A Modern Love Story (22 page)

“Could be.” Robbie glanced at the door when it opened, and watched as Payten strode in, heading straight for the bar.

“Ugh,” Lizbeth said, drawing Robbie’s attention back to her. “That lady gives me a total creep vibe.”

“Payten?” Robbie shrugged. “She seems nice.
Kinda
arrogant, but she’s a lawyer. What’d you expect?”

Robbie looked over to see Luc heading towards the booth. Payten turned as she was waiting for her drink and nodded to Robbie in greeting.

“Here comes Mr. Romance himself.” Lizbeth slid out of the booth. When Luc got to the table, she put a palm on each cheek and gave him a loud smack right on the mouth.

Conrad yelled from behind the bar. “Hey, slick! Step away from the girl. That’s mine.”

Lizbeth giggled, grabbing her stack of papers. “Keep up the good work, Luc.” And then she pointed a stern finger in his face. “But you keep your hands off the books from now on.”

Luc watched Lizbeth walk away. “What was that all about?”

Robbie gave him a sweet, innocent smile. “Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Uh huh. And why don’t I believe you?”

Payten walked up behind Luc and flashed a smile. “Hey, Robbie. Would you mind if I join you?”

Robbie gestured to the other side of the booth. “Help yourself.”

“Hey, Luc!” Conrad hollered over the growing crowd at the bar. “Could use a hand over here!”

“I’ll be back,” Luc promised, tipping Robbie’s chin up to kiss her cheek.

“I think that man is sweet on you,” Payten commented, glancing at his retreating figure.

“I think you might be right.” Robbie smiled.

“I gather you two go back a long ways?”

“Since childhood.”

“Really?” She took a drink of her beer. “I’m curious, Robbie. What was tall, dark and broody like as a child? Was he the same ball of sunshine back then as well?”

“He’s always been a hard one to get to know.”

“No,” Payten breathed, feigning surprise.

Robbie giggled. “But he really has a heart of gold. Hell, I remember when we first met. We were twelve and I was new to the foster system.”

“Oh,”—Payten put her hand to her chest—”you were foster kids?”

Robbie nodded. “But Luc made it…well,
easier
for me than it might have been. Being twelve, orphaned and new in town really put a target on my back. Those little heathens at school smelled fresh blood from the get go. That was until Luc made his stance very clear.”

“And what stance was that?”

“Basically, tease me and get the shit beat out of you by Luc.” Robbie smiled, stared down at her hands as her thoughts wandered to the past. “Seems he was always looking out for me.”

“Seems to me, he still does.”

Robbie watched Payten take another drink as she tried to figure out her meaning. “I’m sorry. I don’t follow.”

Payten set her mug down. “Oh, perhaps it’s rude of me to bring up, but I was there when you had…well, I
think
it was a panic attack. I just meant that he took care of you then, too.”

“Okay. That’s embarrassing.”

“Please,” Payten said, “don’t be embarrassed. I used to get them all the time.”

“You?”

“Sure. They’re pretty far and wide now, but I still fear they’re going to pop up at the most inopportune moments. Like when I’m in court.” Payten rolled her eyes. “God, that would be mortifying.”

“I’d imagine so. I’m able to hedge them off for the most part, since I know the main trigger.” Payten arched a perfect eyebrow that signaled Robbie should continue. ““Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin. It gets me every time.”

“I know you don’t know me from the next person, but do you mind if I ask why that particular song?”

Robbie studied Payten—her patient expression, her kind eyes, her supportive smile—and decided
what the hell
. As she launched into the story about her parents and the car accident, Robbie found it wasn’t that hard to talk about. At least, not like how it used to be. Perhaps telling someone she hardly knew, knowing she wasn’t going to smother her with pity and questions, made it easier. Maybe time had. Regardless, the words just kept coming out. She even included her fear of hospitals.

“Robbie.” Payten reached over, brushed her fingers across the back of Robbie’s hand. “Thank you for telling me. I know that wasn’t easy for you.” Her hand retreated back to her side of the booth. “This may sound odd, but I had an immediate liking to you the moment I met you. I think now I know why. You and I share a very unique past.”

“How’s that?”

“I was alone with my mother when she died. I was seven years old.”

“Oh, Payten. I’m so sorry.”

“Please, don’t apologize. It was just an accident. Or…that’s what I chose to believe. Either that, or it was her choice.” Payten shook her head, then smoothed her hair back. “No matter which, I was powerless against it. That’s when I started getting my panic attacks.”

“You were so young. Can I…”

“Ask how it happened? Seems only fair.” Payten took a drink before starting. “My father owns the law firm I work at. He’s big with the community—society events and such. My mother loved to entertain…that much I remember clearly. And she was very hands-on during the set up of the larger gatherings. It was then that it happened.” She swallowed hard.

“You don’t have to, Payten. We can just leave it.”

