Manhattan Merger

To say that Payne was surprised by her question was putting it mildly. His fiancée hadn’t wanted to go anywhere since the shooting. Though no one had said it, both his family and hers feared she was turning into a recluse.

There was only one reason for the drastic change in her. One person whose performance earlier today had sent thrills and chills through every centimeter of his body.

“Do you want to go with me to please me, or yourself, Diane?”

“Both,” she answered honestly.

“Then there’s nothing I’d like more.” He meant it. If this was the beginning of a metamorphosis, he was overjoyed. Thank God for Rainey. He pressed a kiss to Diane’s temple.

She laid her head against his shoulder. “I know you have business, but do you think you could take some time off to shop with me? I’m not that happy with the wedding dress I’ve picked out. Since we haven’t had any pictures taken yet, maybe I’ll see something there I like better.”

“We’ll do it. Would you like to bring someone to keep you company while I’m busy?”

“No. I want to see how I function on my own.”

He squeezed her hand. “Good for you.”

His elation was too great. He had to be careful. She hadn’t mentioned Rainey. Whatever she was holding back would eventually come out, but he wasn’t going to broach the subject right now. Not when they’d just entered new territory.

It was like tunneling underground, a precarious business at best. You never knew when the earth might cave in on you, entombing you in blackness.

When they reached the Wylie estate he helped her into the house. “I’ll be at the office tomorrow. At some point I’ll phone you and we’ll make final plans for our trip. Would you like to see a play at the Comédie Française? I can call ahead and reserve tickets.”

“I don’t know. Why don’t we decide what to do after we get there.”

“Whatever you want.”

The drive back to Crag’s Head took long enough that by the time he walked through the house to find Rainey, some of his elation had worn off.

Today Diane had been provoked, and she’d rallied. The fact that she was willing to go anywhere at all constituted a miracle of sorts.

But Paris wasn’t Switzerland.

Was it possible she was toying with him to pay him back for involving Rainey in their personal lives? Could it be Diane was pretending to go so far but no further when it came to the bottom line?

Payne didn’t want to think the worst where she was concerned, however anything was possible.

“I guess I don’t have to ask you how things went with Diane.”

Rainey.

His head jerked to the right. He discovered her standing in front of one of his maps.

Every time he saw her, he felt like it was the first time. Something inside him ignited. The pulse throbbed at the base of his throat. It was an involuntary response, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

“Your fiancée is too intelligent not to have seen through your plan, Payne.”

“Nevertheless she’s going to Paris with me on Tuesday.”

“Really?” she cried with a haunting smile. “Then why aren’t you looking happier about it?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. Something isn’t right. I’ve read articles about babies who never crawl. One day they just get up and start walking. But it’s rare.

“That’s what Diane did today. From recluse to transatlantic tourist, all in the space of a morning.”

She moved toward him. “You hurt her by hiring me. I suppose it’s not beyond the possibility that she’s playing a game with you. But even if she is, your plan did provoke her to this much of a response. You should be rejoicing.”

He had rejoiced. For a period of about ten minutes he’d allowed himself that luxury.