He didn’t wait for an answer. He headed toward the east stairwell. When he spotted the door marked ‘Private’ before he reached the stairs, he knew exactly where Jennie had gone.
Chad stopped by the door and pulled his cell phone out, acting as if he were going to call his wife. Through lowered lids, he watched until the woman at the front desk turned away, and then slipped through the doorway.
When he turned, his heart dropped into his stomach. Jennie was being led down the hall by the two idiot nephews and she didn’t look like she wanted to be there. Chad broke into a jog again.
“There you are, baby,” he said as he came up to her. “I’m starved. You know I gotta eat breakfast before ten or my stomach hurts. What are you doing back here?” He looked around, his meathead wrinkled brow firmly in place.
The nephews stopped their forward motion, but the one that had his arm around Jennie kept it there. She turned her sweet, trusting eyes to Chad and he could see the panic beneath her ditzy show.
“I hurt my ankle, baby. I fell.” Jennie’s eyes locked onto his, trusting and sure, as if she knew he’d get her out of this.
God, he loved this woman—even when she was playing dumb.
He scooped her up in his arms, easily extricating her from the man’s grasp. “I’ve got you, babe. I’ll take care of you.” He dropped a kiss to her mouth and began to walk down the hall, carrying her away from the nephews.
These yahoos didn’t worry him. It was the people they most likely worked for that had him sweating.
One of the nephews grabbed Chad’s arm as he turned away and Chad felt Jennie tighten her hold on his neck.
“Hey, wait,” the idiot nephew said.
Chad turned, looking 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.