Manhattan Merger

The difference in him was so startling, she almost dropped the plates of freshly cut fruits and vegetables she was holding.

“What’s going on in here?”

Catherine must have noticed the difference in him too, but all she said was, “We’re bringing the food right now, Uncle Payne. I was just introducing Rainey to Nyla. She’s going to eat with us so she can hear everything that happened in court.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

Payne’s comment provoked a laugh from his niece who carried the platter of hamburgers out of the kitchen. But Rainey had an idea Catherine wasn’t fooled by his sudden playfulness. Neither was Rainey.

She followed them to the patio. Nyla brought up the rear with the salad she’d taken from the fridge.

If Rainey hadn’t already been to Payne’s home, she would have thought the Boyce’s house and view of the ocean was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.

Everything was picture perfect against the twilight backstop.

Payne took his place behind his fiancée.

That one defining gesture set the boundaries in concrete for Rainey. What had transpired before this moment was history. Whatever happened from here on out belonged to someone else’s future. Rainey was simply a spectator passing through.

“Rainey Bennett? May I present my fiancée, Diane Wylie.”

“How do you do, Ms. Bennett.”

The other woman spoke first and held out her hand. Rainey moved around the table to shake it.

She and Diane were probably the same age. The attractive brunette had that girl-next-door look. To Rainey’s eye she seemed the type her brother might date rather than—

Rainey forced herself to stop with the speculation. Payne Sterling meant nothing to her. He couldn’t!

“I’m so thankful for this opportunity to meet you, Ms. Wylie. You’ll never know how sorry I am for putting all of you through more anguish.”

Payne’s fiancée studied Rainey out of intelligent brown eyes before letting go of her hand. “Payne said it was an honest mistake, so it’s best forgotten. I’m afraid his concern over my welfare has caused him to impose on your time.”

“It’s not an imposition!” Rainey blurted. “We’ve just come from his office. I almost had a heart attack when I saw how similar everything was to my painting. Anyone would be suspicious.

“After what you’ve suffered, I wanted to meet you in person and assure you I meant no harm. I hope in time you can forget it.”

“Rainey? Do you want to come and sit between Nyla and me?”

Rainey could have hugged Catherine for smoothing a difficult moment for her. She took her place, determined to avoid any eye contact with her host.

No more thinking about him.

“The hamburgers and potato salad are the best, sweetheart,” he said after all of them had settled down to eat.

“Thanks. There’s more in the kitchen.”

“Everything’s delicious,” Rainey declared. Since meeting Diane Wylie, she’d lost her appetite but forced herself to eat in order not to hurt Catherine’s feelings.

The dog brushed against Rainey’s leg.

“Is it against the rules to give Lady a nibble? She’s looking up at me with soulful eyes.”

The teenager smiled. “You can feed her some strawberries.”

“Oh good.” Rainey let one drop. Lady snatched it before it reached the ground. She dropped a couple more. “Winston likes these too, but he hates grapes.”

“Lady hates limes.”