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  “It’s a good idea. Our ranch is isolated. We can have the hands guard the road in, keep an eye out for strangers. You’d be safe there.”

  “No.”

  “No?” He laced his hands behind his head and tilted back even farther, until she was sure he would topple over. But he didn’t. Instead he looked incredibly sexy, and that annoyed her all the more.

  Still she made an effort to keep her tone reasonable. “I don’t owe you reasons for the choices I make, Rafe. I don’t owe you anything.”

  “You’ve chosen to bear our child. Don’t you owe the baby a safe place to grow up?”

  Rhianna had no answer for that particular question. But no matter her circumstances, she’d never regret her decision to have this baby. Somehow she would find a way to keep it safe. Already she loved her child, knew she’d do whatever she could to protect it.

  “Okay. I’ll stay at the ranch until the baby’s born.”

  She would accompany Rafe to the Sutton ranch, since she agreed her baby would be safe there. She would give up the luxury of having her own doctor there when she gave birth. Give up her mother, who’d agreed to coach her on her breathing. Give up the security of her father’s arms afterward. Although going with Rafe would deprive her of sharing the most important moment of her life with people who loved her, she had to put the baby’s safety first.

  Just thinking through the possibilities tired Rhianna. She let out a huge yawn, and Rafe instantly rocked to his feet. “You look as if you need a nap. Why don’t you lie down for a little while and rest?”

  She should argue with him for fussing over her, but fatigue struck like a charging bull. As she waddled into her room and collapsed on the bed, Rafe drew the shades and blinds, then spread a blanket over her.

  She sensed a tension in him, but his voice remained tender. “Sleep tight and don’t worry. We’ll think of something.”

  RAFE CALLED HIS DAD. Sometimes having a Colorado state senator in the family was handy. After Rafe explained the problems, the senator called a friend at the university, and Rhianna got an automatic extension to finish her classes. Rafe received the name of a first-class detective agency and phoned there next. The Sutton name produced immediate attention.

  Next Rafe phoned a maternity shop and had clothes for Rhianna sent to the hotel, since he had no intention of letting her go back home. He wouldn’t expose her to more danger. Then Rafe arranged for a Sutton stable boy to help Daniel in Rhianna’s place. Finally he called her mother and asked Rhea McCloud if she could join them in Highview, the town nearest the Sutton ranch, when Rhianna’s time drew near. When the sweet woman assured him she and her husband would be happy to make the drive, Rafe felt a measure of relief.

  Last, he put in a call to his brother, Dr. Cameron Sutton. “Cam, what kind of obstetric facilities does Highview Hospital have?”

  “Is she high risk?”

  “I didn’t ask. She eats a lot.”

  “That’s helpful. Stress can bring on the contractions, so you should keep her calm.”

  “Don’t you remember Rhianna’s temper?”

  “I was in medical school when Daniel worked for us. But I think I recall a teenager with cinnamon hair following you around like she thought you hung the moon.”

  Rafe’s gut clenched as he realized how well Cam had pegged the girl and the woman. “That’s Rhianna, and she’s never really calm….”

  “Don’t worry. Even if the baby comes a little early, it’s old enough that there shouldn’t be any complications.”

  “I think I can—”

  “Sounds to me like you weren’t thinking much at all.”

  He could almost see Cam’s smug grin. Rafe tried to set him straight. “Hey, protection fails sometimes.”

  “You should marry her.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Babies need mothers and fathers.”

  “Mothers and father should be compatible.” “Why?” Cam asked. Rafe was sure his brother was just trying to needle him. But Cam continued, “Compatible might be boring. Maybe you need a little spice in your life. I’m thinking hot cinnamon—”

  “Look, I called for your medical opinion. If she comes to the ranch and goes into labor, will we have enough time to get her to the hospital?”

  “First babies are notoriously slow to arrive. But if the contractions do come hard and quick, you could fly her in the chopper.”

  “Thanks, Cam.” A knock on the door to the suite cut the conversation short.

  Rafe opened the door. A middle-aged, squat man with curly, blond hair held up a picture ID. “Joe Brown from the Lyle Detective Agency. I understand you have some kind of emergency, sir?”

