Her Accidental Husband(79)

He didn’t pull away, watching Payton’s expression instead. Looking for anything. Some sign that she still felt something for him.

But her face stayed bright and she widened her own smile. “Hi. It’s Becca, right? I’m Payton, I think we met a few months ago at Kate’s party.”

“That’s right, you were there a little late. Is your fiancé around—”

Any further conversation was interrupted again, this time by his nephew and nieces who were running down the stairs now, their mother and the rest of the family hot on their heels. He’d make bets they’d been holding everyone outside for as long as they could to give him and Payton a moment.

This was a total set-up.

But little did they know that when he agreed to help tonight, he wasn’t coming alone. He should have known something was up by the panic in Daisy’s eyes when she caught sight of Becca. He’d just chalked it up to her disappointment he wasn’t with Payton. Which he had no idea why, since they barely even knew her.

And now, with the two women smiling almost too eagerly at each other, his sisters could reap the repercussions of their little scheme.

Daisy reached the bottom of the steps first. “Hi, Payton,” she said a little too brightly. “So glad to see you. It’s sweet that you wanted to come up and make sure this place felt homey for Kate.”

Payton leaned across the island and grabbed her purse, tucking it under her arm. “Thanks. And congratulations to you. I hear you’re the new tenant?”

Daisy eyed the purse. “The kids and I are pretty excited. Tonight’s going to be our first night there. You weren’t leaving, were you? I brought my special tres leches cake to share with everyone.”#p#分页标题#e#

It was ridiculous, the way he was actually holding his breath, hoping she’d stay. That he would be able to spend a little more time looking at her, remembering how she felt in his arms.

“I’d love to but I’m afraid I’m already running a little late for my dinner date.”

And like that, the breath he’d been holding was pushed out, as if someone slammed him in the stomach.

Of course. It’s Saturday night. She wouldn’t be sitting at home alone. Not someone as beautiful and full of life as Payton. Just, dear God, don’t let it be Brad.

Benny gave him a look, as if expecting him to say something, but there wasn’t anything really to say, so he watched as Benny and then Daisy squeezed Payton good-bye. His mother and father reached the bottom of the stairs as she was about to start up.

His father looked surprised as he saw her, but there was something in his mother’s eyes as she looked at her and then over at Cruz, that told him she knew very well Payton was here. Judas.

“Payton, we’re sorry you have to go,” his mother said and grabbed the woman in a hug. She released her and her smile turned to a frown. “Just watch yourself on the roads. It looks like a snowstorm is coming in soon. Cruz?” His mother looked at him in disapproval, her brows furrowed. “Can you please make sure Payton gets safely to her car? It’s getting dark out there.”

In about an hour, he wanted to say, but instead nodded and extricated himself from Becca’s clutches. Becca started to say she’d be happy to go along but Benny interrupted her, asking if she’d help finish the task of stuffing the votive holders that Payton had abandoned.

He was well aware of the dozen eyes that watched their ascent, probably wishing they could find a way to eavesdrop without being obvious. They reached the landing and walked across to the door. He opened it before she could, and warm air rushed in, the kind that usually precedes a big snowstorm.

Stepping outside, he looked around the lot for Payton’s car. He could see it now, nearly hidden under the trees. He waited at the top of the porch while Payton searched in her purse.

“I’ll be fine, Cruz, if you want to go back inside. I don’t need a chaperone.”

The breeze lifted her hair and it flew around her head, framing that sweet familiar face. She raised her eyes at his, green and lustrous, and it actually caused him physical pain to know she had almost been his.

“Found them,” she said and held her keys up. The wind was whipping at her jacket and she clutched it closed, trying to tuck a strand of hair flying wildly in front of her eyes behind an ear. “Bye, Cruz. Take care.”

Then she turned and was down the porch steps and nearly running toward her car. As if running from him, although he knew it was more from the blustery wind than from him. He was almost certain.

“Payton, wait,” he called out, not sure what had moved him to do so. He just didn’t want to see her running away from him again.