Manhattan Merger

CHAPTER SEVEN

PAYNE walked in the back door of his sister’s house at five after eight, ready for a morning swim in the ocean with Catherine and Rainey.

To his surprise Lady didn’t come flying down the rear entrance hall to greet him. With a guest as exciting as Rainey to talk to, his niece had probably stayed up late last night and was sleeping in.

Rainey might still be in bed too, but Payne had a hunch she was an early riser. Somewhere in the house he imagined her hard at work on her latest art project.

In the hope she might be out on the patio where they’d had dinner, he headed in that direction. When he discovered everything was locked up tight and she was nowhere in sight, a keen sense of disappointment swept through him.

Maybe she was in the kitchen eating breakfast with the staff. But he quashed that thought the moment he spied Stan, one of his sister’s security people, drinking a cup of coffee by himself.

When the other man saw him, he put down his mug. “I was going to call you in a little while.”

Stan didn’t have to say another word for Payne to know something had gone on he wasn’t going to be happy about. Like the fact that Rainey was no longer on the premises.

“When did Ms. Bennett leave?”

“About an hour ago. Jed drove her back to the city. She asked me not to bother you since she knew you and Ms. Wylie were together.”

“You’re supposed to bother me. That’s part of your job!” Payne bit out in a rare show of anger because Rainey’s charm was so potent, she’d managed to con even a pro like Stan.

Payne shouldn’t have cared. It shouldn’t have mattered she’d slipped away without his knowing about it. But it did matter. Even more than he’d imag-

“Uncle Payne?”

At the sound of his niece’s subdued voice he wheeled around. Both she and Nyla were standing in the doorway with Lady.

“I’m afraid it’s my fault Ms. Bennett left in such a hurry this morning,” Nyla murmured.

“Come and look,” Catherine urged him.

On leaden feet, Payne followed them into the main dining room where he glimpsed a sheet of art paper laid out on the table.

Nyla stood at his other side. “Last night I happened to say something to Ms. Bennett about Trevor’s illness because I thought she’d already been told about it. You know, after reading about the hero who had leukemia.

“I never saw anyone look as devastated as she did when she found out. Before she went to bed she asked me to bring her a photograph of him. This is the result.”

Catherine put a hand on his arm. “I found it in the guest bedroom this morning.”

He walked over to see Rainey’s handiwork.

One look at the picture done in pastels and his throat almost closed from too much emotion. She’d caught it all. The love, the sweet, tender bond between brother and sister.

“It’s so beautiful it hurts,” Catherine whispered.

It was beautiful. It did hurt because everything Rainey drew or painted was driven by heartfelt emotions.

In the next instant his niece was sobbing quietly against Payne’s shoulder. “How did she know Trev and I used to spend time out in back with Lady?”

“I guess that’s part of her great talent.” There didn’t seem to be any other explanation.

Nyla’s eyes went suspiciously bright. “She felt so badly for upsetting your family, it’s evident she wanted to leave all of you with a gift that would bring you happiness. What a wonderful person she is. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

Neither have I.

“She did another picture for me, Uncle Payne. I’ll get it.”

As he watched Catherine hurry from the room Nyla said, “I don’t blame Ms. Bennett for setting off early. I’m sure she’s anxious to forget this whole unpleasant business and move on.”

Payne couldn’t argue with that. After putting Rainey through the hell of a courtroom hearing, he’d forced her to face Diane who did nothing but patronize her all evening. Furthermore he’d had no right to bite Stan’s head off because Rainey had reached the point where she couldn’t take any more.

“You’re going to love this one too.” Catherine entered the dining room with another sketch in hand. He took it from her.

“‘The Beggar,’” he read the words aloud. Incredibly, Rainey had caught the special pleading expression in Lady’s eyes while she waited with exaggerated patience and politeness for something to eat.

“She’s left you some real treasures,” Payne murmured. He put the sketch on the table next to the other picture and looked around. “Where are the paintings?”

“Rainey asked me to dispose of them.”

He shot Nyla a piercing gaze. “She what?”

“Don’t worry. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. They’re in my room.”

“I can always count on you. Hold on to them for me. I’ll get them later.”

“You bet.”

Adrenaline surged through his veins. If he didn’t expend his excess energy soon, he’d explode.

“Catherine? Put your suit on and we’ll take a swim.”

“I’m already wearing it under my clothes.”

“Then let’s go.”

“I’ll have breakfast waiting for you when you get back.”