  Rafe let the detective inside, hoping that Rhianna’s nap would continue until they finished. By now he realized that she wouldn’t appreciate the detective checking out her friends, family and acquaintances. Yet Rafe had to place her safety over her wishes.

  He quickly explained Rhianna’s problem to Joe Brown, immediately believing in the man’s honesty and integrity, since the senator had recommended him.

  “And what exactly do you want our agency to do?” Joe asked. “You can hire a team to protect Ms. McCloud round the clock, but to be effective, we’d need Ms. McCloud’s full cooperation. From what you’ve indicated, she seems reluctant to have her privacy compromised. And to tell you the truth, most clients detest close surveillance.” He paused, then suggested, “I can also do background checks and see if we find anything suspicious.”

  “Background checks on whom?” Rhianna padded on bare feet into the room. The circles under her eyes were just as dark as before her nap, and Rafe suspected she hadn’t slept. But she had enough energy for her eyes to flash with annoyance.

  “Rhianna, I’d like you to meet Joe Brown from the Lyle Detective Agency,” Rafe said smoothly, hoping she wouldn’t cause a fuss. Cam had said to keep her calm, but that seemed nigh onto impossible with the way she was scowling at him.

  “You’ve hired him without even talking to me?” Rhianna’s tone rose in displeasure.

  “I didn’t want to wake you.” Rafe thought his voice remained smooth, but could tell from her expression that she considered his excuse lame. “We were just talking over our options when you came in.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m not sure you do, Ms. McCloud,” Joe said. “There are some sick, really sick, folks out there. Someone is watching you. Taunting you. I believe it’s only a matter of time before he makes a move.”

  “Thanks, I feel so much safer now.”

  Rhianna’s words might be sarcastic, but Rafe had seen the flicker of fear in her eyes before she straightened her spine, jutted out her chin and hid the emotion. At her show of stubborn courage, his heart went out to her. Rafe wanted to ease her worry, but she kept refusing his help.

  Joe turned to Rafe. “If she won’t—”

  “Please don’t talk about me as if I’m not here,” Rhianna interrupted softly. “Despite my irritation with Rafe for making decisions without at least consulting me, I won’t let my feelings interfere with the baby’s safety.”

  Rafe should have known she would be sensible. She might not accept his help for herself. She might not want him around. She might not want a detective snooping into her life, but Rhianna would make the right choice for the baby’s sake.

  “Good.” Joe opened his briefcase and handed Rafe a contract. “I’d recommend we start with the background search of friends, co-workers, business associates and relatives.” Joe fixed Rhianna with a pointed stare. “As long as Rafe stays with you, I believe we can hold off on round-the-clock protection.”

  Rafe looked at Rhianna. “What do you think?”

  Before she could answer, someone else knocked on the door. Rhianna’s brow rose in question. Rafe stood and tried to look casual as he wondered if her temper would flare again. “I took the liberty of buying you some clothes, since you won’t be going home for a while.”

  Rafe opened the door, and the
bellboy placed several large shopping bags in the foyer. Rafe tipped him, and the kid pulled a white velvet jewelry box from his pocket. “Oh, I almost forgot, sir. This was messengered over. It’s for Rhianna McCloud.”

  Rafe frowned. “I…I—”

  Rhianna walked up behind him. “I won’t marry you, Rafe. Send it back.”

  He couldn’t blame Rhianna for her assumption that he’d bought her a ring. The gold-embossed Biddle and Baines logo on the box belonged to a well-known Denver jeweler, their distinctive white box with gold lettering familiar to Denver’s wealthier citizens. But Rafe didn’t like engagement rings, didn’t like the kind of commitment the jewelry represented. “I didn’t order any ring.”

  “You didn’t?” Rhianna looked from the jewelry box in the bellboy’s hand to Rafe. A blush started up her neck and flushed her cheeks as she realized her mistake. “When Duncan proposed, his ring came in a box from Biddle and Baines.”

  “Let me see it, please.” Joe took the box from the bellhop, fingertips holding the edges. He held it to his ear, then shook the box. “It’s not ticking.”

