Rebecca Winters - Manhattan Merger

“Diane and I argued about it until she cried herself to sleep. When I went home I racked my brain trying to figure out how I could get her to change her mind and go.”

“So you asked her to marry you,” Rainey murmured.

Their eyes met for a long unsmiling moment.

“Yes. I thought my proposal would bring about the required miracle. I told her I’d take a month off. We’d combine her hospital stay with a honeymoon.

“Since our engagement she’s said yes to the idea and then reneged a hundred times. We were still battling over it the day Catherine and Diane came flying into my brother-in-law’s study to show me the cover on Manhattan Merger. ”

“That was my fault,” Rainey cried in anguish. “I should never have taken the risk of painting your face or anyone else’s from memory!”

“Who’s crucifying themselves now?”

“Touché,” she whispered. “Payne-I-I have an idea.”

“That’s good, because I’m running out of them.”

“In a few minutes I’m going to pack my bags and leave for good.”

Rainey, Rainey.

“You think I didn’t know you were going to say it before you did?”

“Please listen.”

She was being all serious and noble. He folded his arms so he wouldn’t be tempted to reach for her and never let her go.

“Behold your captive audience.”

Like a nervous doe in the forest sensing danger, she backed away from him. “As soon as I’ve left in the helicopter, drive over to Diane’s and surprise her.

“Tell her she was right, that you hired me to make her angry, and now you and I both realize the ploy failed miserably. Let her know I’ve gone back to Colorado, which is exactly where I’m going after I leave here.

“Then ask her to go away to Paris with you tomorrow instead of Tuesday. Tell her nothing’s more important than her happiness, and that you’ll never mention Switzerland again. I honestly believe if you do that, she’ll find the strength to go to this clinic.

“I’ve seen evidence of that Wylie pride you were talking about. It means that deep down the last thing she wants is the Sterling name and your protection because she ended up in a wheelchair and you felt guilty about it.

“Like any real woman she wants your love, given freely.

“She knows the only way she can win that love is to fight for it after she’s done everything in her power to stand on her own two feet first. That’s why I’m convinced she’ll end up doing what’s best for her and you.

“And now I’m going to leave here because it’s best for me.” She started out of the study. “Will you tell your pilot I’ll be ready for takeoff in ten minutes?”

Payne let her go. He had to. His commitment was to Diane. Rainey respected that commitment. She was an honorable woman. In fact she was so many wonderful things, he didn’t dare start listing them or he’d never stop.

In less than ten minutes she was back downstairs again with her bags. They walked out of the house together without saying anything. When he’d put her belongings in the helicopter, he turned to help her inside. Her sunny smile would have fooled anyone except Payne.

“You don’t ever need to worry about stumbling on to your life, Rainey Bennett. It lives inside you and infects everyone you meet.”

Her eyes filmed over. “That’s the nicest compliment anyone’s ever paid me. For what it’s worth, I meant what I said to Diane. You’re a hero in every sense of the word. The next time I read a Red Rose Romance, I’ll think of you, but I promise to control the urge to paint you.”

The rotors whipped the air. It was time.

“Be happy,” she whispered. Her kiss felt like the brush of a butterfly’s wing against his jaw.

He closed the door and stepped away from the chopper. The noise it made rising in the air covered the groan coming from the deepest recesses of his soul.

When it was out of sight he broke into a run and headed for the beach. After a half hour’s workout he went back to the house to shower and pack a bag.

Downstairs he found his housekeeper in the kitchen.

“Betty? There’s been a change in plans. Rainey has decided to go home to Colorado. I’m leaving now and won’t be back from Paris with Diane until next Saturday. Call me if there are any problems.”

He phoned Andy to bring the limo around. Soon John and Mac had joined them for the ride to Payne’s sister’s house. He wanted to say goodbye to his niece in person.

Nyla happened to meet him in the hall and told him Catherine had gone over to the grandparents for Sunday dinner.

“Can I give her a message?”

“That’s all right. I’ll phone her over there. While I’m here, will you get me those paintings of Rainey’s?”

“You bet. Just a minute.”

While Payne waited, he called Catherine’s cell phone.

“Hi, Uncle Payne!”

“Hi, sweetheart. I’m glad I caught you.”

“Me too. I guess I left that romance at your house, but when I called Betty, she said she hadn’t seen it. Do you have any idea where it might be?”

He frowned. “I remember Diane asking you to hand it to her. Maybe she still has it. If she does, I’ll make sure it gets back to you.”

“Thanks. How’s everything going?” she whispered.

He swallowed hard. “Better than expected.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m taking Diane to Paris with me in the morning.”

“She’s actually going to go on your jet with you?”

“That’s right.”

“Maybe this means-”

“Whatever it means, it’s progress,” he broke in. “Because of it, Rainey has decided not to work for me after all. She left to go back to Colorado a couple of hours ago.”

A long silence ensued. “She was going to draw Linda’s portrait on Tuesday.”

Payne didn’t know about that. “Tell Linda that Rainey would have done it if she could have.”

“I will,” she said in a quiet voice. “Uncle Payne? Are you all right?”

Don’t ask me that, sweetheart. “I couldn’t be better. If Diane can take this step, who knows where it will lead?”

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I love you. Thanks for taking such good care of me.”

Thank God for his niece. “I love you too. What do you want from Paris?”

“For you to be happy.”

Someone else he loved had told him the same thing two hours ago.

“Ditto, sweetheart. Give everyone my love. Tell mom and dad I’ll be by to see them next weekend.”

“I will.”

“Here you go,” Nyla said as he put his phone back in his pocket.

Payne took the paintings from her. “Thanks for everything. My sister’s lucky to have you.” He gave her a hug before leaving the house with a precious treasure.

After he got to the office he would leave a note for his secretary to mail them to Rainey. They were her creation. She had the only right to them. If she decided to get rid of them, he didn’t want to know about it.

“Andy? Take me to the Wylies’.”

Payne intended to follow Rainey’s advice to the letter. He’d lost faith in his own instincts, but he believed in hers. She was the one gifted with second sight. Maybe she knew something he didn’t.

Two days later he wrapped up a conference early with some of his engineers and returned to his apartment near the Place Vendôme. Thanks to the time Rainey had spent with him on the Paris map, he’d been able to give the men enough work to put them ahead of schedule.

“Diane? I’m back and ready to take you shopping for your wedding dress.”

“I’d rather stay in so we can talk.”

Payne frowned. Since Sunday when he’d surprised her, she’d been in better spirits than he’d seen her since the shooting. He didn’t think he could handle it if she told him she wanted to go home. It would mean she’d slipped back into that immobilizing depression he dreaded.