The Billionaire Op - Lori Ryan Page 0,35

down at the man’s hand on his arm. “Yeah?” he grunted, staring down the smaller man. Chad knew most guys wouldn’t argue with him when he turned up his scowl.

He waited a half beat but the guy didn’t say anything. He dropped his arm and stepped back as Chad turned and left.

Chad didn’t look back. He walked through the door to the lobby then set Jennie on her feet. They walked out the front door of the resort and Jennie slipped into one of the cabs waiting in the circular drive. He handed her a wad of cash.

If he spotted the brothers, he’d tell the driver to leave with Jennie and he’d catch up to her after dealing with Matt and Alan. Chad stood guard by the side of the cab while their luggage was loaded.

As he expected, the brothers didn’t show. The luggage was loaded and Chad whisked Jennie away.

They didn’t slow down until they reached the airstrip and boarded the small private jet Jack had waiting for them. And Chad didn’t breathe easy again until Jennie was back in Connecticut, safely at home.

Chapter 20

Jennie walked down the hospital hallway, smiling absentmindedly at people she passed in the hall. Her stomach was flipping and churning. She knew when she arrived in Kelly’s hospital room she’d likely see Chad for the first time in three days—she couldn’t exactly avoid the situation.

Kelly had given birth to Madeleine Sophie Sutton three hours earlier. Jennie couldn’t wait to hold such a tiny new life in her arms.

Even the nerves she felt at the prospect of seeing Chad for the first time since they returned from Florida wasn’t scary enough to keep her away from her best friend today. It was just scary enough to keep her from being able to eat anything. Or take a deep breath. Or stop fidgeting.

She found the room and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” came Kelly’s voice from the other side.

Jennie pushed open the door and found Kelly sitting up in bed. She looked tired, but happier than Jennie had ever seen her. In her arms was a tiny pink creature with a scrunched-up face. She was ugly and beautiful, all at the same time.

And she was awake! Wide eyes looked around as Kelly beamed at Jennie.

“Oh, Kelly. She’s beautiful,” Jennie said as she sat on the edge of her friend’s bed.

“I can’t believe she’s finally here. I never want to put her down.” Kelly’s smile was wide and almost glowing.

“Does that mean I don’t get to hold her?” Jennie laughed. “I washed my hands and everything,” she said, holding her hands up.

Kelly laughed and transferred Maddy into Jennie’s arms. She was swaddled tightly in a striped blanket and she gazed up at Jennie. As Jennie watched, tired lids sank down over her eyes. Within minutes, the baby slept soundly in her arms.

“Wow. I think I could watch her forever.” Jennie glanced up at Kelly before gazing back down at the baby.

She’d never seen anything like it. She was perfect in every way. Soft skin and fuzzy hair. A tiny button for a nose and little ears. Eyelashes that fluttered on her cheeks lightly as she slept.

“I know. They say newborns sleep for long stretches in the first one or two days. After that, we’re supposedly in for feedings every two hours and nights without a lot of sleep. I’m trying to soak up the fun stuff right now before I become a walking zombie,” Kelly said.

“Well, I’ll come over and give you a break whenever you need it. You just call.” She looked around the room for Jack. “Speaking of breaks, where is Jack?”

“He and Chad went out to get me some real food. The nurses said I can eat soon and Jack didn’t want me to have to eat hospital food. I have to admit, I was a bit relieved. I’m starving after so many hours with nothing but ice chips and popsicles. And, hospital food doesn’t exactly sound appealing.”

The two women talked about babies and the size of tiny fingernails for another few minutes.

Jennie had suspected Kelly would bring up the Florida trip and she wasn’t wrong.

“So, does Chad think you guys are in danger because of what you found in Florida?” she asked. She had a strange look on her face that Jennie couldn’t quite interpret.

“We’re not sure what’s going to happen yet. We met with Jonathan Masters to tell him what I overheard and it was awful, Kelly. The poor man was so