“Nothing for me, Nyla,” he said, “but thanks for the offer.”

Forty-five minutes later he and Catherine came out of the ocean and took turns throwing a stick for Lady to fetch. Unfortunately Payne’s swim had done nothing to improve his mood which was as stormy as the elements.

His niece appeared to be deep in her own thoughts. There was little conversation until they started back to the house.

“I didn’t know the hero in Manhattan Merger almost died of leukemia, or that the author lost a child to it. Have you still got the book?”

“Yes.”

“I want to read it.”

“You’re sure?”

“More than ever. I don’t see how Diane can say that romances don’t reflect real life.”

“She would change her tune if she read one.” Reading Ms. Wrigley’s novel had been a revelation to him.

“But that’s the problem. I don’t think she ever will.”

“Then it’s her loss.”

Somehow he had to find a way to break through Diane’s defenses so she’d go to Switzerland. He couldn’t think beyond it.

“Are you going to spend the day with her?”

“No. I have work at the office. She and her mother are overseeing the bridesmaids’ fittings. What are your plans?”

“Linda and I are going to play tennis with a bunch of friends. Later I think we’ll see a movie.”

“Sounds fun. Be sure and take your cell phone with you so we can keep in touch.”

“I will.” She looked up at him. “Uncle Payne?” By now they’d reached the back lawn.

He sensed her hesitancy. “What is it?”

“When mom and dad get back, I’d like to invite Rainey over for dinner so the whole family can meet her. Would that be okay with you?”

His heart pounded like a sledgehammer. “Of course. Why do you ask?”

“Diane doesn’t like me, and I could tell she really didn’t like Rainey.”

Tell me something I don’t already know.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“After you’re married, I hope you’ll still come over a lot.”

“No one will ever keep me away from you, sweetheart.”

Payne gave his niece a hug before climbing into the limo. Mac followed and shut the door.

“Take us home, Andy.”

On the short drive to Crag’s Head, Payne phoned his pilot and told him to get the chopper ready. He’d be taking off for the city within twenty minutes.

During his talk with Catherine on the way back from the beach, a strange feeling had come over him. Something he couldn’t explain. But it all had to do with Rainey and her precipitous departure from the Sterling compound. Suddenly he felt it imperative to catch up with her.

It was close to noon when he alighted from the limo and entered her apartment building. He pressed the button and waited for a response. If she wasn’t home, he’d wait outside in the limo as long as it took until she showed up.

He was ready to buzz her again when he heard static and then a man’s voice said, “Yes?”

Payne froze in place. “Is this Lorraine’s Bennett’s studio?”

“Yes.”

He struggled to keep from erupting. “May I speak to her?”

“Who is this?”

The urge to knock the man to kingdom come was growing stronger by the second.

“If she doesn’t answer within five seconds, I’m coming up to find out why,” Payne thundered.

“I’m here, Mr. Sterling,” Rainey answered sounding out of breath.

His brows furrowed. What in the hell was she doing with a man in her apartment this early in the day unless… The pictures that ran through his mind filled him with feelings too primitive to describe.

“We have to talk. How soon will you be free?”

“I thought you and your fiancée were-never mind, it doesn’t matter. Just a minute, please.”

Apparently she’d left his sister’s house to rejoin her lover. Out of all the reasons he’d imagined for her disappearance without telling him, Payne would never have thought it was because of a man.

But then he remembered that she’d had other plans the night before and had canceled them in order to accompany Payne. How long had this relationship been going on?

“It’s all right. You can come up now.”

The minute he heard the click of the door, he opened it and took the stairs three at a time to her floor. He found her standing outside her apartment with the door closed trying to appear at ease, and failing.

She also looked so damn fresh and innocent in a white cotton top and tan jeans, he found her utterly desirable. His heart slammed into his ribs.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

“He went back to his apartment.”

How convenient.

“If this was a bad time, why didn’t you just say so? I’d have come by later.”

“You’re a busy man, Mr. Sterling. Since you took the time to drive over here, I didn’t want you to be put out by having to come back again.”

She was hiding something from him.

“It would have been nice if you’d tried to be this thoughtful by staying put at my sister’s house until you were flown home.”

She didn’t move a muscle, but she couldn’t prevent the blush that swept up her neck into her beautiful face.

“I was brought up to believe a good stay is a short stay. Last evening I did all I could to make your fiancée and niece feel better about what happened. When I woke up this morning, I could see no reason to prolong my visit.”

