Page 36 of Peyton's Price

He hadn’t called to say goodbye…not that she had expected him to. But the three days had come and gone and she was still here at the Caislean, sleeping in the empty suite next to Trick and Tahlia’s.

Five days ago, Peyton had left theOrmen Langeand had been ushered to the inner sanctum, the top floor of the hotel where the offices and family suites were located. Trick and Liam had fussed over her, insisting she needed time to process her ordeal before she saw everyone. Not that anyone had listened to them. Her friends and surrogate family descended en masse—a little at a time, but then the trickle became a stream. Soon, it was a flood…in more ways than one.

First, Maggie had cried all over her. When she was done, Thalia had a turn, then Maia MacLachlan. Then Maggie had another go.

The staff was slightly more circumspect with their welcome. Only Constanza shed tears in front of Peyton, but several of the other housekeepers had gotten misty-eyed. Then the food had arrived. In spite of the circumstances, it had become a party. A surreal one for her, but a celebration, nonetheless. Their love washed over her. Everyone was so happy and relieved she couldn’t help but be, too.

“What didMatthias mean by three days?” Liam had asked her somewhere in between Maia’s crying jag and Maggie’s round two. His dark eyes bored into hers as he demanded an answer.

Once upon a time, she might have told him what he wanted to know. She used to tell him everything. Maggie used to get so upset that Peyton could never keep a secret from him.

Things were different now.

“Nothing,” she’d insisted, turning away to talk to his sister. She’d had to repeat that several times over the next few days—long days where she hadn’t been able to go anywhere without him knowing. He’d kept her close. Even though she knew she should, Peyton hadn’t complained.

Liam stopped asking after the fourth day. This was the morning of day five. And it was Sunday.

Brunch was a tradition for the Tylers. Peyton showered and pulled on her clothes, still not feeling quite herself. But there was solace in familiar routines.

For a minute, she eyed the charm bracelet on top of the dresser. Liam had surprised her with it in the car on the way back from the docks.

“You forgot this,” he’d said in his deep rumble, fastening it on her wrist without another word.

Trick had watched him do it, his shoulders high and tight, but Peyton hadn’t fought Liam over it. But she had taken the bracelet off to shower that night, and she’d never put it back on.

Impulsively, she reached for it, about to strap it on, when she noticed a new charm. It was a small computer—a vintage desktop model, just like the one she learned to code on at the old B&B.

Her heart gave a little squeeze, and she put the bracelet on with a smile. Swinging her arm to hear the charms jangle, she went down to Divine, the hotel’s restaurant, to join the family for the meal.

Maggie was just sitting down when she arrived, but Trick and Tahlia had plates in front of them. They were scarfing down pancakes like they were going to run out. “Sorry,” Trick’s wife apologized after she swallowed. “I told Trick we shouldn’t start without you, but I was starving.”

“Don’t apologize.” Peyton grinned, waving at her friend’s extended belly. “You’re eating for two.”

“Yeah.” Maggie poked her brother in the ribs. “What’s your excuse?”

Trick guffawed. “It’s called transference or something,” he said, waving his fork.

Jason, Maggie’s husband, and his partner Ethan had made a quick appearance at dinner the first night, but the two were on assignment. They’d only been able to steal away from the round-the-clock surveillance they had on a Russian mobster for a few hours.

Liam breezed in soon afterward. Peyton perked up under his warm appraisal. His attentiveness over the last few days had been gratifying, if a little suffocating.

Everyone stopped when Caroline Wentworth entered the room. “Darling,” she called. She glided to the table on gold-colored heels. They matched her cream suit, setting off her blonde perfection perfectly.

Liam glanced at Peyton quickly before getting to his feet to pull out a chair for hisfiancée. Forcing air into her lungs, Peyton picked up her fork. But then a cloud of expensive perfume washed over Peyton, making her waffle taste of jasmine. She set her fork down again, unable to eat another bite.

“Peyton, dear,” Caroline gushed. “I’m so happy to see you again. Everyone was so worried when you went missing. I swear Liam didn’t sleep for weeks.”

Peyton studied her, registering genuine concern on the woman’s face.

“Sorry for worrying you all,” Peyton murmured, reaching for her juice.

“Hey, Caroline,” Maggie said with a tight smile. More lackluster greetings from the others came around.

Liam hadn’t mentioned Caroline Wentworth for days. For some reason, Peyton hadn’t expected to see the woman again. Which was ridiculous. No one had mentioned Liam ending his engagement. No one had mentioned her at all. But Caroline hadn’t fallen through a manhole or off the end of the world. Matthias had been wrong.

“Peyton.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Peyton started, glancing around. Everyone was watching her with an array of stricken expressions. Liam’s face was pinched, his lips tight, and Trick was visibly wincing. Thalia’s eyes were on her plate, and Maggie clutched her fork mutinously.

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