Free Whatever the Price by Jules Bennett

come get me if she doesn’t calm down.”
    He lifted Lily up in the air and spun around in a circle, easing her wailing some, but not much.
    “I swear,” he promised. “If she gets out of control, I’ll come get you.”
    Charlotte nodded, kissed Lily on the cheek and headed toward one of the guest bedrooms. She’d give Anthony their master suite. Even though she loved that suite with its king-sized canopy bed and overly large, open shower, she wasn’t going to sleep in the same bed as her husband.
    But she had a feeling he would do everything he could to make sure she ended up there before their time in Tahoe was over.

Six
    “S o the flowers didn’t go over as well as I’d hoped, Lily Bug.”
    Anthony sat on the wooden swing on the back porch and swayed with his niece who had finally calmed down once he fed her a jar of puréed peaches and some of those puff snacks that smelled like sawdust.
    He’d only left the high chair in the kitchen a minor disaster and intended to clean it up later. Right now he was enjoying spending quality time with his niece.
    “I thought for sure the flowers would warrant a kiss on the cheek.”
    Lily stared up at him as he handed her more puff snacks. “You have no idea what I’m saying. As long as I keep feeding you, you’ll love me. I finally figured out how to make you like me.”
    He looked out beyond the pool, patio and lush garden to the lake. He’d have to step up his game plan if he wanted to gain ground during this getaway.
    He’d been surprised at how fast, and easy, it had been to call his new assistant and have her shuffle things around so he could provide Charlotte with the time away from Hollywood that she needed. That he needed, as well. He needed to stop letting agents and actors consume all his time. God knew he was powerful enough to be calling the shots.
    At the start of his career, he’d had to be available at all times to show how serious he was. But now, he knew, without being vain, that he was a big enough name that he could be choosy and clear his schedule whenever he wanted.
    “What do you think we should do next?” He handed Lily a couple more snacks, her slobbery fingers greedily scooping them from his palm. “I have to say, I’m going to need your help. She may find my tactics sneaky, but I’m desperate.”
    He leaned down right in Lily’s face. “But don’t tell her I said that.”
    With the sun beating down on them, Anthony decided to make use of the pool. He’d never really enjoyed all the amenities he’d paid for. Why hadn’t he made more time for the basics in life? Why hadn’t he whisked his wife away on a relaxing trip instead of making all his traveling about business?
    “Want to go swimming, Lily Bug?”
    This would be an experience. Once he changed into his suit in the pool house, he scooped her up, took her back inside and retrieved her suit from her little suitcase with a monogrammed L on the front.
    “Let’s wrestle you into this,” he said. He pulled her clothes off and tugged the tight blue-and-white polka-dot suit up over her chunky little legs. Surprisingly, she only fussed for a minute. But when he held her up and inspected her he frowned.
    “Diaper or no diaper?”
    The image of floaties in his pool had him cringing. “Diaper,” he said to himself. “Definitely the diaper.”
    He went back to the pool house and slathered sunscreen all over her and even up into her wisps of dark hair. That much he knew. Sunscreen was a must for children. And just to be on the safe side, he topped her off with the hat that matched her suit.
    Holding on to her tightly, he stepped a foot into the refreshing water and eased in. Lily jerked her feet up once her toes connected with the cooler water. Her lip quivered as she sucked in a breath.
    “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
    And he knew she was too young to realize he was referring to life.
    He splashed just a tad of the water up onto her legs to get her used to the temperature.