Page 69 of The Summer Arrangement
Glancing at my watch, I see it’s almost eleven. “I’ll catch the six thirty. Is there room on that flight for more people if needed? Emilia and her nanny will likely travel with me.”
“It doesn’t appear full,” she offers. At least one thing is going right.
“Good. I’ll let you know within the hour if I need additional arrangements.”
“I’ll be here, Cameron. Just let me know.”
When I walk through the door to my house, it’s silent. The car is in the garage, so I know they’re either somewhere in the house, out for a walk, or Emilia’s napping.
When I get to the family room, I see Lizzy in the backyard, reading on a lounge chair. As I walk through the sliding glass door, she looks up with surprise. “What are you doing home so early?”
“I had a thing at work come up, and I need to talk with you.”
“What’s going on?” she asks warily.
Where do I even begin?
“I have to be in LA tonight for a meeting tomorrow. Tatum had a family emergency, and Marek insists I handle it in his absence.”
“Okay…” Lizzy draws out. “What do you need from me?”
“I know we didn’t discuss anything like this, but I need someone to watch Milli while I’m in LA. I’ll get a hotel and cover expenses, but would you fly out with me and watch her?”
“I can do that.” She nods, then cocks her head to the side. “But… Won’t you be in meetings the entire time?”
“Yeah,” I say on a long exhale. “Most likely.”
“Okay… hear me out. First, I’ll watch Milli no matter what, so no need to worry about that. But how well does she travel? Will she do okay in a hotel?”
“I honestly don’t know,” I admit. “We haven’t flown that much since she was born.”
“Fair warning… She’s been kinda grumpy today.”
“Perfect! A grumpy toddler is just what I need when preparing for a multi-million-dollar deal. God, the universe must hate me.”
Standing, she reaches for my hand. “Look, Cam, I want nothing more than to be with you. But hear me out.What if… I stayed here at your house and took care of her while you go to LA… Alone. This way, you could focus on work, and she’d get some rest. I think spending the weekend with your sister was fun, but Milli’s exhausted.”
“You’d do that for us?” I ask in disbelief. I’ve never had anyone besides my mom put Milli’s needs above everything else.
“Of course, I would.” She smiles at me. “For the record, I’d love to see LA someday, but being stuck in a hotel room while you’re working all day doesn’t sound much fun for me or Milli. That girl loves to run and play, and hotels aren’t made for rambunctious toddlers.”
My heart swells at her thoughtfulness.
Needing to show her just how much this means to me, I pull her close. All the pent-up stress I’ve been holding onto vanishes the moment my lips crash onto hers. She’s soft and warm and everything that’s right in this world. The way she’s put Milli’s needs first makes me fall even harder for her. I can’t believe I let her walk away this spring. She’s everything I never knew I needed.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and as much as I’d like this to continue, I know I’m on a time crunch. Reluctantly, I break our kiss, then lean my forehead onto hers as our breathing steadies.
“You sure you’re okay with staying here? It might be a few days.”
“Yeah, Cameron. Milli and I’ll miss you, but it’s what’s best for her.”
“But what if you need a break?” I ask, knowing how much I need them sometimes. I’m sure she’s never been around a child twenty-four-seven. It’s exhausting.
Taking my hand in hers, she squeezes it reassuringly. “I’ve got my entire family nearby. They’d come running if I even hinted of needing help.”
“I’m sure they would… In fact, why don’t you invite them over so that I know you’re not alone the entire time. You can make use of my pool.”
“We’ll be fine, Cameron. Go, get ready. You don’t want to miss your flight.”
