Page 33 of Peyton's Price

“I’ll have to watch that. Do me a favor—don’t hide in your office tomorrow. I want to say goodbye properly. I’m—I’m going to miss you.”

Impulsively, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. Matthias reached up to stroke her hair.

“Peyton, if I’m wrong about everything—if Liam doesn’t come to his senses—you can always come back here.”

“Wh—”

He held up his hands, cutting her off. “It won’t come to that, but if it does, theOrmen Langewill be waiting.”

He abruptly turned on his heel and walked away, disappearing around the corner before she could reply.

Chapter 18

Peyton half-expected Matthias to skip breakfast, but he was true to his word. He was waiting in the dining room for her bright and not so early at around ten AM.

However, he didn’t touch any of last night’s revelations. Whenever she tried to bring them up, he would change the subject, determinedly distracting her with some other topic. The untouchable sophisticate from her first days on theOrmen Langewas back.

Despite that, Peyton couldn’t help but enjoy herself with Matthias. His conversation may have been deliberately shallow, but it was witty and urbane. The stories were entertaining. She liked that he seemed to enjoy talking to her.

Matthias was such a forceful personality, and it was easy to be carried along in his wake. Almost effortless. But as the meal ended, she was very aware their time was growing short.

“When will we arrive?”

“We docked ten minutes ago. Did you not feel it when the engines stopped?”

Peyton looked around them in surprise. She hadn’t noticed at all—a fact which spoke to the power of Matthias’ aptitude for distraction.

She must not have appeared entirely happy because Matthias put his hand over hers. “Everything will be fine. I’m not wrong about Liam. He just needed something to shake him out of his complacency. Your kidnapping has done it.”

She wished she were as confident as he was, but his conviction was heady stuff. He’d almost convinced her. “What about you? What are you going to do?”

He shrugged. “I’m going to do what I always do. Sail around the world, dividing my time between business and pleasure.”

The way he said that last bit made a flash of heat course through her. It sounded as if he had definite plans for the future. “Does that mean you are going to be visiting the mainland to hit a few clubs or something? Are you going on shore-leave?”

He laughed. “Well, I hadn’t thought of it that way, but your visit here has sparked a certain…hunger.”

Peyton set down her glass. She was glad she’d finished her orange juice or else she would have choked on it.

“I would go pack, but I don’t have anything but that awful white dress. I’d sooner burn it. Will you give it a proper burial at sea once I’m gone?”

“Of course, but you’re welcome to take any of the gowns I bought you.”

“No, thank you. I can’t take them. Besides, I wouldn’t have anywhere to wear them.”

He seemed as if he wanted to argue. “Not even the sweatpants?”

She laughed. “Just the pair I’m wearing. Why don’t you keep the gowns for the next damsel in distress?”

His face clouded over, but she didn’t take it back. If anyone needed a purpose in life, it was Matthias Raske. “Just because you don’t break up sex-trafficking rings anymore doesn’t mean you can’t help people,” she said softly.

He cleared his throat. “I went ahead and sent Liam and the others a message. Told them to expect us after lunch, so you can have some time—”

Loud voices interrupted. Matthias straightened, his eyes fixed on the door behind her. “Or it could be sooner.”

Peyton twisted in her seat. Liam and Patrick were rushing through the door, both were talking at full volume.

“Where is she?” Liam said in a near shout, coming up short when Matthias stood to greet them.

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