to stride after Brad and belt him in that smug mouth. A mouth that he knew was smiling even now, as he wormed his way back into Payton’s arms.

Instead, Cruz made it onto the elevator just as the door was closing and he received some satisfaction as he pounded the button to the third floor.

He’d spent the better part of the last ten minutes looking for Payton after arriving at the restaurant and not finding her. Then he’d gone to the lobby to see if she’d left a message for him and found her in the arms of Brad Eastman.

Is it always going to be like this?

He made it to his room and began pacing, knowing she would arrive any moment and he still needed to get ahold of this unbridled anger and jealousy that had sprung at him so hard. Too soon, she was knocking on the door.

“Cruz. What on earth is going on with you?” she demanded and stormed in, slamming the door behind her. He almost blinked at the anger she was giving back to him, so used to seeing her smile and laugh her way out of most situations.

“I’m trying to work out what the hell I just saw down there. Between you and Brad? The guy who you said you were never going back to. It looked mighty chummy to me. Are you playing a game here? Payton? Trying to lead us both on, until you’re certain which guy you really want?”

Her head whipped back slightly, almost as if he’d slapped her. “I can’t believe you just said that.” He could hear the hurt and anger in her voice. “What you saw was Brad and I saying good-bye after I spent the last hour waiting
for you
. I thought you were just making one or two calls? Did you forget that your family—that I—was downstairs waiting for you?”

Cruz rubbed his jawline again, trying to steady his breathing. Why the hell was he going off like some half-cocked redneck because someone looked at his woman? She was right. He wasn’t being reasonable. He breathed a deep breath in and out. “You’re right. Maybe it was something that Eastman said that still rankled. That it was only a matter of time before you realized who you’re meant to be with. And he sure as hell didn’t mean me.”

“I don’t care about what he told you. You don’t have to worry about him anymore. He’s leaving and he’s going to be out of my life permanently.” She took a step toward him, placing her hand on his arm in reassurance and smiled. “Not only is he heading back in the next hour, he’s also taking my mother with him. It’s just going to be you and me. Alone. In a hotel room for a few more days.”

Shit. He still had to break it to her. Why he’d been up there for so long. “I’m sorry, Payton. I have a bit of bad news. I know we’d hoped to stick around here for a few more days. Just you and me…but it looks like moving the timeframe up a month has made everything a hundred times more complicated. There are building permits we need to get started on, subcontractors to hire, and I’m going to need to get back home to begin orchestrating it all. Tomorrow.”

She pulled her hand back. She looked like he’d said there would be no Christmas, the disappointment was so stark on her face.

“Hey, listen. I’ll make it up to you. I just need to get things rolling, but it won’t be forever.”

She turned away quickly, looking out at the terrace instead of him.

“So we’ll go back home, and you’ll go back to work,” she said, her voice dangerously quiet and unemotional. “Will I be able to see you for dinner tomorrow?”

“Of course. I mean, it’s going to be crazy, but I have to eat. You can come by the office. I’d love to see you there, introduce you to everyone. And we’ll get away together, soon. Just us.”

“Right. This is just temporary. When do you think things will get back to normal again? I mean this project. It’s pretty big. When do you expect to be caught up enough that you and I might have some time for each other?”

The truth was, he didn’t really know. Ideally, he’d like to hire someone to be his right hand man, someone who could help with the day-to-day scheduling, the planning and organizing. Eventually. But if he were honest, he’d worked too hard to risk someone messing it up. He’d get there eventually, but not yet.

“You’ll see, Payton. It’s going to be tough at first, but it will all be worth it. And I’ll be able to give you the kind of life you’re used to. One you deserve.”

P
ayton looked out at the deep almost turquoise-colored ocean that had filled her with such hope just hours earlier, and now only reminded her of how naive she really was. Thinking she could have it all.

“The only life I want is one with a man who I can share it with. Share the little moments, the joys, the sadness.” She blinked back tears. For a short moment in time, she thought she was going to have it all. She thought she was going to have someone who got her, who saw who she was and wanted only her.

“I don’t begrudge you this success, Cruz. I’m thrilled and excited for this opportunity, even if I have my own reservations about your business partner. But I was downstairs and ready to toast to that success with you, with your family who want only the best for you and would have been happy to be part of that celebration. But you never came down.”

He couldn’t take the minute to celebrate the moment with her, too focused on the big picture. Not enjoying the moment. Just as her mother has warned her. He was more like her father than she’d ever wanted to admit.

“We’ll go tell them soon. We can celebrate with them tonight. You’ll see.”

“You say that, but I know what’s going to happen, even if you don’t. Something will come up, some emergency that you can’t let anyone else handle. It has to be you. And I’ll be waiting downstairs alone. Again.”

“So what would you have me do? You want me to rip up this contact with Dick Eastman? You want me to thumb my nose at this deal, this deal that’s everything I could ever have wanted?”

All he ever could have wanted.

She turned to face him. “No, of course not.” She pinned a smile on her face. “This is what you’ve worked for. It’s just…I made a commitment to myself over the past few days. To not settle on being second best to anyone. I think that maybe, right now, you and I need some time. Some space to figure out who we are. What we want.”

She didn’t mean anything of the sort though, but it sounded really grown up and responsible. No, what she really wanted was for Cruz to crush her against him again, to say that space was the last thing they needed. That they’d figure this out and that he knew it would be hard, but he would work hard to make them a priority. That he wouldn’t let business take over his life.

To make some effort so she could believe him.

“Maybe you’re right.” His tone was different. Wooden. “You have a lot on your plate right now, a wedding to cancel, your whole future to figure out. And I have weeks and months to get this project off the ground. The last thing either of us needs is another commitment.”

His words were like ice to her heart, but she nodded, as if he made all the sense in the world, willing the tears not to spill. For him not to know her heart was breaking.