  Rhianna leaned around Rafe to see. Rafe held her back, a suspicious tingle tightening the back of his neck, telling him that something was wrong.

  Joe set the Biddle and Baines box on the dining table and carefully pried it open.

  Chapter Four

  Foul-smelling ashes overflowed the jewelry box and smeared the dining room table.

  The stalker had found her.

  After all the precautions Rafe had taken to hide her away from her friends and co-workers, the stalker had found her, probably another tail they hadn’t seen. The message seemed clear. She couldn’t run far enough. She couldn’t hide.

  As the ugly black ashes fell out of the pristine white velvet box embossed with gold lettering, Rhianna shuddered. Rafe put his arm around her shoulders, but not even the heat of his flesh could warm her as an icy chill settled in her gut.

  For once she welcomed the comfort Rafe’s solid presence could give her. She no longer wanted to go through this alone. And who better to protect her than the man who had put the baby inside her? He had a very good reason to ensure her safety. His child’s life was at stake.

  Joe poked through the ashes with the tip of his pen. “Nothing dangerous. Just ashes.”

  “What’s the point of sending something like that?” Rhianna asked, hoping the men hadn’t come to the same conclusion she had. The stalker was toying with her. Well, she wasn’t anyone’s damned toy, and as anger flooded through her, it banished her fears to the back of her mind, so she could hold her head up and go on.

  “He wants to scare you,” Rafe muttered.

  “But why?” Rhianna asked.

  He gathered her into his arms. “Maybe he’s sick. He wants to show you that he knows exactly where you are.”

  Joe grimaced. “I doubt I can retrieve fingerprints off the velvet but I’ll try.” He paused, then continued, “I’ll bet the messenger who gave the bellhop this box is long gone. The messenger may not even work for a real service. However, the Biddle and Baines box might give us some clues.”

  Rafe looked into Rhianna’s face. She nodded that she was okay now. He left her side to pull out a phone book, then looked up a number and dialed. “This is Senator Sutton’s son. No, not Dr. Cameron. Nope, this isn’t Chase Sutton, either. I’m Rafe. I’d like an appointment with the manager, please.”

  Rhianna had always known the power of the Sutton name, but she’d never had it used for her benefit. When she thought of people using their names to obtain special treatment, she normally considered it pretentious. But right now she was grateful. Any help in ending this ordeal was appreciated.

  The jewelry store wasn’t far from the hotel. Within a half hour, the pleasant-faced owner-manager, Saul Biddle escorted Rhianna, Rafe and Joe into his inner sanctum.

  Plush carpets muffled their steps. Mahogany paneling, an antique desk and a sideboard full of crystal liqueur decanters gave the dimly lit room an old-world ambiance. A secretary wearing a severe black suit served coffee and cinnamon crumb cakes.

  Rhianna skipped the coffee but helped herself to two of the cakes while she surveyed the owner-manager. She supposed his indistinguishable features and unremarkable eyes made him a perfect foil for the magnificent jewels she’d seen as she’d walked through the exclusive store.

  Saul waited through introductions and until everyone was settled comfortably before asking, “What can I do for you?”

  Rhianna expected Joe to take charge, but Rafe spoke first, his Western drawl slow and polite. “We’re hoping you can help us find the person who is stalking Ms. McCloud.”

  Saul sipped his coffee. “That’s a little out of my field.”

  Joe placed the velvet jewelry box on Saul’s desk. “Maybe not.”

  “Someone sent that to me,” Rhianna said softly. “Inside are ashes.”

  “Ashes?” Saul frowned. “The stalker used our jewelry box to deliver some kind of threat?”

  Rhianna realized her problem might be outside Saul Biddle’s area of expertise, but he caught on quickly. “An ex-boyfriend of mine, Duncan Phillips, bought me an engagement ring from this store.”

  “Did he ever return the ring?” Rafe asked.

  “What would that prove?” Saul asked. “He could have returned the ring without the box.”

  “It’s a place to start,” Rafe said. “Especially if he kept the ring.”

  Saul looked from Rafe to Rhianna. “We don’t normally open our records to the public, but under the circumstances, I’ll try to help.”

