Behind His Eyes - Truth (31 page)

“Yes?” she asked tentatively.

“I don’t want to have to track this ring down again. Do not sell it, give it away, or leave it any place but on your beautiful finger.” It was one of those undebatable statements.

Through a veil of thick lashes, she smiled and whispered, “I promise.” They sealed the deal with a lingering kiss that took them from the pool to their suite.

Before entering the shower, Tony slipped the diamond on Claire’s finger. “I thought it might be better if you weren’t all slippery,” he said.

Claire stared at the ring for the longest time. When she looked up, she replied, “I loved this ring once, but I need to be honest. I think I love it more today.”

He pulled her close. “I know that I love you more today. You, my dear, have taught me what love truly is—and what it is not.”

Claire snickered, “Whoever would’ve thought that Anthony Rawlings would be open to new lessons?”

“Oh, I’m open, but,” his tone turned stern, “I meant what I said. I don’t want that ring to ever be anywhere but on your finger. Are we clear?”

Claire lifted herself on her tipped toes and kissed his cheek. “Yes, we’re crystal clear.” As she stepped into the shower and steam filled the bathroom, Claire tilted her head toward the spraying water and teased, “Now, Mr. Rawlings, come here. Let’s learn a few new things together.”

By the time the first package arrived, Tony and Claire were officially engaged, and she hadn’t experienced a nightmare in over a week. Tony refused to let the mailing threaten her newfound security. He wouldn’t allow anyone or anything to risk renewing that terror. Without fully explaining the threat, Tony reassured her that he didn’t care where she went or what she did as long as she wasn’t alone. It didn’t matter if it was an outing to the store, lunch with a friend, or a weekend to visit her sister, Tony’s one requirement, one undebatable rule, was that either he or Clay be by her side.

For obvious reasons, Clay accompanied Claire during the weekend trip to Emily and John’s. Claire wanted to inform them in person of their engagement. When Claire returned, she didn’t say much about their visit; however, when Tony asked if she was planning another, she told him that for the time being she was restricting her travels to trips with him. Though he didn’t like seeing her disappointed, Tony was glad that she didn’t want to travel without him. He wanted to do everything within his power to create a stress-free environment where Claire felt not only safe but loved. Over the course of time he, Catherine, and the security team succeeded. Until the rattle.

Other packages had been intercepted prior to reaching the estate, but the rattle made it inside their home. Luckily, Clay saw it and called Tony before Claire noticed it. Tony immediately rushed home and called Catherine, Clay, and Eric to his office. Before berating the security detail, Tony needed to know exactly what had happened. As he listened to their information and voiced his opinion, Claire silently slipped into the room.

Tony didn’t want her to know about
any
of the mailings—especially this one. The engraved message of:
Baby Nichols-Rawls / R.I.P.
could definitely be considered a threat. Therefore, when his eyes met hers, he silently pleaded, then demanded that she leave his office. Following his gaze, everyone turned to her, yet instead of leaving, she asked, “You’re all very loud. Is this about me?”

“Claire,” Tony said, summoning a calmer tone than the one he’d been using. “Please don’t worry about this. I’m taking care of it.”

As she stepped toward him, Tony looked to Catherine. “Catherine, if you could please help Ms. Claire? She may need some assistance.”

Though Claire obviously understood what he wasn’t saying, she pressed on. “Clay, what
others
have you intercepted?”

“Ma’am, nothing that concerns you.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Catherine tried to assist. “Claire, let’s get you something to drink. It’s very hot outside.”

Defiantly, Claire proclaimed, “I’m not leaving.”

Tony fought the red that wanted to stream towards his fiancée.
Didn’t she understand that this wasn’t the time for bold and cheeky?
“Claire,” he warned.

Surprisingly, wearing her swimsuit, cover-up, and flip-flops, Claire walked toward Tony, to his side of the desk, ignored him, and addressed their staff. “Catherine, Eric, and Clay, could you please excuse us for a minute. Mr. Rawlings and I need to speak privately. I would assume he’s not done with you, so please stay close. This won’t take long.”

He’d never heard her take that tone with anyone. It wasn’t demeaning as much as it was authoritative. Despite her attire, Claire was asserting herself in the position Tony wanted her to assume—lady of the house. Everyone in the room turned to him for confirmation. The tension was palpable. Finally, through clenched teeth, he agreed. “Do not go far. I’m
not
done. Clay, make some calls. After Ms. Claire and I have finished, I want answers.”

Of course, Tony saw Catherine’s glare as they all hurried from the room. He didn’t have the time or energy to worry about her wounded ego. The way he saw it, it was her fault for not confiding fully in Claire.

“What’s happening?” Claire’s question brought Tony back to present.

“How did you hear? You were at the pool.”

“How could I not hear? Everyone in a three-mile radius could hear you. Tell me, what’s so important to bring you home early from work? The sooner I know, the sooner you can continue your
meeting
.”

“Damn it, Claire! I don’t want you worrying.” He paced to the window and back. “Besides, who in their right mind would come in here while I’m teetering on the edge of sanity? Did you see how fast they all left?”

Claire smiled as she placed her hands on the lapels of his dark suit. “No one. Just ask my family, I’m definitely not in my
right
mind, and if I’m correct, the only thing that can get you this worked up is something about me.” She turned and picked up the package addressed to
Claire Nichols Rawls
. “So I don’t get to open my own mail anymore?”

“Seriously, some asshole found you here, knows our address, and you want to complain about opening mail?”

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.”

Her eyelids fought an unseen weight. “Travel safely. I love you, too.”

As he tucked the covers around her soft body, he asked, “Are you going back to sleep?”

She nodded. “Yes, I think after that strenuous morning workout, I need a nap.”

Grinning, he kissed the top of her head and watched as her smile faded, her eyes closed, and she appeared blissfully serene. It was then Tony remembered the security. He didn’t want her to think things were different because he wasn’t home. Utilizing his CEO tone, he added, “Claire.”

Her eyes immediately opened. Although she didn’t speak, she obviously recognized his change in tenor. Perched on the edge of the bed, Tony reminded her, “If you leave the estate—”

She stilled his words with the touch of her hand. The large diamond on her fourth finger glistened, as she responded appropriately, “I promise, I’ll take Clay.”

“This isn’t debatable.”

“Tony, I’m not debating. I’m trying to sleep.”

He kissed her lips. “I’ll call when I touch down in London.”

She nodded. “Be safe. I think Eric’s waiting.”

Three days later, Tony received word of an attempted break-in at the estate. Thankfully, Clay had thwarted the attempt. Unfortunately, the perpetrator had not been caught. It seemed obvious that Chester’s accomplice was becoming bolder with his threats. More than anything, Tony wanted to get back to Iowa.

To that end, he rescheduled a few of his meetings and contemplated waiting for another time to visit Switzerland. The money could wait. It hadn’t been discovered in over twenty-five years. One extra six-month period of accumulation wouldn’t make that big of a difference. He had two more days before he could leave, when he received the call from Clay explaining that someone had tried to run him and Claire off the road. Tony didn’t give a damn about any more of the meetings—he headed home.