Manhattan Merger. Rebecca Winters

you.”

      He put his credit card away and pulled out a hundred dollar bill. “You’ve been very helpful,” he said, sliding it toward her. She started to make change but he told her not to bother.

      “This is much too generous.”

      “Humor me, please,” he said with a smile.

      “If you insist. After all these years, it’s so exciting to meet the legendary member of the Sterling family!”

      Payne had heard that comment one too many times in his life. However it would do no good to remind the woman that his place in the scheme of things had happened because of an accident of birth. Her place had been determined the same way.

      Furthermore, he got up in the mornings, worked hard, suffered, agonized and bled before going to bed at night, just the way she and everyone else did on the planet.

      Her gaze searched his. “I do hope this turns out to be an honest mistake for all concerned.”

      “My sentiments exactly.” Otherwise another nightmare had begun.

      She bagged the books and handed the sack to him. He tucked Manhattan Merger inside the opening.

      “I promise you’ll get these back. Thanks again, Ms. Perry.”

      “You’re welcome.”

      “Let’s go,” he murmured to Mac.

      Once they were ensconced in the limousine, he phoned Drew Wallace, his attorney, and explained what had happened. They planned to meet at Crag’s Head as soon as Drew could get away from an important dinner engagement.

      Pleased Drew could come on such short notice no matter the hour, he told him he’d send the helicopter for him. This was one meeting that needed to take place tonight under strictest privacy.

      When he returned to his sister’s house, he discovered Diane in the backyard looking through some wedding magazines. Catherine was using doggie treats to make their family’s golden retriever do tricks.

      Though Payne loved all his nieces and nephews, he’d always had a special feeling for Catherine. Her heart melted for the less fortunates of this world whether they be animals or people.

      Out of all his sister’s children, Catherine was the one who’d taken her brother Trevor’s death from leukemia the hardest. When she came into her inheritance, he had an idea she’d give it all to research in an effort to find a cure.

      Since the shooting, his niece had attached herself to Diane, determined his brunette fiancée would walk again one day. Catherine’s desire to make that happen had endeared her to Payne as nothing else could have done.

      While Phyllis and Trent were away with their three older children, Payne’s niece—who’d begged to stay behind—had been helping Diane and her mother with plans for their wedding. It was scheduled for August first.

      Without Diane’s knowledge Payne had already cleared his calendar so he could take Diane to Switzerland for the month. They would spend their honeymoon at a special hospital reputed to perform miracles on patients with Diane’s type of injury. He was going to get her there no matter what.

      After climbing out of the limousine, he handed Mac the sack before approaching his fiancée. Though her light brown eyes still looked haunted, she broke into a smile when she saw him.

      He gave her a quick kiss on the lips knowing what he had to say would disappoint her, but it couldn’t be helped.

      “This problem with the romance cover needs to be dealt with. I’m afraid our plans to go into New York for dinner have to be put on hold.”

      “Somehow I knew you were going to say that.”

      “Drew’s meeting me as soon as he can.”

      “That’s good.”

      “After we’ve finished talking, I’ll call you. In the meantime, Sam will run you home.”

      He pushed her wheelchair to the limousine, then lifted her into the back seat. Catherine and the dog ran over to say goodbye while John folded up the chair and put it in the trunk.

      “Promise you’ll phone later and tell me what’s going on?”

      He couldn’t look at her in this condition without being aware of her near lifeless legs. Though he might not have pulled the trigger, he was the reason she couldn’t walk.

      “You know I will.” He gave her hand a squeeze, then shut the limo door.

      “’Bye, Diane,” Catherine called to her.

      As the car drove off, Payne put an arm around his niece and walked her toward the house. He needed to get his laptop. “I want to thank you for being so good to Diane.”

      “I want her to get better.”

      “So do I.” So do I.

      “She’s decided she’ll never walk again, but I told her that’s crazy because she still has feeling in her legs. I won’t let her give up! Even if she doesn’t want to go to that clinic in Switzerland, you have to take her, Uncle Payne.”

      He held the door open for her and the dog. Once they’d entered the house he said, “That’s my plan.”

      “While you were in the village, she broke down crying and said she didn’t want to go through another operation when it wouldn’t do her any good.”

      Payne gritted his teeth. “I’m afraid seeing me on the cover of that book has brought back the horror of what she went through at Christmas.”

      “Then all the more reason for her to fight with everything she’s got to get better!” Catherine blurted. “At least her doctor hasn’t said her case is hopeless. It’s not like what happened with Trevor,” her voice wobbled.

      “You’re right.” He kissed her forehead. “I love you for caring so much. When your mom asked me to look in on you while they were in Mexico, I was happy to do it. Tell you what— I’ll free up some time tomorrow afternoon and take you and Diane sailing.”

      “She doesn’t like to sail.”

      Payne had an idea something unpleasant had happened between Catherine and Diane. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

      “Nothing,” came the quiet response.

      “You can say that to anyone but me.”

      His niece looked up at him with soulful blue eyes. “Diane got after me about reading romances. She said they’re a waste of time and don’t reflect real life.”

      Until Payne had a chance to read Manhattan Merger, he would reserve judgment.

      “You shouldn’t take her disapproval to heart. She’s a little down right now.”

      “I’m not. She’s been like this since you got engaged.”

      His brows knit together. “Like what?”

      “Let’s just say she has a hard time tolerating me when you’re not around.”

      “That’s not true, Catherine. She cares for you enough to have wanted your help with our wedding plans.”

      “She only asked me because you hinted it might be a good idea while mom and dad were away. I never told you this, but two years ago at that Fourth of July party on the yacht, Linda and I figured out Diane was in love with you when she told us to run along and leave you two alone.”

      After what Catherine had just told him, he realized his perceptive niece understood a lot more about his fiancée than he’d given her credit for.

      With so much on his mind at the time, Payne had been oblivious to Diane’s interest in him. If he hadn’t left his office that night… But all the what-ifs in the world weren’t going to change the situation that had shattered