LITMIR.BIZ

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been gearing up for this moment. To exact the revenge for Alice’s unfounded accusations against her dad of improper record keeping and misappropriation of funds. Accusations that had cast a permanent pall on his professional career and made him untrustworthy in the eyes of every potential new employer. Accusations that had put additional strain on her mother’s diminishing health—she’d developed complications from her multiple sclerosis—which had subsequently drained what little they had in the bank and left them living on handouts and whatever sporadic income her father could earn. They’d been unable to pay medical bills for treatment that might have eased her mother’s condition and had ended up having to move from California to Oregon, where the cost of living was lower, but which put her mom even farther from the medical team who’d overseen her care.

      A little of the anger that had driven Peyton all these years sparked back to life, blanketing the guilt so there was little more than a pang left.

      “I committed to marrying you, Galen. I will do my part.”

      He tensed as if waiting to hear more, but she wasn’t prepared to outright lie and make false declarations. She was here to do a job and to close a chapter in her and her family’s life. And then there was the other reason. The reason she barely allowed herself to think of. The child she’d been forced to give away. Had her family’s circumstances been different, she would have been able to keep her. Circumstances she could lay fully and completely at the feet of the woman walking toward them right now. With no money left in her college fund, Peyton had had to take out student loans to go to college. No matter how carefully she’d crunched the numbers there was no way she could afford food, rent, utilities and childcare on top of her loan repayments and her parents had had no way to help physically, emotionally or financially. After all these years, and all her painstaking planning, it was coming to fruition now. She couldn’t afford to take her eye off her goal, for anyone.

      “I guess that’s all I can ask,” he said. “And look, here’s Nagy to check on her new chick.”

      “Nagy?” Peyton asked, quietly bristling at the idea of being one of Alice Horvath’s anything.

      “It’s Hungarian. A diminutive of nagymama, for ‘grandmother.’”

      And then Alice was upon them. Though she was slightly built and petite, there was a steeliness to her gaze, and her back was ramrod straight. It was clear this woman didn’t suffer fools gladly; Peyton could tell the woman who’d controlled the Horvath Corporation at its head office in California for many years after her husband’s death was formidable. But as Alice drew nearer, a smile appeared on the old woman’s face. It softened her and made her look entirely approachable. This wasn’t the face of the monster Peyton had always believed her to be.

      Galen’s arm tightened around her waist and she involuntarily nestled closer. She had to look and act the part of newlywed, no matter what. And it wasn’t so difficult, was it? He was hardly unattractive and the lean, hard lines of his body beneath his suit felt uncommonly right against her, confusing her even more.

      “Congratulations, you two,” Alice said warmly as she reached up and kissed Galen on the cheek then took Peyton’s hands in hers. “You look wonderful together. I’m sure you’ll be very happy.”

      Peyton smiled, or was it a snarl with her nemesis standing right in front of her? She couldn’t be entirely sure. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice sounding stiff and unnatural.

      “We’re a bit overwhelming en masse, aren’t we?” Alice said with a conspiratorial smile. “But you’ll get used to us. Everyone does.”

      By decree of Alice Horvath, Peyton thought bitterly. Get used to them and play by their rules, or get out. She forced herself to hold that smile on her face and took in a deep breath of relief when Alice let go of her hands and turned once again to her grandson. Peyton watched, intrigued by the genuine affection between them. There was nothing stilted or fake about the fondness they showed one another. She let their conversation wash over her and surveyed the rest of the room. It almost looked like the celebration of a real wedding as people laughed and danced and ate and drank. And yet she felt completely separate from all of it. Had she bitten off more than she could chew by taking this assignment?

      * * *

      Galen sensed his new bride’s disengagement and hastened to end the conversation with his grandmother. It was important to him that Peyton feel she’d made the right decision. He was very good at making other people feel good—about their choices, about themselves, about him. He aimed to please, always, and it had stood him in good stead with his career choice and drew a lot of people to him. But he had the distinct impression that Peyton was not going to be an easy sell. He wouldn’t be able to simply waltz her off into this new happily-ever-after life. There was a reserve about her, even though she was going through all the motions and smiling in all the right places. And he was determined to break that wall down, brick by brick if he had to.

      He stroked the curve of her waist but her body remained rigid. Maybe his touch was too much, too soon. He told himself to let her go but the thought of doing so held no appeal at all. He was genuinely attracted to her and mentally gave his grandmother a thumbs-up for their pairing. And he’d have bet that Peyton was attracted to him, too, though she was doing her best not to show it. As soon as this party was over, things would be different. They could all relax. He thought about the Horvath resort in Hawaii where they’d be heading by private jet tonight. Hopefully there, soothed by the balmy breeze and the lush beauty of the landscape, Peyton would unwind a little more and allow him to get to know her better.

      “Nagy, could you give Peyton and I a little time alone? We’ll need to get ready to leave soon. Perhaps you could mind Ellie for me and we can collect her before we head to the airport?”

      “Of course. It would be my pleasure. Ellie is such a delight. When you’re back from honeymoon, I’d love it if she could stay with me in Ojai for a weekend.”

      His grandmother gave Peyton and him both a kiss on the cheek and went off in search of the nine-year-old.

      “Ellie is coming with us?” Peyton asked with a surprised expression on her face.

      “I hope that’s okay. She’s on spring break right now, so it made sense to me to include her and, as we weren’t permitted contact between one another before the wedding, I couldn’t exactly ask you.”

      “No, it’s not a problem at all,” Peyton answered, looking more than a little relieved.

      Was it because she wouldn’t be left alone with him, that they’d have Ellie as a buffer between them? Galen gave an internal shrug. Whatever; it didn’t matter as long as this worked out. Ellie already liked his new bride. She was a bright kid and knowing she liked Peyton was half the battle won. If they could cement that into something strong and lasting—a family unit that would make her feel loved and secure for the rest of her childhood—then he would have succeeded in fulfilling the promise he’d made to his two dead friends as they were laid to rest. Failure was not an option.

      “Are you curious about where we’re going?”

      “I’m assuming it’s somewhere warm. I was told to pack light clothing and swimwear.”

      “It’s perpetually warm. We’re off to a Horvath resort a little over two and a half thousand miles east-southeast of here,” he teased.

      “That would be your resort on Maui, right?”

      “You’ve been doing your research on us,” he answered, surprised at her very specific response.

      Her cheeks colored. “Research? What makes you think that?”

      She sounded defensive. Definitely not what he’d been hoping for just before they left to change for travel.

      “Let’s just say I’m not used to people being as well-informed about my business as you apparently are,” he said, attempting to soothe her.

      “Information is my business,” she said smoothly, her demeanor relaxing slightly.

      “And

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