Page 20 of The CEO

“Not on your life. I want to show off my beautiful wife. Get something sexy that shows off your figure.”

“In that case, the dress I have in mind is perfect. I could show you online, but I think you’ll enjoy the surprise more if I wear it.”

“That’s fine, I’ll see it when I get home. Have a great day.” He left through the door to the garage.

Bree wondered if it was such a good idea to have Lilly staying with Madelyn and Rocky overnight. She and Adam had been dancing around each other since the night of the wedding. They hadn’t indulged in anymore late-night kisses, but could they in a week, when Lilly was gone? Was she playing with fire if they did?

One week later

Bree hadn’t givenAdam a fashion show when she bought the dress so this would be the first time he had seen it. She walked down the stairs to the large foyer at the front door. Her dress rustled just the slightest as she moved.

Adam was there, with Lilly, waiting. “About time, we’re—” He looked up and nothing came out of his mouth. Then he recovered and whistled. “Wow. You look spectacular.”

She was pleased with his reaction. After seeing herself in the full-length mirror in her room, when she’d finished getting ready, she had to agree. She looked amazing in this dress.

The dress was a dark midnight-blue and covered in thousands of tiny crystal beads, so the garment looked like she was wearing the night sky. It literally shimmered when she moved, catching every ray of light in the room. She wore sandals with a tiny black strap over her toes and one around her ankle. They had four-inch heels and forced her to take small steps or risk spraining an ankle or, worse yet, breaking a leg.

The bodice of the dress had spaghetti straps, a deep V-neckline, and skimmed her body to below the hips where it flared out to the hem, allowing lots of movement with every step. She held a small evening clutch covered in the same material as the dress, crystals and all.

She turned in a circle, and the skirt of the garment swung out, baring her legs as it did. When she halted, the dress shimmered to a stop. She gazed at Adam. “Well, what do you think? Will I do, or is it too much for theget-togethertonight?”

Adam closed his mouth. “You look beautiful. I love the gown. I think it’s perfect for tonight. Do you need a wrap? The air gets a little chilly after the sun goes down.”

“I have a matching shawl. The weather is still warm enough the shawl should be enough.” She looked at him up and down. “You look very handsome in your tux. I haven’t seen you in one for years. I’d forgotten how well you filled one out.”

Adam looked down at Lilly. “Don’t you think your mommy looks beautiful? Hmm. Pretty, huh?”

She looked over at Bree and held her arms out. “Mama. Mama.”

With tears in her eyes, Bree took the baby from Adam. “Did you hear her? She said ‘mama’. Her first word. Oh, I think I’m going to cry.”

Adam placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t do that, honey. You’ll ruin your makeup.”

She flashed him a gaze that she hoped said she didn’t think he was funny. “I’ll cry if I want to and if it ruins my makeup, I’ll fix it.”

Adam backed up a step, his hands up in front of him. “Sorry. You’re right, but I don’t like to see you cry. It…hurts me.”

Bree got a lump in her throat when she looked at him. “Ah, I don’t want to hurt you. I’m just happy. They would be happy tears.”

He frowned and his eyebrows furrowed. “They are still tears. I don’t like it.”

She grinned. “Okay. How about you take our girl here and get her in her car seat and I’ll get the diaper bag?”

Adam took Lilly from Bree. “Come on, sweet pea. You get to spend the night with Grandma. She and Grandpa will spoil you rotten and you’ll have a great time. Mom bought a bed for her. Did I tell you that?”

Shaking her head, Bree grabbed the diaper bag off the living room sofa. “No, but I’m not surprised. She wanted to be prepared. I would have done the same.”

He walked out to the garage and settled Lilly into the back of the Lincoln Navigator.

Adam bought the vehicle specifically because it was safer for Lilly.

Bree placed the bag in the backseat next to Lilly. She pulled out a teething ring for her to play with and chew on during the trip to Adam’s parents’ ranch. The journey would take them close to an hour because the ranch was about forty miles away. Then they would have to double back to Denver and the party at the Danver’s home.

Adam said the couple was old-fashioned.

Bree thought about the circumstances of her marriage and didn’t regret her decision for one moment. She was happy. The only problem was she was falling in love with Adam, and she was fairly sure he was falling in love with her.

He wasn’t at the point of admitting it to her, but she felt it just the same.