The Lady And Alex Payton Read online

  “Why do you think Brandon asked you to marry him?” Alex asked.

  Letter to Reader

  Title Page

  Books by Nikki Benjamin

  About the Author

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Copyright

  “Why do you think Brandon asked you to marry him?” Alex asked.

  Highly miffed, Kari said, “What? You don’t think he’s madly, passionately in love with me?”

  She knew Brandon wasn’t in love with her, but she was offended that Alex obviously hadn’t considered it a possibility. Just because he didn’t care about her was no reason to assume another man wouldn’t.

  “I didn’t say that,” Alex replied. “I was just wondering if you thought he had some ulterior motive.” He winced, as if aware he was only making bad matters worse. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply—”

  “That I’m not a desirable woman in my own right?” Pleased to see him so discomfited, she eyed him with a slight smile.

  He met her gaze steadily. “You’re the most desirable woman I’ve ever known.”

  Dear Reader,

  We’ve got six great books for you this month, and three of them are part of miniseries you’ve grown to love. Dallas Schulze continues A FAMILY CIRCLE with Addie and the Renegade. Dallas is known to readers worldwide as an author whose mastery of emotion is unparalleled, and this book will only enhance her well-deserved reputation. For Cole Walker, love seems like an impossibility—until he’s stranded with Addie Smith, and suddenly... Well, maybe I’d better let you read for yourself. In Leader of the Pack Justine Davis keeps us located on TRINITY STREET WEST. You met Ryan Buckhart in Lover Under Cover; now meet Lacey Buckhart, the one woman—the one wife!—he’s never been able to forget. Then finish off Laura Parker’s ROGUES’ GALLERY with Found: One Marriage. Amnesia, exes who still share a love they’ve never been able to equal anywhere else...this one has it all.

  Of course, our other three books are equally special.

  Nikki Benjamin’s The Lady and Alex Payton is the follow-up to The Wedding Venture, and it features a kidnapped almost-bride. Barbara Faith brings you Long-Lost Wife? For Annabel the past is a mystery—and the appearance of a man claiming to be her husband doesn’t make things any clearer, irresistible though he may be. Finally, try Beverly Bird’s The Marrying Kind. Hero John Gunner thinks that’s just the kind of man he’s not, but meeting Tessa Hadley-Bryant proves to him just how wrong a man can be.

  And be sure to come back next month for more of the best romantic reading around—here in Silhouette Intimate Moments.

  Yours,

  Leslie Wainger

  Senior Editor and Editorial Coordinator

  * * *

  Please address questions and book requests to:

  Silhouette Reader Service

  U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave.. P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

  Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

  * * *

  THE LADY AND ALEX PAYTON

  NIKKI BENJAMIN

  Books by Nikki Benjamin

  Silhouette Intimate Moments

  A Man to Believe In #359

  Restless Wind #519

  The Wedding Venture #645

  The Lady and Alex Payton #729

  Silhouette Special Edition

  Emily’s House #539

  On the Whispering Wind #663

  The Best Medicine #716

  It Must Have Been the Mistletoe #782

  My Baby, Your Child #880

  Only St. Nick Knew #928

  NIKKI BENJAMIN

  was born and raised in the Midwest, but after years in the Houston area she considers herself a true Texan. Nikki says she’s always been an avid reader. (Her earliest literary heroines were Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden and Beany Malone.) Her writing experience was limited, however, until a friend started penning a novel and encouraged Nikki to do the same. One scene led to another, and soon she was hooked.

  When not reading or writing, the author enjoys spending time with her husband and son, needlepoint, hiking, biking, horseback riding and sailing.

  For my very special circle of

  hometown friends and fellow writers:

  Francyne Anderson, Christie Craig, Mica Kelch,

  Dawn Mulholland and Linda Jenkins-Nutting.

  You’re the best!

  Special thanks to Francyne Anderson for

  THE ARTIST’S WAY.

  Chapter 1

  “Going somewhere?”

  Halfway across the darkened living room, Alexander Payton paused, then turned and scanned the shadows. He had hoped to get away without a confrontation, but obviously he wasn’t going to be that lucky.

  Should have waited awhile longer to make his exit, he thought, his gaze falling on his friend Devlin Gray. Devlin was sitting in the rocking chair near the side window with his infant son—and now, officially, Alex’s godson—cradled in his arms.

  Alex had heard the baby crying over an hour ago. However, when he’d quieted almost immediately, Alex had assumed that either Laura or Devlin had tended to him, then tucked him into his crib again. Wanting to leave, as planned, he had finished packing, called a cab and slipped downstairs. Only to be caught in midflight.

  He supposed he ought to be grateful Laura wasn’t the one eyeing him reproachfully while rocking gently. He’d stayed as long as he had only because he hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings. Had she caught him sneaking off, he would have been mortified.

  But Devlin... Devlin he would like to string up by the thumbs.

  “What do. you think?” Alex countered, making no effort to hide his sarcasm, though he kept his voice low in deference to the baby.

