Payton's Woman by Marilyn Yarbrough

frankly appraising his body. “It seems Julia has left you in a
very painful situation. Perhaps I can be of some assistance.”
    “That’s kind of you to
offer,” he said as politely as he could, “but as I said, I prefer the chase.”
    “I could play that game.”
She stepped closer. Her fingers fondled the lapel of his jacket. “I know a lot
of other games, too.”
    “Who did you say was
looking for Miss Anderson?” he asked in an attempt to change the subject.
    “Her employer, Elizabeth
Collins. She’s quite well known among the local society here.”
    “Elizabeth Collins,” he
repeated slowly before the realization hit him.
    He felt like he’d just
been shoved overboard into the frigid sea and almost gasped for air. “You mean
Betsy Dunbar?” he asked while trying to keep the shock from his voice.
    “Well, yes, but no one
calls her that anymore. Do you know her?”
    His mind reeled from the
knowledge of discovering the woman for whom Julia worked, but he tried to force
some calmness into his voice. “I know her son.”
    “You know Mr. Dunbar?” Surprise
tinged her voice. When Payton didn’t respond, she pressed further. “And just
how are you acquainted with him?”
    “You might say it was in
regards to a shipping venture. A private shipping venture,” he added, hoping it
would put an end the subject.
    “You can tell me.” She fingered
his lapel again. “Lawrence and I are very old friends.”
    For the first time, he
looked at Sylvia with interest. She might be able to answer some of his
questions, but he didn’t want to play her kind of game.
    Instead, he gripped her
wrist and pulled her hand from his jacket. “I’ll just wait until Dunbar gets to
California and discuss it with him.”
    “How do you...I mean,
what makes you think Lawrence is coming here?”
    Her jaw sagged opened
and her eyes widened. He couldn’t tell if it was from having her advances
turned down or from their discussion of Dunbar’s arrival, but he knew he’d find
out soon enough.
    “He sent a letter from
Mexico a while back. He’s waiting for the gunshot wound in his leg to heal. It
won’t be long before he turns up here in California.”
    “What? How do you know
that?” The words stammered from her mouth, but after a moment she seemed to regain
some control. “Just because he was in Mexico, doesn’t mean he’s coming to
California.”
    “That’s always possible,
but in this case you’re wrong. You see, I have it on very good authority that
Lawrence Dunbar is coming to California. But you don’t have to take my word for
it. Wilbur Hennigan knew he was on his way here also,” he said before walking
away. He didn’t need to look back to know that Sylvia’s mouth gaped open.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    Julia spotted Payton beneath
a large oak tree as she made her way along the path leading through the park. He
wore a burgundy colored shirt buttoned to his throat. The tails were tucked
into black trousers. His billed cap tilted to one side and was pulled low over
his forehead to shield his brilliant blue eyes from the mid-morning sun.
    In all her life, she’d
never met a man as spectacular as Payton. Just the sight of him made her pulse
quicken. He overwhelmed her senses, scattered her thoughts, and made her long
for a future.
    But she had no future. The
past had determined that. At the present time, she had too much at stake to
alter her course. She’d sworn an oath that the men responsible for killing her
brother would not go unpunished. Nothing could sway her from that quest. She’d
already watched one man die for his part in her brother’s death. It would only
be a matter of time before the other murderous villain fell within her grasp. When
she found him, Lawrence Dunbar would pay for his crimes.
    Payton had become an
obstacle to her plan. He confused her mind and disrupted her concentration. He
also made her body burn. She craved the caress of his hand on her bare skin, the
touch of