“Frankly, I don’t care a pirate’s fart about the hows and whys of why you’re together and you want to know why? Because I know you’re not an impetuous man, Cruz. You weigh the risks and rewards in just about everything you do. And diddling your most important client’s future daughter-in-law would not only be imprudent, it’d be downright suicidal to this partnership.”
Diddling? The old man certainly had a way with words. Not that there was any worry there. Payton Vaughn had as much interest in him as she did the guy who’d filled their gas tank earlier.
“No, what I want to discuss with you is a little different,” Dick Eastman continued. “I’m betting that at some point during this road adventure Payton has shared something of the drama going on between her and my son. She’s a beautiful girl and just as expressive. I don’t see how she couldn’t be. But I assure you; it’s simply a lover’s quarrel that will be put to rest as soon as they can clear the air. My son may be foolhardy, but he’s not a complete idiot.”
More silence and Cruz had to admit, he was still unsure where this conversation was going. So he agreed with the old man. “Right. Of course, I’m sure that’s all it is.”
“See? I knew you would understand.” He did? “I know from her mother that the gal feels that she has to cancel the wedding to save face under the circumstances.”
Ah, Payton’s mother. That’s probably how Dick Eastman knew about their current predicament. He hoped.
“But I know you can make her see the idiocy of that plan. She and Brad are going to be married in a couple months and eventually, they’ll be giving me several grandkids that I can pass everything on to. The Vaughns are a respectable family, and I couldn’t ask for a better match. We already think of her as a daughter.”
Hell, put like that, Payton’s estimation that the man saw her more as a brood mare than a member of the family, was looking even more spot on. Chosen for her pedigree, her bloodlines. “I don’t think I understand what you are asking of me, sir.”
He turned back to the car, where Payton was mouthing the words to some song she must have found on the radio. When she saw him staring at her, she tilted her head. Then crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. His lips twisted in a smile despite himself and the nature of the conversation going on at that moment.
“I need you to make sure she doesn’t do anything too…impetuous. Crazy. Dear girl she is she just might run off with some Mexican field worker to prove a point.”
He spewed the last as if a Mexican field worker was worse than a psychotic murderer. Forgetting that Cruz and his family—on his mom’s side—were Mexican. Not that it surprised him, but it rankled.
“Not that we couldn’t extricate her from such an unsavory predicament, but you can see how avoiding the whole thing would be best. Can I trust you to watch out for the girl? Maybe even get her to see reason and realize that Brad’s the only man for her. I think I can say with absolute certainty that you do this little favor for me and this contract is as good as signed and notarized come Monday morning. What do you say?”
Payton had her thumbs stuck in her ears now, her fingers waving at him like she was three years old. Trying to throw him off his game he’d bet. Completely oblivious that she was the topic of the conversation at this point.
It grated on him to even have to agree to anything under these circumstances. But ultimately, he realized that he was already taking care of her and making sure she reached their destination safely—as he’d promised his brother and Kate. He’d just continue to do what he was doing.
If Dick Eastman thought it was as some favor to him, then so be it.
“Yes. Of course. I’ll see that Payton makes it to the wedding and is safely boarded on a flight home come Monday morning. With no extra…complications.”
The gurgling of Payton’s stomach just after noon became too persistent to ignore any longer. Since Cruz’s business call nearly an hour ago, he’d been quiet.
Well, quiet was something characteristic of Cruz. It was more of a quiet brooding.
She hadn’t dared utter a peep, instead letting him take the wheel and buckling herself in the passenger seat until his mood improved. To kill time she’d started putting together a playlist, a task that had kept her busy up to now.
“I don’t know about you, but as delicious as the first four Kinder Bueno bars were,” she said, referring to the chocolate-covered, hazelnut-flavored sugary goodness candy bars she’d bought a full case of earlier, “I don’t think I can eat another one before I get actual food in my stomach. Any chance we might be able to stop for some lunch?”
Cruz pulled himself from the zombie zone he’d been in the past hour to glance her way. “You’re hungry?” He seemed to think about that for another few seconds. “Yeah. I guess I could stand to eat something not coated in chocolate. It may throw us off our schedule a bit.”
“I’m willing to risk it. Especially if there’s a clean restroom included in this plan.”
“We’re almost to Zacatecas. I know a place we can get some food.”
Half an hour later, Payton stared up in wonder from the car window at the beautiful architecture of a city that, up until today, she’d never heard of. The façade of many of the structures was actually…pink.
“It’s sandstone,” Cruz explained. “The pink? Most natives call the city ‘con rostro de cantera rosa y corazón de plata.’ It means ‘face of pink stone and heart of silver.’”
She’d be lying if the sound of the curling Rs under his tongue didn’t do something to her. She cleared her throat. “Silver?”
“There are silver mines in the hillsides surrounding the city.” With ease, Cruz commandeered the streets and eventually found a parking spot. “We can walk to the restaurant from here. Come on.”
A tall pink structure that she was certain was baroque in style soared above them. A church, maybe? With turrets and a dome.
“This is the cathedral,” Cruz said, again, reading her mind.
