Page 16 of The CEO

“Then I’ll meet every boy and put the fear of God into him if he lays a hand on her.”

Bree smiled. She didn’t think she’d been this happy in a long time. Not since Brad, but she wouldn’t think of their relationship today. This was the first day of the rest of her life. Adam might not think it was forever, but she knew better. She might not have wanted to marry, but she didn’t believe in divorce. Their marriage was forever…for better or for worse.

CHAPTER 4

The attendees ate barbeque, swam, and danced to a live band.

Bree enjoyed herself immensely. The first dance was just for Bree and Adam, but she held Lilly while they swayed to Color My World by Chicago. It was one of Bree’s favorite songs.

The baby babbled and patted Bree on the cheeks. She grabbed a fistful of Bree’s hair.

Adam had to get her to release the locks.

All the women in attendance wanted to hold Lilly, and she was passed around for a while before deciding she’d had enough. She let out a wail.

Bree’s new mother-in-law, Madelyn Kincaid, came to her rescue. She took Lilly inside, changed her diaper and was trying to prepare a bottle one-handed.

Bree walked inside. “Here, let me do that.” Bree took the bottle and placed water and formula in the bottle before covering the hole in the nipple with one finger and shaking the bottle well to mix it. Then she handed it back to Madelyn, who gave it to Lilly.

The baby was content to have the food and held the bottle herself while her grandmother sat on the sofa in the family room and held her.

“I’m glad you’re part of the family, Bree. I didn’t know that you and Adam were dating.”

Bree saw no reason to lie. “We weren’t. This was the best way to have a family for Lilly. I agreed to it because I want to be a mother, and she needed me. I think I fell in love with her the first time I held her in my arms. I knew then that I would do whatever was needed for her, and that meant marrying Adam. We’re best friends, so it made sense for him to ask me. I agreed it was the best option for all of us.”

But was it, or was it just the best option for her?

During the reception,Bree and Adam took turns checking on Lilly after putting her to bed in the playpen in his office at about seven-thirty. Neither of them wanted her as far away from them as she would have been in her crib.

At about ten, it was Bree’s turn to check on her and she found the baby awake but not upset.

“Well, hello, my little sweetheart. How are you?” Bree picked her up from the playpen, and as she expected, the baby was soaked. “How about we put you in a dry diaper and some clothes and then give you your bottle? Hmm, how does that sound?”

Lilly babbled.

Bree laughed. She put her on the changing table they bought for Adam’s office for when they had Lilly on the first floor. It kept them from having to go upstairs every time she needed changed. She grabbed a clean onesie, diaper, and baby wipes from the drawers under the table.

She was just finishing when Adam came in.

“Ah, I see our daughter has awakened.”

“And not a single fuss out of her,” replied Bree. “She really is the perfect baby. I know that we have teething and other things to come, and she’ll be out of sorts when she’s sick, but right now, she’s perfect.”

He stood next to Bree and ran an index finger down Lilly’s cheek. “Maybe that’s so we’ll fall in love with her.”

Bree shrugged, lifted Lilly into her arms. “I don’t know why it is. I fell in love with her the first minute I saw her.” She turned her gaze toward Adam. “What about you? How long did it really take?”

Adam held his arms out to the baby.

Lilly leaned toward him.

“That’s Daddy’s little sunshine.” He took her into his arms and cuddled her. “The first time she was in my arms, I was a goner. I didn’t want to admit that such a little bit of a thing could have that much of a hold over me, but she does. I will move heaven and earth to keep her safe.”

Bree thought about it for a moment. “She really is ours, isn’t she? Will her mother come back and try to take her?”

Adam frowned. “I’m having my attorney draft a document that will keep Sally from having any rights to Lilly.” He reached out with his right arm and wrapped it around Bree’s shoulders. “I’ll make sure that Lilly is safe from Sally’s whims. I don’t believe she’ll want her back, but she won’t be able to do anything if she should change her mind.”

Bree leaned into his strong body, feeling his side muscles. She let his words sink in and warm her heart. “Thank you. I didn’t want to say anything, afraid I was overstepping my bounds, but?—”