“I can give you one.”

Her hands rubbed the sides of her hips in a gesture she probably wasn’t aware of. She didn’t look quite so sure of herself now. “I-Is something else wrong?”

“I’m afraid the hallway of a busy apartment building is hardly the place to carry on the conversation I have in mind.”

Color stained her cheeks again.

“Would you prefer to come downstairs and sit in the limo while we talk?”

“No-” she cried softly, putting a nervous hand to her throat.

“I can go to my office and come back later in the day if that would suit you better.”

“Please don’t do that.” She sounded panicked.

“Then what do you propose? If you were planning to spend the day with the man upstairs, just say so. We can talk tomorrow.”

“No,” she whispered. “You can come in for a minute.”

For a minute?

She darted inside and left the door open for him.

After crossing over her threshold, it took all his strength not to slam the door as he shut it. When he turned around, one look at her denuded walls and desk, and his body went cold.

“It looks like you’re in the process of vacating the premises,” his voice grated.

“Yes.” There were several boxes on her couch already packed. She hurriedly moved them to the floor. “There. Now you can sit down.”

He stayed where he was. “Are you moving in with him?”

She bit the soft underside of her lip in a betraying gesture that beguiled him.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I hardly believe that’s anyone’s concern except mine.”

“It’ll be my niece’s when she tries to invite you to a family party once her parents get home on Monday and you can’t be located.”

Her gilt-blond head reared. Her eyes had gone that smoky green color again and looked haunted. “You mustn’t let her do that!”

His breath caught. “After giving her back a sense of her brother with that magnificent picture she’ll treasure all her life, do you honestly think she won’t do whatever she can to thank you?”

“I’m glad if she liked it, but-”

“But what?” he demanded.

“I won’t be here next week.”

Good Lord. He knew what was coming before she said it.

“I-I’m flying home to Grand Junction tomorrow.”

Payne felt as if a stalker’s bullet had just pierced his heart. “You were going to leave without saying goodbye?”

“We said it last night.”

“I distinctly heard you tell me goodnight,” he reminded her.

She averted her eyes. “I know you think I’m running away to lick my wounds because of what happened at the hearing, but you’d be wrong,” her voice trembled. “The hearing actually did me a favor because it brought my brother to New York.”

The faster she talked, the more she revealed her nervousness.

“We haven’t spent time together like we used to. While he was here, we talked all night. After next week Craig won’t be running any more float trips. He’s getting ready to open his own sporting goods company. It’s been his lifelong dream.

“The bank gave him the loan and he’s found space in a good location. Though he’s got help, he could use a lot more.”

Payne’s hands formed into fists. “So you’ve suddenly decided to do the honors.”

“I have some savings,” she went on explaining, “and don’t need to accept any more work for a while. I want to help him get set up.”

“You’re an artist! A fabulous artist. You moved to New York to follow your own dream.”

“I never planned to live here forever. This was an experiment. An adventure. Nothing more.”

“Does your brother know what you’re about to sacrifice for him?”

“N-not yet. I’m planning to surprise him.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“What do you mean?” She sounded angry, but anger masked fear.

“You’re not running to him as much as running from something. Admit it!”

By now she was standing at the window looking out, ostensibly so she wouldn’t have to face him.

“Please go, Mr. Sterling. When you see your niece, tell her goodbye for me, and let her know I’m happy she liked the picture.”

“She loves both of them. The whole family will be delighted when they lay eyes on ‘The Beggar.’ Creating those masterpieces must have kept you up all night.”

Payne hadn’t been able to sleep either.

Still she said nothing.

He shifted his weight. “I’m not leaving this apartment until I learn why you planned to disappear without a trace.”

Time lapsed before she said in a low voice, “You’re going to make me say it aren’t you.”

Another surge of adrenaline electrified his body. “Say what?” he prodded.

Rainey turned her head in his direction wearing a solemn expression. “Your fiancée knows you’ve been to my apartment,” she began in a throbbing voice.

“She knows I’ve been to your office, that I’ve ridden in your helicopter. She knows I’ve been out to Crag’s Head. After last night she knows I was an overnight guest in your sister’s home.

“If I were your fiancée, I could handle all of it knowing everything was the result of the hearing. But any more contact, even a whisper of it, and I would feel…threatened.”

He took a step closer. “If you think moving back to Colorado removes that threat, then you’re very much mistaken. You could go to the ends of the earth and it wouldn’t make any difference.”