It was definitely cooler than she thought it would be, and she wrapped her sweater around her a little tighter. Unlike the ugly concrete on most U.S. streets, the streets here were paved with stone, giving it a charm she wouldn’t have expected.
Okay, walking around in this somehow magical city where she could feel the history and mystery surrounding her, with a well-versed and incredibly hot guide had a charm all its own as well.
The savory smell of spices and roasting meat reached her, and her mouth watered as her stomach wrenched inward in hunger. They turned the corner and she blinked at the marketplace that spread before her. Like eye candy, she took in the colors and variety of objects available to buy, from silver jewelry and Panchos, to leather, wine, and all variety of sweet confections.
As if sensing her yearning to stop and ogle a display of silver jewelry, Cruz laughed and tugged at her hand—which instantly drew her attention at the feel of his hand on hers, even if momentarily. Her hand tingled where he’d touched it. “I thought you were hungry. It’s just over here.”
Cruz led her inside a brightly colored and crowded restaurant and grabbed them a table, obviously familiar with the place and the protocol. The server came over and Cruz broke into his melodic Spanish, keeping her spellbound even if, for all she knew, he was ordering pig intestines and cow brains as their entrees. At least it sounded romantic.
She studied him, so clearly at home and comfortable in this place, something she hadn’t seen before. Gone was the all-business, no-smiles man she was used to, replaced with someone who actually looked like he was on vacation—and enjoying himself.
He stopped a moment to look at her, a smile lighting his eyes, and her belly twisted again. Okay, maybe lower than her stomach, definitely lower. Especially when he rubbed the dark stubble of his chin as if he was considering something before turning back to the server.
“Gracias,” he said as the guy walked away, and returned his attention to her. Cruz asked her something.
“What?”
>
He gave her a bemused smile. “I said I hope you don’t mind that I ordered for you.”
“Oh. Not at all.” Not when you talk like that.
“Don’t worry, nothing too exotic. Just a sampling of the local specialty.”
A few minutes later, their server brought them each a plate filled with steaming tortillas filled with some savory goodness that had her mouth watering.
“They’re gorditas,” he told her.
She looked at the thicker than usual tortillas on plates before them. “Okay. I know I’ve heard of those on the menu at Taco Bell, but can you remind me what they are exactly?’
“I thought you might want to sample a few. One is filled with rajas—that’s a mild green pepper—another with a mole sauce and rice, and some with various cuts of meat and sauces and cheese.”
Each one had to have at least four hundred calories. Maybe five. “Good thing I’m no longer dieting. Give me three.”
“Seriously? What on earth would you be dieting for?” he asked and pulled a stack of the stuffed round gorditas onto a plate.
“My mother’s idea. Which was why when she ordered my one-of-a-kind designer wedding dress, she ordered it one size too small. I barely managed to squeeze into it at my last fitting. But…” she paused in chewing, remembering the soft, silky fabric that caressed her skin. “It did look gorgeous.”
What would she do with it now?
“I won’t even try to understand what goes into the mind of a woman who thought you needed to lose weight.”
“I doubt after this adventure I’m going to be able to squeeze into it. These are really good, but my mouth…” she waved her hand in front of it, as if she could cool the rising temperature.
He pushed another gordita toward her. “Here. This is milder. Might lower the heat in your mouth.”
She bit into it, aware of his gaze still on her. The milder cheese was helping ease her discomfort. “Thanks.”
They were silent for a minute, each focused on their meal. Cruz had put away the three gorditas on his plate and picked up a soda. His dark eyes were watching her carefully now. Almost warily. His relaxed casual demeanor from earlier replaced with a ramrod straight back and tense shoulders.
Curious. Maybe he was thinking about his call with Dick?
“You seem in better spirits today. Have you reconsidered your decision to call off the wedding?”
Where on earth had that come from? “Ummm. No? I meant what I said. It’s over. I can’t marry someone who could do that to me.” She licked the grease off a finger. “For me, cheating? That’s unforgivable.”
He picked up another stuffed tortilla. “I only ask because I’m sure you and Brad have some history together. History that led you to say yes to him once. I can’t imagine that overnight those feelings just disappear.”
She took another bite and chewed slowly, buying some time. She swallowed and met his inquisitive gaze. Dark brown eyes that looked…almost uncomfortable; he glanced down for a moment.
“It hurts,” she admitted. “It hurts to think that he could do that to me. But if I’m being honest with myself…well, I’m not like Kate. She’s always believed in happily-ever-afters and one true loves—too many old movies I’m afraid. I’ve always been the realistic one.”
His brows quirked up at that comment.
“It’s true,” she insisted, seeing his doubt. “Well, at least when it comes to matters of the heart. All I want is someone who shares the same goals as I do. Who cares as much about me as I do him. I thought I had that with Brad. I was wrong. Do I feel anywhere near the depth of despair I saw Kate experience when she first lost Michael, and later Dominic? No. I don’t think I’m wired to. So to answer your question, I guess you could say I’m sad…but not shattered.”
Although, saying all this out loud, admitting to someone other than herself, made her feel uncomfortably naked. Vulnerable.
She hated giving him such an unfettered look at her life and her emotions. She felt the uncomfortable prickling warmth behind her eyes that told her tears were close.
