Page 11 of The CEO

She suddenly grinned. “I think that’s a perfect idea for this wedding. You’ve got the patio we can get married on and lots of grass for our family and friends to sit. Then we can change into our bathing suits and go for a swim. I’m glad you bought a couple of those swim panties for Lilly. I get the feeling she’ll love the water…just like her daddy.”

The tightness in his chest disappeared. Adam grinned and puffed out his chest. “That would be terrific. I plan on teaching her to swim as soon as possible. I heard classes are offered just for babies.”

Bree laughed. “They are. You’re so funny though. We’ll go together and learn all we can so we can continue to teach her here at home, since this is going to be my home now.”

He slung an arm around her shoulders as he had since Brad’s death. “Let’s get this show on the road. I want to be back before she wakes up.”

She placed an arm around his waist and headed for the garage. “Do you want to drop the Mercedes by the office and pick up that Jag?”

“And deprive Emily of the treat of driving the Jag? No way.”

Bree chuckled.

Adam loved hearing her and grinned, happier than he’d been in a long time. He directed her to the passenger’s side and held her seatbelt as she settled in.

“Thanks. You know you don’t have to do that. I can pull out my seatbelt.”

“I know, but this makes it easier. I’m all about making things easier for you. You’re doing me an enormous favor and upending your life in the process.”

After he was behind the wheel, she spoke. “First off, I’m not doing you a favor, I’m doingmea favor. Second, I gave you my reasons. Though I want to help, I’m not sure I’d saddle myself for life to help you. Lilly is the clencher. Third, don’t expect me to give up that little girl for anything. She’s mine now, just as much as she’s yours.” Her voice softened. “I already love her. How can that happen so quickly? How can I have fallen so completely in love with her in the matter of a few hours?”

He opened the gate and then drove toward South University Boulevard. “I don’t know, but the same thing has happened to me. She’s just special, I guess. I’d give my life for her and, as you said, it’s only been a few hours.”

He pulled into Bree’s driveway.

“You don’t have to stay. I’ll be over after I’ve packed a bag.”

“All right. Will I need to change her diaper when she wakes?” The thought made him distinctly uncomfortable.

“More than likely. She’ll probably sleep for a couple of hours, though. Babies tend to sleep a lot. And I should be back before she wakes.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door. “I’ll see you soon.”

“We’ll be waiting.”

Bree closed the car door and walked toward the house.

Adam waited until she was inside before leaving. Then he headed back to his home and the little one who’d stolen his heart.

CHAPTER 3

Bree pulled a large suitcase from out of the closet in one of the guest rooms. She walked to her room and opened the walk-in closet. Her clothes were hung by style and then by color to make choosing her outfits easier. Shoe racks held more than fifty pairs of shoes because she had a bit of an obsession with shoes. She packed enough clothes for a week.

From there she headed to her bathroom. She’d had it designed for two people even though she never intended to marry. The shower had two shower heads. The jacuzzi tub was extra-large. She had two sinks in the white marble vanity. She packed her toiletries and makeup into a large, train-case-style makeup case and placed it in the suitcase.

Next, she went to her office and picked up her laptop. She had a book to finish and a deadline to meet. Even though it was a self-imposed deadline, she would like to meet it, nonetheless.

Laying on her desk were also three books, one by Amanda M. Lee, one by Lily Harper Hart and one by Jana Deleon. They were all cozy mysteries, which she loved. She always wished she could write those, but they weren’t her forte. She wrote contemporary romance and was perfectly happy doing so. She picked those up, too, and packed them in her laptop bag. She wasn’t sure shewould get much reading done, but she liked to read before bed and was prepared.

Once she was finished, she checked the doors and windows to make sure they were locked and went through the kitchen to the garage.

She owned a Ford F150 truck. She’d opted for the truck when she started working in her garden and needed to transport plants and soil. Her garden was on the sprinkler system with drip irrigation. She’d harvested everything up to that point. The vegetables left wouldn’t become ripe for another two weeks or so and she would have to get Adam to give her time to harvest them.

Once she was done with the garden project, she’d decided she liked the truck and kept it. She also had a Dodge Charger, but she didn’t drive it that often, preferring the truck.

Bree texted Adam to let him know she was on her way. She had some trepidation about moving into the home of Brad’s best friend, but she reminded herself that Adam was her best friend, too.

She already knew the code for the gate, since she was a regular visitor to Adam’s home. It hadn’t taken long to drive over there, and he was waiting for her when she pulled in front of the house.

She lowered the window when he walked up to the truck. “What’s up?”