A Question of Marriage by Temari James Page B

her there was nothing wrong but her instincts told her something was definitely up. She had a feeling his father was involved up to his eyes balls, especially after that meeting the two of them had in regards to him returning to the firm. Rising to go change her doorbell rang. Stepping into the hallway to answer the door, she was surprised to see it was her mother.
    “Mom, what are you doing here?”
    “Jordan called me.”
    “Why would he do that?” Payton asked as she shut the door turning to follow her mother into the living room.
    “He told me you might need me.”
    “Did he happen to mention why he jilted me?”
    “No, he just said to tell you he was sorry and that he’d explain everything soon,” her mother said, as she followed Payton into the living room and they sat down on the couch.
    “I cannot believe I actually thought that he wanted to marry me. I feel so stupid. It was just like that whole thing with Trent, me believing he wanted to have a future with me, and then I find out that he was only using me to get a job in television. He never loved me, I don’t think Jordan did either.”
    “ I think he does,” her mother rubbed her back trying to comfort her. “Sometimes things happen and there’s no reasonable explanation for it.”
    Payton leaned back against the couch. “You know mom, sometimes I think that I’m either cursed in love or meant to spend my life alone.”
    “You don’t honestly believe that do you?” her mother asked.
    “I do, ” Payton answered standing. “I mean look at my track record, every man I get involved with, that I think is leading somewhere, always bails on me.”
    “You know you’re going to ha ve to tell your father what happened.”
    “I know bu t I’m not looking forward to it,” she admitted.
    “Payton,” h er mother said. “You’re father has mellowed over the years, he’ll understand.”
    Payton let out a snort. “Sure he will. This is the same man who stopped talking to me because I decided not to join the force.”
    Her mother cast her sympathetic gaze. “Jordan regrets hurting you.”
    “Yeah right, sure he does.” Payton said , as she released a hollow laugh glancing down at her dress, her fingers touching the delicate material. “Did you know he arranged a fitting for me to get this dress?”
    Aoleon nodded. “It’s beautiful.”
    “It really is,” Payton agreed as the tears began to fall. “I loved him mom, and he broke my heart. I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive him.”
    “You will,” h er mother said holding her while she cried. “You will.”

Chapter 8
     
     
    It had been over two months since she’d been jilted by Jordan. She had long since sent the ring and dress back to him by courier. Although she’d heard he wanted her to keep the ring, Payton couldn’t bring herself to do it. She didn’t want any reminders of what could have been. Two weeks later after she returned from vacationing with her parents he showed up at her office wanting to talk.
    The moment she saw him , she had to stop herself from running into his arms. He looked tired and there were lines of exhaustion around his eyes and mouth. His dark hair was mussed, as though he’d combed his fingers through it numerous number of times. He was dressed casually in a pair of khaki pants and a burgundy pullover, careful to keep her expression neutral she spoke.
    “What are you doing here Jordan?”
    “I came to see how you were doing and I believe I owe you an explanation,” he said, sitting down on the couch.
    Stepping around to the fron t of her desk Payton leaned against it crossing her arms under her breasts. “I can’t think of a single thing I want to hear from you,” she told him keeping her voice casually sarcastic.
    “Well I’m going to give you one anyway whether yo u want it or not. You look good,” he said, his eyes scanning her from head to toe a mixture of desire and admiration in them.
    Payton let out a dismissive snort as she walked