She's My Baby
No husband, no boyfriend, no pets and definitely no children…These were the "rules" that took magazine CEO Leila Owens to the top. Always in charge, in control, she was never rattled. Until she finds a baby in her kitchen on Christmas–and a sexy neighbor wearing next to nothing knocking at her front door…Garrick Grayson didn't know whom to comfort first, the howling infant or the career diva without a clue. But with a little help, Leila's soon juggling bottles, naps and meetings, while Garrick is falling for adorable Emma–and gorgeous, feisty, maternally challenged Leila. Garrick had sworn off women married to their jobs; Leila had sworn off everything else. So why, when they were together, did things feel so…right?
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The corners of Garrickâs lips twitched into a smile. He reached for the baby.
This wasnât exactly the kind of emergency he had in mind when he bolted over here, but it was a job that still needed to be done.
Garrick nestled the little girl in the crook of his arm. As he swayed back and forth, the baby quieted down. âThatâs a good girl,â he cooed.
âHow did you do that?â his neighbor asked wide-eyed.
âIâve been told Iâm a natural with babies and animals,â he boasted proudly.
âYouâre a godsend.â
The woman raked her fingers through her hairâsomething she should stop doing, he noted.
âYeah, well, I guess if you just get us a new diaper, I can help you change her and then Iâll get out of your hair.â He didnât mean to mention her hair, but it had a way of drawing the eye.
She blinked. âA diaper?â
ADRIANNE BYRD
has always preferred to live within the realms of her imagination where all the men are gorgeous and the women are up to all the challenge of whatever trouble they manage to get into. Her first Kimani Press release, Sheâs My Baby, was inspired by a true-life incident. Ms. Byrdâs youngest sister politely informed her that she was having a babyâten days before her due date! Her little sis and baby moved in. Theyâve been living with Ms. Byrd happily, temporarily, ever after.
For my niece Courtney Breanna White I hope I donât screw this up
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Leila and Garrickâs story. I have to admit that it was one of my easier subject matters to write about since I positively break out into a cold sweat every time my sister even hints for me to babysit my one-year-old niece. Some women, like me, really have to work to dust off unused maternal instincts. Like Leila, I discovered that even after sleepless nights, countless diaper changes and constant worrying, there is a unique joy in being around a baby. Nothing gives you the same kind of pleasure as when a child smiles at you. So much so that you find yourself doing the most ridiculous thingsâlike âgoo-gooingâ while youâre holding up the line at the grocery storeâjust to win another toothless grin.
So, now I have a baby at the houseâ¦all I have to do is keep peeking out the window to find my Garrick Grayson.
It could happenâ¦
Contents
Chapter 1
Leila Owens, founder and editor director of Atlanta Spice magazine, gaped at the worldâs greatest assistantâher assistantâand her good friend and prayed that her ears were clogged with wax. âYouâre pregnant?â
âYes. Isnât it great? The news is kind of an early Christmas gift to my family.â Ciara Winston beamed a radiant smile as she closed Leilaâs office door and journeyed into the room.
âNooo,â Leila half moaned, half groaned, and then dropped her head into the palms of her hands. âWhy on earth would you go off and do something soâ¦sillyâ¦and suicidal?â
âSilly and suicidal?â
âBabies are career killers in this industry,â Leila snapped, jerking her desk drawer open to grab the industrial-size bottle of Rolaids. âThey need constant attention, they are always sick, and they are always crying for something.â
Ciara crossed her arms. âBabies arenât the only ones who do that.â
âI canât believe youâre doing this to me,â Leila added as she popped a few pills into her mouth.
Her assistant laughed, but when Leilaâs sharp gaze stabbed her, Ciara sobered. âLeila, this has nothing to do with you.â
âDoesnât it? What do you think is going to happen to me while youâre off having morning sickness, water-retention issues, and raging mood swings? I have a company to run and I canât do that without my right-hand woman at my side. I need you.â Leila downed two more tablets for good measure.
âIâm not dying. Iâm just having a baby.â Before Leila could respond, Ciara held up a silencing finger. âPlease, let me finish before you say something that will cause me to turn in my resignation.â She lowered her hand.
Leila clamped her mouth close.
âElmo and Iââ
âElmo. What kind of nameâ¦â
Ciara jutted her finger back into the air and Leila grudgingly fell silent again. âLook, donât get all neurotic on me. I like you. Iâm also insane enough to say that I like working for you. But I am ready for the next chapter in my lifeâmotherhood. Now, the polite thing for you to do is to congratulate me.â
Leila ground her teeth and then lowered into her chair.
âI can be just as stubborn as you and I can stand here all day.â
It was true, Leila knew. Her assistantâs bullheadedness was one of the reasons that made Ciara a perfect match for Leila. Yet, for every common denominator between them, there were five differences. This whole family-and-marriage thing was just another example.
