Chapter Fifteen
Cruz heard someone knocking at the door but it took him a full minute to finally open his eyes and realize where he was. He reached for the bed next to him, where he’d last seen Payton, naked and smiling before he fell asleep. Empty.
He sat up.
The pounding on the door returned.
Had she left for something and gotten locked out? He grabbed his pants from the floor and slipped them on, aware that the bathroom door was open and it was dark inside. She wasn’t in there. Or the main room, as he looked around, before finally throwing the door open.
Brad’s familiar too-cocky face met him. What the—?
“Cruz Sorensen. Been a long time. What’s it been? Since high school?” The guy stood there with that same air of confidence and entitlement he’d always had, a few bottled waters tucked under his arm.
But Cruz wasn’t intimidated by his demeanor. Not anymore. He knew he was just as good as Brad, that over the years he’d come into his own, built Sorensen to what it was now through his own hard work and determination—not his daddy’s work or his family’s name. And then there was Payton. Who’d chosen him.
Cruz ran his hand through his hair, a lazy grin on his face. “Something like that.”
He looked up and down the hallway, curious as to where Payton had gone. Probably to go battle the dragon lady. Did she know Brad was here?
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m here. Don’t worry, I’m not here to punch it out with you. Payton’s mother has given me some idea what’s been going on over the past few days between you two. Can’t exactly say I blame Payton for wanting to exact a little revenge. Tit for tat. And seeing her sneak back to her room a few minutes ago, it doesn’t take a genius to realize what you two have been up to. God knows if the opportunity landed in my lap like that, a beautiful, vulnerable woman like Payton, that I wouldn’t have done the same as you.”
“You and I aren’t anything alike, Brad.” Thank God.
“You say that like it’s a relief. There’s no need for hostility. I’m not here as an outraged fiancé ready to sucker punch you—not that I wouldn’t be within my rights. But, no. I’m here in more of an official capacity. As one business representative to another. Can I come in?”
He may as well hear whatever it is Brad had to say and get it over with. Nodding, Cruz stepped aside and let the guy in. He wondered how Payton was faring, if she’d gone to confront her mother. He wished she’d at least waited for him. He would have made sure the woman didn’t bully Payton, let her know they both were in this together, their eyes wide open. Well, as soon as he got Brad out of here, he’d go and rescue her.
Brad set the water down on the coffee table and reached inside his jacket, pulling out a thick white envelope. He dropped it to the surface. “That’s the contract. Some of the dates have been moved up since dad is anxious to see that shopping center ready by the Christmas season. But other than that, it’s all signed and ready to go. Just needs your signature on the dotted line.”
Cruz narrowed his eyes. What was this? “Just like that. You and Dick have decided to finally move this forward. And no hard feelings?” His tone was suspicious, justifiably so. He was waiting for the catch. There always was one.
“None on my part. The figures are sound; you’ve shown your company is more than qualified to pull it off. Besides,” Brad smiled smugly,“this thing with Payton? I know it’s only temporary. I know that in due time, she’ll come to her senses. Realize who the person she’s more compatible with is.”
“Is that right?” Cruz went to the table and picked up the envelope and pulled the papers out. He glanced through it, spotting Dick Eastman’s signature on the bottom. He also saw they wanted to break ground one month ahead of schedule. “You think Payton is going to want you? After you cheated on her? Good luck, pal.”
“It’s not luck. It’s just the way of things, Cruz. Payton and I are the same. We come from the same cloth, the same backgrounds. We understand things that you have no idea about. It’s that bond that brought us together the first time, and that same bond is going to bring us back together. Look, I know you probably think what you and Payton have is something special. Unique. You’ve had some fun the past few days. Easy to do when you’re both away from the daily grinds of your lives. But eventually you’ll both go back home. And all the problems that you two have been avoiding are going to be waiting for you. Have you even met her father?”
“Can’t say as I’ve had the pleasure yet. But from what I hear, it’s not really like the man’s in his daughter’s life much anyhow.”
“That’s just it. He’s not there, but with that absence, his footprint in her life is even stronger. He’s never going to approve of you in her life. And no matter how much Payton denies it, she desperately needs his approval. It will throw a wrench in whatever it is you think you have.”
“What I don’t understand, Brad, is why you’re even here, telling me all this, if you’re so certain she’s coming back to you.”
“Maybe because I know that you have Payton’s interests in mind. And to hope that you’ll step aside when the time comes. I know I messed up, and I feel horrible for the shit I caused her. But I love her. I’m going to make sure she knows this and that I’ll do anything to win her back.”
“Yeah. Well good luck with that. You’re going to find that Payton’s not the same woman she was when she left home. She knows what she wants now, and she’s willing to stand up to anyone who tells her otherwise. There’s also one other little detail you may not know about. Something that tells me that whatever you may think, Payton’s moved on and is ready to make a commitment with me. Payton and I are married.”
This time Brad’s face scrunched up into a smile. He laughed, two short brays that were almost as obnoxious as the guy’s smug grin.
“It’s true. I’m sure Payton will show you the certificate if you have any doubts. Maybe let you take a peek at a few photos too.”
“Man, I kind of feel bad for what I’m about to tell you. But it’s probably best to make it quick so you don’t continue humiliating yourself like this. This so called marriage of yours? It’s not real, dude. You’ve got to know that. And I’m not just saying it’s completely incredible, but because you can’t just up and marry anyone you want in Mexico. You’d think you would know that. Aren’t you part Mexican or something?”
“Here,” Brad pulled out a folded piece paper from his back pocket and handed it to Cruz who took it but didn’t make any attempt to open it. “When Payton’s mother called me last night to tell me about what was going on, I printed this off the internet from some destination wedding place here. It tells you what you need to have an actual legal marriage.”
The guy was really starting to piss Cruz off. Not just because the words he was saying, if true, were something that he’d need a moment to consider the implications of, but because the damn cocky way the son
of a bitch delivered the news and still stood there smug as ever. Cruz really was beginning to despise him.