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.”#p#分页标题#e#
“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
Kate 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.#p#分页标题#e#
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.