Page 12 of The CEO

“There is room in the garage.” He handed her an opener. “If you need it, the code is 1719. Just pull in and park in the empty space. I’m moving the Jag to the storage garage when Emily returns it.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind parking the truck in the driveway.”

He shook his head and leaned against the door. “I’m sure. I want you to be comfortable here and that includes parking in the garage.”

Bree took the garage door opener and pressed the button. The door right in front of her, closest to the kitchen, opened.

“This is great. Thank you.”

Adam reached in and squeezed her left hand. “Bree, I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t helping me. I can never thank you enough.”

She gazed down at his hand on her hand, and a sense of warmth flowed through her. “Well, good, because you’ll have to help me now.”

“Anything. What can I do?”

“Let me park and get my stuff inside, then we’ll talk.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He gave her hand another squeeze and backed away from the vehicle.

She pulled in and parked. His six-car garage was wider than normal, so she had plenty of room on either side of her truck when it was parked. It was also deeper than hers because there was plenty of room to walk around the front and the back of the vehicle when it was parked correctly.

She exited the vehicle and opened the back door to get her suitcase and laptop.

“Here, I’ll get that.” Adam reached inside the truck, pulling out her luggage and shutting the door behind him. “Come on in. Lilly is still sleeping…or she was last time I checked.”

Bree chuckled as she walked beside him. “How many times have you been up there?”

He shrugged sheepishly. “Just three.”

“Three! I’ve only been gone for about forty-five minutes. I told you she’d sleep for two hours. Give the kid a break.” She gave him the side-eye. “You’re going to be one of those fatherswho checks every time she goes to sleep to see if she’s still breathing, aren’t you?”

Adam didn’t meet her gaze, but he walked through the kitchen to the foyer and up the stairs. “Let’s get you settled.”

Bree couldn’t help but smile at his gruff countenance as she followed him upstairs.

He stopped at the first door on the right. “This will be your room. I hope you find it comfortable. If you want anything changed, just let me know and I’ll make it happen.

“I’m sure it will be fine. After all I’m the one who helped you decorate this house, remember?”

“I remember. I just want you to be comfortable. Change anything you like in the house. It’s been a couple of years since you decorated, so knock yourself out updating it.”

“I’ll consider it. I’ve been thinking though, I’d like the second master across from yours. It’s bigger and I need some room to spread out. A room that is just mine and I’ll still be close enough to hear Lilly if she needs me.”

He snapped his fingers. “Good idea. I should have thought of it.”

“You can’t be expected to think of everything.” She laid a hand on his free arm. Again, the warmth of his body passed through her. “This is a new situation for both of us. We need to be gentle with each other, as well as with Lilly.”

“You’re right. I’m just not used to living with someone.” He walked up to the bedroom across from his. The master bedrooms were very large, over one thousand square feet each. Between the two of them, they occupied half of the second floor. Each one included a full, private bath with an extra-large Jacuzzi tub, double walk-in closets, and a fireplace which separated the sitting room from the bedroom but whose flames could be seen in both. This room differed from Adam’s in that his was done in brown for the curtains and bedspread with cream walls andbrown trim. The carpet was Berber wool and was very thick and plush.

Her room was donein shades of blue. Dark blue in the curtains, bedspread and trim. The walls were light blue with dark blue trim and thick, pale blue carpet.

Bree walked into the room after Adam. “Yes, this is much better. I like having space that is just mine.” She hadn’t seen the room since she’d decorated it. The furniture was the same. Whereas Adam’s room was decorated with dark mahogany, as was his preference, she’d picked light oak furniture for this room. The sleigh bed was one of her favorite pieces. She’d picked a large bureau with a mirror and eight drawers. The Tall Boy chest and end tables with a drawer on top and double doors below matched the finish on the bed. Large table lamps were on the end tables rather than the much smaller bedroom lamps most rooms featured. This room also had double walk-in closets with more than enough room for all her clothes and accessories.

Adam’s mouth turned down and his forehead furrowed. “I’m sorry, Bree. I should have realized and never offered you the guest room. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

She waved off the apology. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve got it straightened out.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to unpack. If you need anything, let me know.”