“No. It’s good for me to talk it through. I think that’s why I don’t have the panic attacks as often—I’ve told this story time and time again. Therapy. Very expensive therapy. Anyway, we were standing on the second floor balcony overlooking the pool. Only, the pool was drained for some sort of maintenance. I don’t remember the reason why. I suppose it doesn’t matter. What did was that if the pool was full, my mother might still be alive today.”

Robbie’s heart sunk to her stomach. “She fell?”

Payten downed the rest of her beer, nodded. “And I watched it happen. I watched her die.”

“God. I’m so sorry.”

Payten smiled, appearing to shake the sober and reflective mood as she squared off her shoulders. “Like I said, it does me good to talk about it. I can’t honestly say that her death had a profound effect on me. I mean, it certainly
did,
but after that it just seemed like death followed me around. That’s what caused my panic attacks more than anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“After my mother’s death, my father doted on me—bought me everything and anything I could possibly want. I suppose he was trying to make up for the loss of my mother in the only way he knew how. But the only thing I really wanted at the time, was for my father to be around more. Instead, he got me a little
Yorkie
. Poor thing ended up drowning in the pool. And then, when I was a teenager, I had another that the gardener killed.”

“He
killed
it?

“Might as well have. He left some chemicals lying about that poisoned the dog.” Payten’s eyes went blank. “Awful way for an animal to go.”

“I can see why you had the attacks. Did you ever get another dog?”

Payten snapped to and smiled. “No. I got my first Porsche shortly after that. From that point on, sports cars became my new babies.” She laughed lightly. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m just dreadful to be able to speak so easily about it all.”

“No, not at all.” Robbie wasn’t about to admit she had wondered that exact thing, and felt ashamed she had. Who was she to judge how others dealt with their grief?

Payten waved a hand, as if clearing the air. “Enough about me. Back to you.”

“What about me?” Robbie asked.

“Yeah,” Luc said, slipping next to Robbie. “What about her?”

Payten smiled politely at Luc’s hard tone. “I was just going to ask her if she ever found her family. Colin and Anna Byrne, was it?”

“You told her about them?” Luc asked, turning an astonished expression towards Robbie.

“It came up. But no, the state never did find them, and I haven’t been able to afford to do some digging of my own yet.” She smiled at Luc as he rubbed her thigh—an absent, yet soothing, gesture. “Some day.”

“I have just the person for you. Best PI in the business. Just leave it to me.” Payten pulled a notebook out of her handbag and scribbled a note of some sort.

“Oh, no, Payten. I don’t have the money saved yet. But as soon as I do, I’d love the name.”

“I’ll foot the bill,” Luc said, shooting Robbie a warning glance.

“The hell you will, Lucian Anthony Cintrone,” Robbie growled, overpowering his glance with solid, searing glare.

“
I’ll
pay for it.”

Robbie turned to Payten, poised to protest, but Payten was already shaking her head. “What’s the point of being rich and having connections if you can’t do a little favor for a new friend. I’ll take care of it,” she said, laying a manicured hand over Robbie’s.

“Thank you, Payten. Thank you.” Robbie bit back the threat of grateful tears, knowing they would only embarrass everyone all around. “Please, let me pay you back.”

Payten grabbed her bag and got to her feet. “When you have the resources we’ll discuss it. In the meantime, I’ll let you know if he finds anything out.” She tipped her head towards Luc. “I know how to reach you.”

“Thank you,” Luc said, holding out a hand.

Payten stared at it, then shook it. “That was painful for you, wasn’t it?”

“Little bit.”

“Thought so.” She smiled. “You two have a good night.”

“Looked like the two of you had some deep conversation going on over here,” Luc commented, putting his arm around her.

“Yeah. I told her about the accident, and then found out her mother died when she was young too. It was…I don’t know…
kinda
comforting talking about it again.
Kinda
bummed me out though, too.”

“You okay?”

“I think I’m gonna head home. I just wanna chill for a bit and go to bed early.”

“Did you want me to come over after closing?”

Robbie grinned, looked up at him. “For what?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

He chuckled. “Well, I was thinking for simple comfort, to have someone there with you. But I’m sure more can be arranged.”

She poked him playfully in the side. “And here I thought you wanted to take things slow.”

“
Slower
. You couldn’t possibly think I can hold back from you for any sustained period of time.” He brushed his fingers across her face, pressed his lips to hers. “No man could be that strong.”

She sighed as he pulled away, and contemplated his offer. Ultimately, she decided against it—she knew she wouldn’t be very good company. “I’ll take a rain check and just crash tonight.”

He studied her face, then nodded. “I can respect that. But promise you’ll call if you change your mind. Even if it’s just to have someone there with you. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Luc scooted out to let Robbie stand. “Good luck at your interview tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” She planted a kiss on his cheek.