Safe in His Arms by Vicki Lewis Thompson Read Free Book Online

comment.”
    “It’s okay, Valerie. You can always be honest with me and tell me how you feel. I’m being honest with you in describing how this operation works.”
    “And I get it. I do. I promise to take that into consideration from now on. How soon will he be weaned?”
    “Not for a long time. Four or five months from now, maybe longer.”
    She relaxed. “Oh, good.” She wondered what their status would be four or five months from now. She’d never discussed the duration of these sessions, either with Will or with Adam. But at some point, she hoped she would be cured of her phobias. And then what would be her excuse for coming to the ranch?
    “Don’t worry,” Adam said. “I’ll take it slow and easy. The new owners may want to get their hands on him, but they don’t want a neurotic mess because he was weaned too early.”
    “No reason to rush it.” Or to rush her treatment.
Ha.
She knew exactly why she wanted to drag it out. She was looking for an excuse to keep seeing him. But they were having lunch on Monday. That would change the dynamic.
    Her mind leaped ahead as she thought of where they’d go and what she’d wear. She’d never dated a billionaire before. But as she stood next to him watching Bubba nurse, she realized he wouldn’t show up looking like a billionaire.
    No, he’d walk into her office in jeans, western shirt, boots, and Stetson. He’d look the way he always did. She’d be the one in a whole different costume. And after appearing in plain old jeans and T-shirts for three weeks, she had the purely feminine urge to knock his socks off.

Five
    On Monday morning, Adam parked his truck in a garage a block away from Valerie’s law office. He’d chosen a cafe close by, one that advertised quick lunch service. Although he would have rather taken her somewhere more atmospheric, he wasn’t sure what her schedule was. She might have so many appointments that she wouldn’t be able to linger.
    This whole setup was new to him. His dating years had involved debutantes with plenty of free time and a taste for luxury. But he was at a different point in his life, and as a result he’d asked a working girl to lunch. His usual approach of champagne and caviar wouldn’t fit the occasion.
    To say he was nervous would be grossly understating the case. He’d called Will yesterday and asked him point-blank if he’d hoped for a romance between Adam and Valerie. Will had admitted the idea had crossed his mind, which in Will-speak meant he’d planned the entire thing.
    Adam couldn’t be upset with the guy. Valerie was terrific, and something might actually come out of Will’s meddling. Will had asked to meet for a drink after work today so he could find out how lunch had turned out. That meant Adam had to stay in town for the remainder of the day, so he’d made an appointment with his lawyers to go over the amended contract for Bubba and make sure it was ironclad.
    But that was all later. First he had to manage this date, for that’s exactly what it was. Because despite the offer to help Valerie handle her first elevator ride since the fire, he’d also invited her to eat a meal with him. Anyone with the slightest bit of common sense would classify that as a date.
    He was familiar with the building. His grandfather had owned it, and made a killing when he sold it. Adam had grown up hearing about those spectacular financial victories, but that kind of challenge held no interest for him now. Truthfully, it never had.
    Walking inside the tasteful lobby, Adam located the directory and found the law firm of Meacham and Daniels, where Valerie worked. When Adam had been married to Elise, he’d attended social functions with the senior partners, Stan Meacham and Robert Daniels. He’d liked them both. Valerie had chosen a good firm when she’d hired on here.
    He rode the elevator to the fourth floor and listened for any alarming rattles or squeaks in the mechanism. The elevator seemed smooth, and the