Manhattan Merger

“Of course. Winston Churchill. How funny.”

“I agree.” Rainey chuckled. “There are moments when my dog looks just like him. Once Craig bought a cigar and put it in Winston’s mouth while I took the picture.”

They both laughed.

“I’d love to see that!” his niece said.

Rainey’s eyes swerved to Payne’s. “I have a picture in my purse.”

“Can I look?”

“Of course.” Rainey opened her handbag and handed her the framed picture showing Winston with the cigar.

Catherine broke into more laughter. “This is hilarious. He’s darling!”

“I think so too. He’s the dog I put in the painting. Just being with Lady makes me homesick for him.”

His niece darted Payne a relieved glance before handing the picture back to Rainey.

“Lady’s one of the reasons I didn’t go to Mexico with my family.”

Payne put his arm around Catherine’s shoulders. “What’s the other reason?” He knew there had to be one.

“It probably has to do with a boy,” Rainey inserted. “I can remember missing a few trips to hang around my brother and his friends.”

Catherine smiled without saying anything. It was as good as an admission. She opened the door so they could all go inside the house.

Being an artist obviously made Rainey an excellent judge of human nature. But being around her had knocked him off base until he didn’t recognize himself anymore.

He took a fortifying breath. “Where’s Diane?”

“I left her on the west patio. We’ll be eating out there.”

“Good. Why don’t you show Rainey where to freshen up while I go find her.”

“I’ll be happy to. Come through here, Rainey.”

“Your home is fabulous, like walking into a page of Architectural Digest. And it’s so big! My studio apartment could fit in this one room alone.”

“Where do you live?”

Their voices grew faint as Payne made his way to the patio. He would love to eavesdrop on their conversation, but Diane was waiting.

“At last!” she cried when she saw him in the doorway. “I tried to reach you on the phone.”

I know.

She wheeled around the table and lifted her arms to him. “It feels like two years instead of two days.”

He wished to heaven he could say the same thing back to her, but he couldn’t. It wasn’t in him. All he could do was give her a quick kiss and hug.

As the opening line of Manhattan Merger had stated, Logan Townsend wasn’t in love with his fiancée.

Payne wasn’t in love with his fiancée either.

He’d never be able to say the words she wanted to hear.

Guilt and the need to find a cure for her had prompted his proposal of marriage. He’d told her he would take