  “That you’re making a big mistake,” Devlin replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

  “By getting out of here as fast as I can?” Alex snorted. “The way I see it, if I’d had any sense at all I wouldn’t have waited thirty-six hours. I’d have left as soon as I laid eyes on your little sister.”

  “So, why didn’t you?”

  “I promised Laura I’d be here for Andrew’s christening, and I always keep my word.”

  True enough. But it was not the only reason he had come to Virginia or stayed longer than he should have.

  Contrary to what he had once teasingly told Laura, he wasn’t psychic. However, on occasion, he was highly intuitive. Not that he had needed more than simple common sense to know, with undeniable certainty, that Kari Gray would be there for her nephew’s christening.

  Besides Laura’s six-year-old son, Timmy, and baby Andrew, Kari was the only family Laura and Devlin had. So naturally she’d be the one they would ask to serve as Andrew’s godmother. And since she was the type to take such a responsibility seriously, she wouldn’t willingly miss the ceremony.

  Though neither Laura nor Devlin had said anything to confirm his suspicion, Alex hadn’t been the least bit surprised by her arrival early Saturday afternoon. In fact, he’d actually been looking forward to it. Until the moment she met his gaze and he realized what a fool he’d been.

  He should have known better than to believe that after almost six years she might finally be able to forgive him for the unconscionable way he’d treated her. Talk about wishing for the moon.

  She’d paused just inside the doorway and stared at him as if he were something nasty smeared on a sidewalk. And t
hough she had never been anything but excruciatingly polite the rest of the weekend, she had let him know he’d done a better job of burning his bridges than he had ever imagined.

  “Yeah, sure. Because you gave your word. Tell me another one,” Devlin growled, bringing Alex back to the present.

  “All right, I admit I came here expecting to see your sister. And I had hoped she’d be able to let bygones be bygones so we could be friends again... for Andrew’s sake. Unfortunately, she wasn’t ready to forgive me yet. So...” Feigning indifference, Alex shifted his backpack from one shoulder to the other and turned away.

  He couldn’t blame her. Not after what he’d done to her. When you walked out on a woman in the midst of making love to her—when you rolled away from her, gathered your clothes and left her without explanation or apology—then suddenly came face-to-face with her six years later, you could hardly expect her to greet you with open arms. That she had simply stared at him wordlessly until he’d had sense enough to leave the room, and had not flown into a murderous rage, was actually more than he had deserved.

  Later, walking the quiet, shaded streets of Devlin’s suburban neighborhood, Alex had admitted they were better off remaining estranged. He knew he could never think of Kari as just a friend. Yet he was no more able to give her now what she had needed from him six years ago.

  Back then he had seen the longing in her eyes as she’d reached for him and held him close. A longing for marriage and a family that had torn at his heart. And he had known that by finishing what he’d started, by claiming her in the most intimate way a man could claim a woman, he would be making a promise he couldn’t allow himself to keep.

  Not tainted as he was by the monstrous acts of the two seemingly normal people who had been his parents. And certainly not believing—as he always had—that somewhere beneath the surface of his own civility there might very well lurk a similar streak of sadism.

  Instead he had done what he’d deemed best for her. He had ended their relationship... unequivocally.

  “So you’re going to let her go back to Brandon Selby, huh?” Devlin queried, drawing Alex from his reverie yet again.

  Less than pleased by the new tack Devlin had taken, Alex hesitated a moment. Then, refusing to be baited, he continued toward the door.

  “The trainer she works with in San Antonio? Sure, why not? From the little she said yesterday, I gather she’s learned a lot from him, and he’s finally going to let her show a couple of his horses on the regional circuit later this summer.”

  “He’s also asked her to marry him,” Devlin stated softly.

  Feeling as if he’d been punched in the gut, Alex spun around and stared at his friend. That she worked for the man was one thing. But Kari married to Brandon Selby? Over his dead body.

  From all accounts, the former United States Olympic equestrian team member who owned the exclusive stable where Kari worked was highly regarded among his associates. And Devlin, having met the man on two or three occasions, had pronounced him quite personable.

  Until last summer, Alex hadn’t had any reason to question his friend’s judgment. But then, on his way to Mexico—where he’d been ordered to recuperate under Devlin’s watchful eye—Alex had made a side trip to San Antonio. Having barely survived a terrorist attack in the Middle East, he had wanted, needed, to see Kari again. Not up close and personal. Just at a distance. And while he’d been lurking around Selby Stables, he’d caught more than a glimpse of the owner in action.

  To say he hadn’t liked what he’d seen would be an understatement. Granted, Selby was a topflight trainer capable of getting the very best out of his clients’ horses. But Alex had also discovered that the man had a mean streak.

  Standing in the shadows, Alex had had to fight to remain still and silent while Selby tore a strip off Kari for what he deemed her coddling of a nervous young gelding. His cruel, abusive language had left her in tears. Then, not more than five minutes later, he’d returned to the barn full of sweet talk. He had teased her playfully as if nothing had happened, throwing her utterly off balance in a way that made his blood run cold.

