Adaline smiled bigger. “It sure is cute. Makes you want another puppy.”
With a laugh, I shook my head and grabbed some sweatpants. “Hell no do I want another puppy.”
Lola barked as Adaline laughed. “Seems to me like Lola is down for a friend.”
I pulled Adaline into my arms and quickly gave her a kiss. “The only baby I want in this bus is our baby.”
Adaline smiled as we made our way to the living room area.
The rest of the night was spent with Adaline curled up in my arms as Hank finally showed up and we started back for North Carolina. I couldn’t wait to get home and just relax. I kissed Adaline on the forehead and slowly let exhaustion claim me.
“Two more weeks. Can you believe it darling?”
My mother was standing at her kitchen island cutting up some fabric that was being used to make bows or something for the wedding reception when Adaline and I got back from our honeymoon. Since we were having a family only wedding, we decided to have a reception for our friends and co-workers once we got back. I quickly learned to smile and nod and pretty much just let the women in my life do whatever they pleased concerning this wedding and reception.
With a polite smile, I shook my head. “Nope. It’s not going by fast enough. I just want to make Addie mine already.”
My mother let out a soft laugh as she concentrated on cutting the fabric. “She is not a piece of property to own Emmit Lewis.”
I took a bite of beef jerky and nodded my head. “Yes ma’am, I’m fully aware of that.”
My phone beeped as I pulled it out and saw it was an email. The Subject line read, Your Laluna reservation.
“Looks like the hotel is confirming our reservation.” I said as I opened up the email. My mouth dropped to the floor as I read what it said.
Dear Mr. Lewis,
This is to confirm your cancelation of your beach cottage booked from December 23 through January 5.
I didn’t even finish reading the email and I was calling the resort.
“Emmit, what’s wrong?” my mother asked as I mumbled every curse word known to man.
“Hello! Yes, I just got an email confirming that my reservation had been cancelled. Lewis. Emmit Lewis. I never cancelled anything. I’m getting married there for Christ sakes!”
“I’m so sorry about this. Ms. Morgan called and canceled that just moments ago.”
My heart was stuck in my throat. I knew Adaline hadn’t called because she was standing in the dining room laughing with my sister about some stupid family tradition. “When did she call exactly?”
“No more than ten minutes. I just sent the email. I was the one who took the call. She said she was the bride, Ms. Morgan.”
“That’s impossible because I’m looking at my fiancé and she has not been on her phone at all.”
“Oh my goodness, Mr. Lewis I’m so very sorry. She stated she was Ms. Morgan.”
I glanced at my worried mother as I made my way outside. “Okay listen, someone is obviously trying to play some kind of game. Please tell me our wedding is still set and that nothing has happened with that.”
More typing. Silence followed by more typing. “No, nothing has been changed with that. I’m putting a note in your file now to alert the entire staff of what has happened. Mr. Lewis let me be the first to apologize. I would have never cancelled it had I thought it was someone playing a cruel joke. She even had your credit card number when she confirmed.”
Stephanie.
“No harm, no foul. But if you would please alert your staff as well as Roslinda, our wedding planner, that if anyone tries to make any changes, she is to call me first.”
“Yes, sir. I will personally call her right this moment. I’m glad we were able to get this taken care of.”
I nodded and blew out a breath. “So am I, or I would have had one very upset bride-to-be.”
After ending the call, I pulled up Robert’s number. I didn’t want to bother Mr. Elliot with this kind of bullshit, so I had been keeping his son Robert in the loop. After I got the picture of Lola and me, then another picture of me with my arm around Stephanie at a benefit dinner that my sister Ashley had taken, I knew something wasn’t right. I immediately told Adaline what was happening and she agreed that it all seemed a little fishy. Now with this happening, all signs were pointing to Stephanie. She had access to everything of mine at one time.
Fucking bitch.
“Emmit? Is everything okay?” Adaline asked as she made her way over to me. I quickly decided she didn’t need to know what Stephanie had done. I caught it in time and fixed it. No need to add any stress on my beautiful bride.
Forcing a smile, I nodded and pulled her into my arms. With a quick kiss to the top of her head, I said, “Everything is perfect, baby. I needed to have Robert take care of something for me.”
Adaline pulled back and looked into my eyes. “Are you sure?”
I slipped my hand behind her neck and pulled her lips to mine. Kissing her with as much love and passion as I could, Adaline moaned into my mouth. If my mother and sister hadn’t been in the house I would have taken Adaline right here by the pool.
When my lips broke contact with hers, Adaline giggled. “Wow. It doesn’t feel so chilly outside now.”
“That’s just a little taste of what I’m going to do to you after my mother and sister leave.”
Adaline’s eyes lit up and then her lower lip jetted out into a pout. “I think they’re going to be here for a while. We have a lot to take care of for the reception.”
My body filled with warmth as I gazed into the eyes of the woman I loved more than life itself. Lifting my hand, I ran my thumb across her lower lip. “I love you, Addie.”
With her hands placed on my chest, Adaline tilted her head and looked at me like she knew I was bothered by something. My phone rang with my new assistant Todd’s ring tone. I had already had him change numbers from Stephanie’s old number. It was a pain for people to contact me, but I didn’t care.
Adaline pointed to me and said, “I’m not finished with you Mr. Lewis. We are talking later.”
With a quick chuckle, I nodded and said, “Yes, ma’am.”
Adaline took two steps away from me and then turned and headed back into the house as I swiped my phone to answer it.
“Todd, what’s up?”
Todd cleared his throat and said, “We have a slight problem, Emmit.”
I dragged in a deep breath and braced myself for something else. “Hit me with it.”
“I got a call from Robert just now. I decided to go ahead and pull up your credit card online, I had a gut feeling if Stephanie had your card number for a cancelation, she might try something else.”
My hand pushed through my hair as I dropped down onto a chair and stared out over the lake.
“Fucking hell. What has she done now?”
There was a slight pause before Todd started talking again. “It appears your new credit cards we had issued after Stephanie was fired, have all been closed.”
“Why in the hell would she close my accounts?”
“Why would she call and cancel your villa, sir?”
I let out a sharp breath of air as I said, “Point taken. How did she get the new numbers?”
“I’m not sure sir. It was only two cards, not all of them which is kind of strange.”
I nodded my head as I thought for a moment.
“Todd, we need to go ahead and have all the cards changed out again and no one gets access to them. Let’s also go ahead and do the restraining orders like the lawyer suggested. I didn’t want to do it, but I think we need to.”
“Got it. I’ll have the new cards to you within twenty-four hours.” Sounds of rustling paper followed a brief silence. “I’ll get it done ASAP.”
Closing my eyes, I nodded and said, “I owe you.”
“Just doing my job.”
After talking about a few more details, I hit End and stared out over the lake. I was not about to let our wedding get ruined by some nutcase.