“Then you haven’t done enough to make her feel secure in your love,” she fired back.

Unable to respond to that remark without incriminating himself he said, “She’ll never feel secure about anything until she can walk again. There’s a clinic in Switzerland that might be able to help her, but she refuses to let me take her.”

Upon that remark Rainey rested her body against the edge of the desk. Her head was lowered.

“I can understand why. It would be so hard to go there on a thread of hope and then find out not even those doctors could help.”

“Diane still has some feeling in her legs, Rainey. There’s a chance she could walk again. Otherwise the doctors wouldn’t keep urging her to go for a consultation and exam.”

Taking a calculated risk he said, “This morning while Catherine and I were swimming in the ocean, an idea came to me that could change Diane’s mind. You corroborated it moments ago when you talked about her feeling threatened.”

That brought Rainey’s head up. He had her full attention now.

“Instead of putting your career on hold for your brother who still has no idea what you’re planning, how would you like to do something that could result in Diane throwing away that damn wheelchair?”

A stunned expression broke out on her face. “If I thought I could help, naturally I’d do it, but I can’t imagine what it would be.”

Rainey Bennett-I’m going to hold you to that.

“Last evening you told me you’d give anything to work alongside me.”

She shook her head. “I was carried away. You know that.”

“You meant it, Rainey. So I’m proposing that you move into my home at Crag’s Head and expand your artistic talents by making my maps for me. It’ll be a merger financially beneficial for both of us.”

An explosion of green sparks lit up her heavily lashed eyes.

“Until you came along, I never trusted anyone else to do them. With your help I’ll be free to travel without the worry that I’m getting behind on the technical end. In this business I have to set up new markets before the competition does.

“In return, let’s pray Diane is so threatened by your presence in my life, she’ll agree to go to Switzerland and learn to walk again if only to be able to face you on an equal footing.”

“You can’t be serious!” She sounded aghast.

“I never say what I don’t mean. You have to understand something about my fiancée. No one has more pride than Ms. Diane Wylie of the North Shore.

“Her condition is so shocking to her, it’s come between her and her friends, her work on the magazine. She helped on my sister’s last senatorial campaign. Once upon a time she had aspirations to go into politics herself. All that drive has vanished. She’s not the same person she used to be.”

Rainey’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “That’s so tragic.”

“It is,” Payne murmured. “No human being deserves to suffer like she has.

“Last night I felt her pain because she used to be vital and vivacious like you, with a hell of a lot to contribute. If I thought she could be that way again, I’d move heaven and earth to make it happen.”

“I’m sure you would,” she whispered.

“Since Trevor’s death, Catherine’s been working on Diane. In her own sweet way she’s tried to remind her that there never was any hope for her brother, but there is for Diane. Still my fiancée hasn’t responded.

“The first signs of fight I’ve seen in her were last night while you were enchanting everyone.” Enchanting me. “Catherine was a different girl because of you, and Diane knew it.

“With your cooperation, maybe Diane will get so angry she’ll end up begging me take her to Switzerland. She’s a competitor at heart. That’s why I believe this will work. I could have roamed the earth and never found a more worthy opponent than you.”

After a significant pause he said, “If your answer is no, then I’ll leave here and you’ll never have to worry about dealing with me again. If it’s yes, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you tried to help another human being get back her life.”

Rainey couldn’t have looked more dazed.

“I realize it’s a lot to ask. I have no right. I do a lot of things when I don’t have the right, but it’s the way I’m made.”

The silence lengthened.

Summoning every vestige of willpower he possessed, Payne walked out of the apartment with a vision indelibly impressed of her standing there looking tormented.

But not tormented enough to call him back.

With that crushing realization, he headed for the staircase.

The thought of life without Rainey Bennett sent him into a despair so black, he didn’t remember going down the three flights of stairs to the foyer. Mac and John stood somewhere in the periphery waiting for Payne to climb in the back of the limo. Doors opened and closed. It was all a blur.

“Payne?”

“What is it, Andy?”

“Ms. Bennett is on the sidewalk motioning for you to put down your window.”

Being told that Rainey had followed him all the way to the street was like his body freefalling thousands of feet only to be yanked as his chute suddenly opened.

With lightning speed he levered himself from the car, still trying to catch his breath.

Dozens of people were walking back and forth, but as far as Payne was concerned, he and Rainey were the only two people in existence. She couldn’t very well avoid his gaze though she was trying.

