“That’s not what it looked like to me, dear brother,” Benny said again.
“Look guys. This deal, with Eastman Motors, it’s huge. And it’s going to take every minute of my time for the next year, at least, to get all the projects green-lighted and crew hired, not to mention speaking with Dominic about designing us a new headquarters for Sorensen Construction. I don’t have time for anything else right now.”
Benny started to interject again so he tried again, his voice louder. “Even if I were to have any interest in having a love life, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be with Payton Vaughn. Other than physical attraction, we don’t have anything in common. She’s planning charity functions for people with nothing to do but spend money saving dolphins or whales or whatever. Believe me, we’re not compatible.”
It killed him to say that. But as soon as he did, he knew it was true.
He wanted to tell them that even if he did want her in his life, it was too late. She was already back with Brad. But then he’d have to admit he’d been practically stalking her. So he let it go, waiting for the next argument.
Fortunately, his mother decided to—finally—come to his rescue as she laid her hand on Benny to stay further comments. “Leave him be.” But she did look at him a little longer with sadness in those dark, loving eyes. “He’ll have to realize some things for himself.”
Ouch.
“If we’re done with the third degree, maybe we can eat? I have tons to do back at the office. Where are the kids?” he asked Daisy.
“They’re with their dad,” she said, disbelief on her own face. “He’s had them since Friday and will be dropping them off later tonight. They were ecstatic. And it’s giving me time to start the packing,” Now she was barely restraining her excitement, her lips tugging into a grin.
“Packing? What’s going on?”
She clasped her hands together, almost as if in a prayer. “My lovely new sister-in-law is what’s going on. For weeks she and Dominic have been negotiating where they’re going to live, and it looks like they decided that, despite being farther away from Kate’s work, they’re going to live at Dominic’s.”
“Okay,” he said slowly, not sure what that had to do with Daisy unless… “Are you moving into her place, then?”
She was beaming as she nodded. “Seeing as how the market is still getting back on its feet, Kate wants to hold off selling for now and she thought maybe the kids and I would want to move in. Get our own space. I’m paying her rent, of course.”
He nodded. His sister had stubbornly refused all handouts since going through the divorce, much to everyone’s dismay, so it wasn’t a surprise that she’d insist on paying rent. Probably top dollar too.
“It’s such a beautiful house,” she gushed, her eyes shining. “And what with living right next door, Aunt Glenda has already assured me she’d love nothing more than to help me watch the kids after school. I can’t imagine it being more perfect. The girls will have to share a room, of course, but they’re fine with it. I think Paul might even be a little jealous,” she added, referencing her youngest and only son.
“But don’t forget I want to help too. Even if they won’t be under the same roof,” their mother interjected, looking a little weepy. “I’m expecting lots of sleepovers.”
Daisy softened her smile and placed her hand on her mother’s. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“This is great news, Daise,” Cruz said. “I’m excited for you and the kids.”
“Good. Because I’m going to need your help moving. With Dominic and Kate gone until next late Saturday night, I need some brawn for the heavy lifting.”
“Isn’t that what we have Benny for?” he asked and took another drink.
Benny smiled wryly. “Don’t worry, big brother. I know you’ve gone a little soft in your old age, might suffer a bit from early arthritis. I’m prepared to pick up your slack. I can probably hook you up with some geriatric medical supplies too. Just say the word.”
“When do you need me?” he asked Daisy, ignoring his youngest sister.
“I can’t get off early until Saturday, around three, and I would really like to get it done then. It shouldn’t take too long. Kate left the keys with me and has insisted I use most of the furniture she already has. Probably just a couple hours. Unless you want to help us get a couple of Kate’s things moved over to Dominic’s. He had a few things he wanted in place before they get back, something to have as a nice homecoming for Kate.”
It was going to put a serious kink in Cruz’s plans to have a decision made on which subcontractor he was going with by the end of the week, but it couldn’t be helped. It was family.
“Fine. I’ll meet you here around three. Ben,” he asked, trying to turn topics. “Did you hear anything yet about that fellowship?”
Which did the trick. With everyone onto a new topic and busy dishing up dinner, Cruz pretended to listen while letting his mind go somewhere else. On someone else. Again.
Oh, hell. He entertained the idea of slamming his head against the table to try and knock some sense in his damn brain but figured that would only alarm everyone around him.
Moving on. Seemed like something everyone was doing around here. Benny as she wrapped up her residency in pediatric medicine at the U and looked toward the future; Dominic who was starting a new life with the woman he loved. Hell. Even his newly divorced sister was moving on—literally and figuratively. And, of course…Payton.
For all he knew she and Brad were back to pricing out china patterns again for the big nuptials in between planning cocktail parties for her mother and her friends.
She’d moved on.
Maybe it was time Cruz did, too.
Chapter Eighteen
Payton added another yellow rose to the vase and stood back, tilting her head to try and get a different perspective. She wanted them to be perfect for her friend when she arrived home late tonight from her honeymoon.
“They’re gorgeous,” Benny said from behind her. “Kate will love them.”
Earlier, Cruz’s sister and Kate’s new sister-in-law, had arrived on her doorstep asking for a favor. With Kate and Dominic arriving in town sometime after midnight, she’d wanted to do something special for the couple. Bring a few of Kate’s things from her old house over, buy a few groceries and other things to help make the house feel warm and inviting. Set it up for a couple just returning from a honeymoon—and wanting to leave the house as little as possible.
With assurances that it would just be the two of them, since the last thing she needed was an inopportune run-in with Cruz, Payton had agreed. Even if she was nervous that Benny would ply her with question about what happened between them. Fortunately, Benny had remained mum on the subject, instead chatting away over some funny stories involving her young patients and then how lucky Kate and Dominic were to find each other.
“Mrs. Kate Sorensen,” Payton shook her head and grabbed another long-stemmed rose, trimming the bottom before pushing it in the vase. “It’s so crazy. I can’t believe my best friend is married.”
She was happy. Ecstatically happy for her friend who deserved all the happiness in the world. But, if she were totally honest, she had to admit also feeling a little sad for herself.
Her friend was starting this new stage in her life, while Payton was trying to catch up.
“Daisy and everyone should be here any minute now,” Benny said and pulled two bottles of Champagne from a bag on the kitchen counter.
Benny had conveniently waited until after they’d arrived, arms loaded with flowers and groceries and supplies, to drop the news that the rest of the family would also be stopping by to bring some of the heavier items. She’d quickly reassured Payton that she didn’t have to worry about running into Cruz since he was busy with work and Payton managed to tamp down the panic that first seized her at the thought of seeing him.