He looked even more uncomfortable, staring at something over her shoulder instead of meeting her eyes.
“Why are you asking about this all of a sudden? About whether I’ve reconsidered marrying Brad?” A new suspicion hit her. “Dick didn’t say something to you, did he?”
His gaze snapped back to hers, and the way his jaw tensed and flexed gave her the answer. “Hell, Payton. I’m sorry. I’m not going to let that man get in my head again. He did ask me to keep an eye out for you. Even asked if I might lend a positive word about Brad. But I can’t in good conscience do it. Brad was a prick, and he doesn’t deserve another shot. And aside from whatever Dick has asked me, I’m not going to tell you that going back to Brad would be a good idea. Forget I said anything.”
She swallowed. She wished she could forget it. It didn’t surprise her that Dick had stooped that low, to try and manipulate Cruz to get something he wanted. But to know that Cruz had started this conversation, not out of concern for her, but because he was fishing for an opening to build Brad up to clinch this business deal, bothered her more than she wanted to admit.
It served as a good reminder of why she and Cruz weren’t compatible. No matter how attractive he was and how he made her feel when he swept those dark eyes over her, he was a businessman first and always. Just like her father.
She needed to get away for a minute.
“You know,” she said in a falsely bright voice. “I’m going to run to the restroom. Get cleaned up. Who knows how long it might be before I get another chance. I’ll be back.”
Scooping her purse off her lap, she fled the table.
Cruz watched Payton cross the restaurant, making sure she reached the restroom safely, with the sure knowledge that he was the biggest douchebag in the universe.
Hell. Did he want this account badly enough to push Payton back into the arms of a guy like Brad Eastman?
Hell no.
He was better than that.
And yet, he’d asked her those questions with the ulterior motive of getting her to see the possibility that her relationship with Brad could be redeemed. He’d sunk lower than he thought himself capable.
Payton deserved better than Brad. And as much as he wanted the account, he resolved never to attempt to do something as shitty as he’d just done again. There were other ways to make the deal. Playing someone like that wasn’t how it was going to be done.
Whether she went back to Brad or not was on her and her alone. Cruz was only there to make sure that she got to the hotel in one piece and eventually made her way home, where she could make those decisions herself.
His cellphone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out to see his future sister-in-law was calling. “Kate. How’s the bride-to-be? Have you finally spent enough time with my sisters to send you screaming for the hills?”
She laughed. “Not a chance. Although Benny has been betting that you might arrive with Payton tied and gagged in the trunk and several bald patches where you’ve torn out your hair.”
Yeah. That sounded like Benny, the youngest of his siblings and who he affectionately called “the brat.” Even her fancy medical degree wouldn’t change that. “Tell Benny that we don’t all have to resort to such tactics as binding and gagging someone to get them to spend time with us. But I assure you, your friend is doing fine and if I do end up gagging her, I won’t be putting her in the truck. Nah. It’s too small. I’ll just duct tape her to the passenger seat.”
“Oh. Well now I feel better,” she said and laughed. “Is she around?”
“She’s using the restroom.” He briefly filled her in on their coordinates and that he expected they should still be arriving sometime around six that evening.
“Just be careful. It’s only a simple rehearsal dinner with the family and a brief run through of the ceremony. Nothing worth risking your lives for.”
“I’ll try and tell her that, but she seems to thin
k there’s a certain order of how things are supposed to go. And part of that is getting you out for some crazy girls’ night. Something about how this has been a party fifteen years in the making may have passed her lips.”
“Well, don’t share this with Payton because she’ll probably be devastated, but the whole girls’ night party thing had always been her idea. I’d be just as happy hanging out with her in the honeymoon suite, drinking champagne and doing our nails. But seriously, Cruz. Thanks for looking out for her. She’s the closest thing I’ve got to family.”
Kate’s voice softened, and he could feel the tenderness she clearly felt for her friend. “I know you two didn’t really hit it off when you first met but you’ll see with time that, although Payton may seem impervious to anything, resilient, and even charming and funny, most of the time it’s just a facade to hide how sensitive she really is. If you lived with her mother for long enough, you’d probably understand why.”
He grunted, thinking about the kind of woman who would be controlling enough to order her daughter’s wedding dress one size too small—and who’d tell her to forgive and forget her fiancé’s treachery. “Yeah. I’ve got some idea.”
“Would you believe that the woman has called me four more times this morning trying to get updates on Payton and to demand that I bring Payton to her senses and stop being so selfish?”
His hand tightened on the phone. In the time he’d known Kate, selfish was the last thing he’d call her. She had a big heart and only wanted to help people. Hell, she’d left a high-powered law firm so she could take on more downtrodden and financially challenged clients—like his sister, Daisy—just a few months ago.
“Don’t worry, Dominic shared a few of his thoughts with her when he heard that.” He could hear the smile in her voice.
“Glad to hear it. But rest assured, Payton is doing all right and holding her own. You just worry about yourself and remember…this weekend is for you. You and Dominic. Don’t let that dragon lady unsettle you. I’ll let Payton know you’re looking forward to partying hard tonight.”
Her Accidental Husband Page 7