  “Has she accepted his proposal?” Alex forced himself to ask at last.

  “Not yet.”

  “But you think she will eventually?”

  “Actually, no, I don’t.”

  “Well, then—” Alex began, more relieved than he wanted to admit.

  “Unfortunately, that is what’s worrying me,” Devlin hastened to add. “Not too long ago she thought Selby hung the moon. She should be thrilled he’s proposed to her, but she’s not. And although she hasn’t said anything specific, I get the feeling she’s upset about something.”

  “Something to do with Selby?”

  Recalling the scene he’d witnessed last summer, Alex understood how that could be possible. But why would Kari continue to work for the man if he upset her?

  “I’m not sure,” Devlin replied. “She always seemed to be in awe of him. Yet when she mentioned his marriage proposal last night, she was anything but happy about it. In fact, I got the impression Selby’s amorous interest in her was making her more than a little uneasy.”

  “So, why doesn’t she just quit?” Alex asked, voicing his thoughts. “Whether or not Selby gives her a reference, she shouldn’t have any trouble finding another job.”

  “She told Laura she’s been thinking about moving on, but not just yet. In fact, Laura said she seemed really leery about leaving Selby Stables. When she tried to find out why, Kari put her off. Said she had some loose ends to tie up, and she could deal with Selby for as long as it took. But I’m not so sure.”

  Alex wasn’t, either. Not after seeing the way Selby had treated her on at least one occasion. But Kari had always had a mind of her own. Convincing her that she needed help would be no easy task.

  “Since she’s managed to work with him successfully for several years, she must know how to handle him,” he offered, trying to reassure himself as well as his friend. “And although they’ve obviously had a parting of the ways, she must feel reasonably safe staying on at the stable. She’s too smart to do anything to purposely endanger herself.”

  “I wish I could agree with you. But something more than a simple parting of the ways has come between her and Brandon Selby. Something that seems to be scaring the hell out of her. Yet she can’t walk away.”

  “Or won’t,” Alex muttered, aware just how obstinate Kari Gray could be.

  Once committed to a course of action, she wouldn’t back down willingly. Nor would she ask for assistance. She’d simply forge ahead on her own as long as possible.

  “Or won’t,” Devlin acknowledged. Hesitating a moment, he met Alex’s gaze, then continued quietly, “Either way, I want you to find out why. And I don’t want you to let her go back there until you do.”

  “Oh, really?” Alex drawled, trying to mask his sudden dismay.

  He understood Devlin’s concern for Kari. And he knew that with Laura, the children and a demanding job, Devlin couldn’t possibly look after her himself. But surely he could find someone better suited to the task than Alex was. Kari hated his guts, and not without good reason. She’d never allow him to help her. Never in a million years.

  “Yes, really,” Devlin stated simply, shifting in the rocking chair as Andrew began to fuss again. “You mentioned you were heading out to your ranch in the Hill Country north of San Antonio. You could take her with you and keep an eye on her while you find out what’s going on with Brandon Selby.”

  “Just like that, huh?” His tone derogatory, Alex snapped his fingers. “I’m supposed to take her to my little hideaway and get her to tell me all her troubles? Get real, Devlin. You know as well as I do that she wouldn’t spit on me if I was on fire, and you know why—”

  “Please, Alex, you’re the only one we can trust to look out for her,” Laura cut in quietly.

  Whirling around, Alex saw her standing in the doorway, wearing a long, white cotton robe, her dark hair curling aroun
d her shoulders, and instantly realized he was fighting a lost cause. Laura Burke Buschetti Gray was like a sister to him. There wasn’t much he’d refuse to do for her.

  “Laura is right. You’re part of the family now. And we really need your help,” Devlin added.

  As Laura crossed the room, he stood, then handed her the baby. Settling into the rocking chair, she shifted the bodice of her robe discreetly and began to nurse her son.

  Feeling as if he were caught in a bad dream, Alex watched as Devlin and Laura shared a smile, then shifted their attention to the baby. They had made him a part of their family, and for that he was more grateful than he could say. He had no one else. No one at all. And he really would do anything for them.

  But the thought of spending several days alone with Devlin’s sister, trying to talk her into letting him help her, filled him with a sickening sense of dread. She’d already made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. To think she’d go with him willingly, much less stay with him, was downright silly.

  “I wish I could,” he hedged as he glanced out the front window. Where the hell was that taxicab? “But you know as well as I do Kari is not going to cooperate.”

  “Probably not at first,” Devlin admitted, tucking his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants. Beside him, Laura murmured soothingly at Andrew.

  “So what am I supposed to do? Kidnap her?” Alex demanded.

  “I imagine that would be the easiest thing to do,” Laura replied, regarding him gravely.

  “Oh, you do, huh?” Shifting his gaze from Laura to Devlin, he willed his friend to disagree.

  “You said yourself she’s not going to go along with you of her own accord, so...” Devlin shrugged dispassionately.