  Rhianna wondered if the manager would have been so helpful if she’d come in alone and asked for help, wondered if she’d have gotten past the secretary who guarded the office door. Once again she was grateful for Rafe’s help.

  Saul pressed a button on his desk. A moment later his secretary walked in. “Sylvia, could you please bring me Duncan Phillips’s file? And I’d like a printout of every customer who purchased a ring in the last two years.”

  “Thank you,” Rafe said softly. “We do appreciate your help.”

  Joe leaned forward. “May I ask why you only want the records for the past two years?”

  “We switched designs then.” Saul pointed to the box. “The hinge on this box is hidden. On our old ones, the hinge showed.”

  “That’s a bit of luck,” Joe murmured.

  Rhianna didn’t feel lucky. The cinnamon cake sat like a lump of clay in her stomach. And the baby had chosen this moment to start practicing soccer kicks. Rafe must have noticed her twinge of discomfort because he started rubbing the back of her neck. “We’re going to figure this out. You’ll see.”

  His soft words should have annoyed her. She didn’t need to be reassured like a child. And yet she’d carried the burden alone for so long, it was easy to let Rafe take on some of the load. Briefly she reminded herself not to get used to Rafe’s being there for her. He would stay until the baby’s birth or the crisis passed—whichever came first—and then he’d be gone from her life again.

  “Could an employee have stolen a box?” Rafe asked.

  Saul shook his head. “We’d have noticed. We keep a careful inventory.”

  The secretary returned with a file and a computerized printout. Rafe handed the long list to Rhianna. “See if you recognize any names.”

  As she perused the list, Rhianna refrained from whistling aloud. It included not only names, but items bought and the purchase price. She couldn’t believe how many people could afford a luxury purchase that cost more than the McClouds’ mortgage on their home. Chase and Cameron Sutton had both bought their wives rings in this store. No wonder Saul Biddle had opened his books to Rafe.

  Rhianna often forgot the wealth of the Suttons. All the brothers seemed down-to-earth, concerned about their land, their cows and each other, making her forget their affluence.

  “Duncan Phillips didn’t return the ring he purchased,” Saul told them.

  Rhiann
a let out a soft gasp of surprise.

  “What?” Rafe squeezed her hand reassuringly, but this time his attempt didn’t make her feel any better.

  For a moment the names blurred in front of her. Then she pulled herself together. “Janet Stone bought a ring here. So did Judge Stuart. While Joe continues his investigation and before we go into hiding, I think we should pay a visit to some of the people on this list.”

  RAFE HAD KNOWN Duncan Phillips for years but had never visited the man’s Denver estate. He’d heard Duncan had made his fortune when his technical company had gone public and the stock had soared. Duncan had since retired from the high-tech world to become a horse breeder. He had a reputation with the ladies and a reputation for gambling huge amounts of money at the track.

  Still the opulence of Duncan’s estate took Rafe by surprise. The Suttons’ wealth was in cattle and land, acres and acres of land that took a man two days to ride across. But Duncan’s home looked like a European castle with fancy turrets, stone walls and frilly Victorian ironwork. The lush grounds were immaculate, and they passed through a guarded gate with security cameras. So much for taking Duncan by surprise.

  A maid opened the front door and led them to a study. Duncan Phillips, dressed in immaculately pressed jodhpurs and shiny riding boots, and holding a crop, opened the massive front door and greeted Rhianna with a superior smirk at her extended belly. “Come in. Come in. Can I offer you a drink?”

  Rafe shook the man’s hand, realizing that Duncan might have the cash flow to support his hobbies, but he wasn’t any gentleman. The man seemed to take immense pleasure in taking Rhianna’s left hand and placing a kiss there while he stared at her ringless finger, deliberately calling attention to her unmarried and pregnant state.

  Rhianna’s only reaction was to lift her chin higher. “Sorry to drop in so unexpectedly, Duncan.”

  Duncan smirked again. “Well, at least this time I don’t believe you rode over on a mare in heat. So to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  He’d mounted the walls of the study with hunting trophies: heads of elk, tiger, boar, even a rhino that she suspected was an endangered species. Rhianna shuddered slightly and avoided glancing at the dead animals.