He grunted, thinking about the kind of woman who would be controlling enough to order her daughter’s wedding dress one size too small—and who’d tell her to forgive and forget her fiancé’s treachery. “Yeah. I’ve got some idea.”

“Would you believe that the woman has called me four more times this morning trying to get updates on Payton and to demand that I bring Payton to her senses and stop being so selfish?”

His hand tightened on the phone. In the time he’d known Kate, selfish was the last thing he’d call her. She had a big heart and only wanted to help people. Hell, she’d left a high-powered law firm so she could take on more downtrodden and financially challenged clients—like his sister, Daisy—just a few months ago.

“Don’t worry, Dominic shared a few of his thoughts with her when he heard that.” He could hear the smile in her voice.

“Glad to hear it. But rest assured, Payton is doing all right and holding her own. You just worry about yourself and remember…this weekend is for you. You and Dominic. Don’t let that dragon lady unsettle you. I’ll let Payton know you’re looking forward to partying hard tonight.”

He hung up the phone and picked up the last gordita on the plate and sank his teeth into it. What did that make…five? No sense letting good food go to waste. Especially since he couldn’t take another bite of those chocolate bars Payton bought that morning after taking her first bite and falling in love.

He shook his head again at the thought that any mother would force starvation on an already gorgeous and healthy daughter so she looked the right way for a wedding. It made him doubly grateful for the warm, loving parents he and his siblings were graced with. Who accepted all of them for who they were—although, since Dominic found Kate, there had been more “helpful” hints from his mom about not getting too caught up in finding success he didn’t have someone to share it with.

But to tell the truth, none of the women he’d dated had sparked that interest in him. Sparked that need to be with them longer than it takes a construction project to run through to completion, to want to plan a future with someone who, in twenty years, he’d want to snuggle up against him in bed—ideally naked.

Not until recently.

Hell and damnation. He was not going to think about Payton that way. He couldn’t. Not because there was anything wrong with her, contrary to what her mother may have ingrained her to believe, but because…he didn’t have anything to offer someone like Payton.

Not yet.

Not until he could prove that he and his company were as good as Dick and Brad Eastman, like the Vaughns and Vaughn Communications. Not until he could rest assured that another person, someone like Brad Eastman, couldn’t just walk into his life and steal away his happiness again.

Until he had everything to offer to someone like Payton.

Chapter Seven

With Cruz at the wheel, Payton went to work syncing his phone’s Bluetooth to the car’s radio. She stared at the phone, waiting as it tried to find a connection.

Four hours. They were still four hours from Puerto Vallarta, and if she didn’t have some recognizable music soon, she was going to go insane. Well, that or be forced to start singing “99 bottles of beer.” Maybe even the song about finding a peanut.

Cruz would be the one ready to go insane. But that would only serve him right for the little stunt he tried before. Although, now that she’d had some time to nurse her wounds, she was willing to put it behind her. This deal was important to Cruz. To his family. And he at least came clean.

It also had made her face a few things about herself. About her feelings toward Brad.

Finally, the connection took, and she went to the “music for the road” playlist she’d put together.

Hmm. This really is an art. Choosing the right stuff. Which one to lead with…

She spotted a title and smiled.

The speakers shuddered for a moment as she turned the music up and then AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” blared out.

She looked over at Cruz, waiting for a reaction.

He gave her a sideways glance. And smiled. “Okay. I’ll give you that one. Solid choice. But if I hear any country, it’s going off.”

“Hey. There’s nothing wrong with country music, buddy. The old clichés of drunk assholes bemoaning the loss of their wives and dead dogs is not even close to true.”

He guffawed.

Is that a challenge?

She brought up the music store on his cell phone and typed in the next musical choice. This was too much fun.

When the AC/DC song was over, Brad Paisley’s twangy “I’m Gonna Miss You” streamed next. She hadn’t been able to resist but already had another song waiting to follow it up.

“I’m going to be sure to send you my phone bill from this little trip of ours.”

“Every dollar will be worth it,” she said smugly and watched as he rolled his eyes as Brad sang about a man choosing fishing over his wife. But there was still the tiniest of smiles.

“Which actually reminds me,” he said, clearing his throat and turning the music down to a more manageable level. “Kate called earlier to check in on you. She mentioned that your mother reached her. Seems pretty determined to speak with you.”

“I’ll just bet she is.” Payton was reminded once again why she’d chucked her phone, and any lingering regret flew away.

“You okay?” he asked, a note of concern in his voice from her continuing silence. She noticed his tanned fingers gripping the steering wheel. Concern for her?

She took a breath and tossed her head back, this time smiling a full sincere smile. “I am. Really. And if my mother knew what was good for her she’d book herself into a spa somewhere for one of her bi-monthly serenity checks.” Something her mother did anytime Payton resisted her attempts to control her life. “Thank you, though. For your concern.”

“Oh. And Kate also wanted you to know that she’s really looking forward to your girls’ night out but we’re not to kill ourselves trying to get to the hotel in time.”

At this she laughed outright. “Did she actually tell you that?”

“Um, something along those lines, I think.”

“You’re almost as bad of a liar as she is. No, Kate thinks my plan is to paint the town red and all that, as I’ve convinced her, but I know my best friend better than anyone and I know that a night in, just the girls, is closer to heaven for her. My real plan is to surprise her later tonight. Not to say I don’t have a few surprises, but they’ll all occur in the safety of her suite.”

“It’s good to see it’s not only me that you like to torture.”

“Nope,” she fluttered her eyes at him. “It’s not just you. But you do bring new challenges to my endeavors.”

He laughed out loud at that and turned his attention back to the road. His shoulders relaxed, his shades on. Payton tried to resist staring at him. It was difficult to remember why she didn’t want him turning to her and leaning across the way, placing a kiss on her lips, feeling his breath on her, his fingers in her hair, maybe lower…

“Tell me about you and Kate. How did you two meet?”

Damn. Shifting gears…

“From what I know about Kate, I can’t imagine you two were playing in the same social circles. Didn’t you go to some ridiculously expensive private school?”

“Not by choice, but yes.” Any place would have been better than one filled with stuck-up snots high on their own self-importance. Snots who’d been her friends—or what she knew of friendship up to that point. Until she met Kate. “Kate transferred in sixth grade.”

He threw her a dubious look. “Kate attended your uppity school?”

“You might have noticed that my best friend is very driven. Brilliant. Hardworking.” Something that Payton had always admired. And the way Kate stood up for herself and anyone else she cared about. “She was awarded one of the few financial scholarships the school handed out every year, something I count my blessings for every day. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if Kate hadn’t come into it.”