She turned and faced him. With her spine straight and chin up, her voice stayed calm. “No, it scares the hell out of me, but anyone can learn this address; it’s public record. The stupid press has told anyone who wants to listen that I’m living here.” She lifted the box. “What was in it? And how many packages or letters have come that I don’t know about?”

“It was a silver baby rattle—engraved.”

“Where is it?”

“Clay bagged it. He’s having it processed for fingerprints. Hopefully, the asshole touched it.”

“Engraved… what did it say?”

Tony seized her shoulders and pulled her close. “Claire, let me handle this. Show me you have faith in me.”

Her face tilted upward. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.” She kissed him. “What did it say?”

“Baby Nichols-Rawls.”

“That isn’t so bad, considering the way it was addressed. Why didn’t you want me to know about it?”

He directed her to his large leather chair behind the desk. It was his throne of control—in his office, his estate, his world. Tony wanted Claire to know that he welcomed her sharing that power, but with the responsibility came the burden. One that he feared would require her to sit. Claire obediently bent her knees, and he said, “That wasn’t all. Under the name it read R.I.P.”

Her eyes misted in shock, and her hand protectively covered her midsection. “Oh my God, Tony…”

Kneeling before her, he tempered his tone. “I told you once before, too much information isn’t good for you. Will you please learn to trust me and enjoy the bliss I’m trying so hard to provide?”

“B-but… that has to be considered a threat. Can’t you take it to the police?”

“We are, but what will they do that we aren’t already doing?”

Embracing her shoulders, her body trembled as tears coated his jacket. When a semblance of calm prevailed, she said, “I’m going to lie down. Will you please come to our room when you’re done with the others? Or are you going back to work?”

“No,” he reassured. “I’m staying here. I’ll be there as soon as we’re done.”

When the others returned, Tony learned that the package had inadvertently been brought inside with the rest of the mail. The police had been informed and additional cameras and sensors were going up all around the estate. The difficulty was the size of the property. Tony worried about Claire’s walks to her lake. He didn’t want to take that freedom away from her, but he didn’t want her hiking alone.

Tony had a trip planned to Europe in early September. He had meetings that he needed to attend to in person, as well as his semiannual obligation to move and reinvest Nathaniel’s money. Repeatedly, he asked Claire to join him, and repeatedly, she said no. Claire explained that she felt safer on the estate and didn’t want to be overseas. If there had been any way to avoid the trip, Tony would have done it.

The morning he left, Tony tried one last time to convince her to accompany him. Though she was sleeping in their bed, in the suite that used to be his that they now shared, he kissed her gently and her eyes fluttered as her sleepy voice questioned, “You woke me up before you left?”

“You told me to.”

Her eyes opened, revealing a bewildered expression.

“Why are you looking at me that way? You said you wanted me to wake you.”

“I know.” She sat up, their gaze unbroken. “I’m just not used to you listening to me, or doing what I say.”

He pressed closer, feeling the sensation of her breasts against his chest. “Well, we could go back to—”

Claire shook her head as she once again embraced his neck. “No, I like this better.”

His devilish grin made his brown eyes shimmer. “Well, last night you didn’t seem to mind a few directions, or should I say, suggestions?”

Her cheeks reddened as she buried her face in his shoulder and muffled her confession. “Yeah, well, I like that, too.”

Taking her chin in his gentle grasp, Tony searched her eyes. He could get lost in the depths of the green—emerald green, so deep and rich. “I was hoping I could change your mind about joining me on this trip.”

Their noses nearly touched as her lids fluttered and expression softened. “When do you need to leave?”

It wasn’t the response he wanted; he wanted her to say she’d come to Europe with him. “The plane’s ready. Eric’s waiting in the car.”

Claire’s expression beckoned, her fingers found the buttons of his shirt, and her words came between butterfly kisses to his neck, “I don’t think” “Eric would mind” “waiting a little longer” “Besides” “you’re going to be gone” “for almost two weeks.” As Claire’s fingers moved toward his belt and her lips touched his newly exposed chest, Tony’s travel plans seemed suddenly insignificant. For the next forty minutes they were lost within one another. Tony couldn’t help caressing and kissing her midsection and their unborn child as he moved up and down her sensual body. Her soft skin and amazing scent dominated his thoughts. As often happened when they made love, the worries or concerns outside of their bubble momentarily disappeared.

When he finally redressed and started to leave, Claire’s aura pulled him back for one last kiss. “I love you and I’ll be back as soon as I can. I wish you were coming.”