“You wouldn’t be standing here if the answer weren’t yes. Shall we talk about it in the limo, or upstairs?”

She moistened her lips nervously. “When would you want me to start?”

“Now.”

“So soo-”

“I have to leave for Paris on Tuesday morning. Therefore I’d like to go over my maps with you this weekend and show you how I work.”

“But my apartmen-”

“I’ll help you bring down the things you’ll need for the weekend. On Monday we’ll arrange for you to meet with movers. You can put anything in storage you won’t require while you’re living with me.”

“I’ll have to be here for the courier to pick up my latest painting.”

“We’ll do that and I’ll take care of your lease.”

“No-I’ve already made an installment agreement with the super.”

Payne decided to let her have that victory for now. Early on he’d learned that when he was on the brink of a major takeover, he pounced when the tiny window of opportunity presented itself. The little things could slide.

“I-I won’t need your help with my bags. If you’ll wait here, I’ll be back down as soon as I can.”

“Take all the time you want.” I’m not going anywhere without you.

Payne recognized she craved privacy to say goodbye to the man who’d been in her apartment earlier. Little did the poor devil know Rainey would be out of permanent circulation the moment of liftoff.

While he waited, he phoned his niece.

“Hi, Uncle Payne!”

“How are things?”

“Great!”

That was the most enthusiasm he’d heard out of her in a long time.

“I invited my friends over to see Rainey’s drawings. Now they want her to do pictures of them and their pets so they can give them to their parents for Christmas presents. Do you think she would do it if they paid her?”

He smiled. “Knowing Rainey, she wouldn’t take the money.”

“I’m sure you’re right, but that’s a lot to ask when she has two other jobs.”

“Tell you what. You can ask her yourself tomorrow.”

“Did you invite her out to the house again?”

“No. I asked her to accept a full-time job with me. She said yes, and she’ll be moving into Crag’s Head where she’ll work on my maps.”

There was a prolonged silence.

“Uncle Payne…does Diane know?”

“Not yet. I’ll tell her tonight.”

“That’s going to hurt her a lot.”

“I’m hoping it’ll make her angry.”

He could hear her brain working. “You want her to be jealous.”

“I want her to walk again. Maybe if she gets angry enough, she’ll do something about it and consider going to that clinic in Switzerland.”

Another pause. “Does Rainey know why you’ve asked her to come to work for you?”

“Yes. She wants to help Diane too.”

“So do I.”

“You already have. You’re a sweetheart. I’m sure Rainey will enjoy your company, especially when I’m out of town. You can show her around, make certain she knows where to swim safely.”

“Do you think she likes to sail?”

“I guess we’re going to find out. Come on over in the morning and have breakfast with us.”

“Will Diane be there?”

“I’ll invite her. Let’s hope she won’t be able to stay away. Have fun this afternoon. I’ll see you in the morning.”

After ending the call, he made one more to his pilot to alert him they’d be flying back to Crag’s Head soon.

Two hours later he experienced the sensation of déjà vu when his housekeeper met him and Rainey in the foyer.

“Mrs. Myers? Ms. Bennett has agreed to come to work for me. For the time being she’ll be living here. Let’s put her in the bedroom with the view of Phantom Point.”

Rainey’s mouth curved upward. “That sounds intriguing.”

“It is. Sometimes you see it, sometimes you don’t. Shall I take up your bags now, Ms. Bennett?”

“Please call me Rainey. I’ll carry them.”

“You’re going to find out my new assistant has an independent streak,” Payne murmured.

“That’s fine with me as long as you call me Betty.”

His housekeeper liked to keep things formal. For her to make a concession like that meant Rainey had already won her over.

“It’s a deal.”

“We’re going to get busy in my study, Betty. When you have a moment, will you bring us some lunch?”

“Coming right up.”

Payne was eager to sit down with Rainey and explain how he put his crude drawings together into one blueprint. With her intuitive eye, she would bring her own expertise to streamline the process and make innovations.

After a moment’s consideration he pulled out a tube housing the drawings of Paris he’d already begun work on. While he was laying them out on the large worktable, his cell phone rang. A check of the Caller ID confirmed it was Diane.

His eyes flicked to Rainey. “I have to take this call. Go ahead and see what you make of everything.”

It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle. He couldn’t help but be curious how long it would take her to fit each piece together.

Moving a few feet away he answered the phone. Now that he had Rainey firmly entrenched beneath his roof, it was time to follow through with the rest of his plan.