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Claire snickered, "Whoever would’ve thought that Anthony Rawlings would be open to new lessons?"
"Oh, I’m open, but," his tone turned stern, "Ito 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 bathroo water and teased, "Now, Mr Rawlings, coether"
By the tie arrived, Tony and Claire were officially engaged, and she hadn’t experienced a night 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’tto 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 acco the weekend trip to Emily and John’s Claire wanted to inforement When Claire returned, she didn’t say much about their visit; however, when Tony asked if she was planning another, she told hi her travels to trips with hilad that she didn’t want to travel without hi 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 teaes 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 roos--especially this one The engraved e of: Baby Nichols-Rawls / RIP could definitely be considered a threat Therefore, when his eyes met hers, he silently pleaded, then deaze, everyone turned to her, yet instead of leaving, she asked, "You’re all very loud Is this abouta cal "Please don’t worry about this I’ care of it"
As she stepped toward him, Tony looked to Catherine "Catherine, if you could please help Ms Claire? She h Claire obviously understood what he wasn’t saying, she pressed on "Clay, what others have you intercepted?"
"Ma’a that concerns you"
"I don’t believe you"
Catherine tried to assist "Claire, let’s get you so to drink It’s very hot outside"
Defiantly, Claire proclaiht the red that wanted to stream towards his fiancée Didn’t she understand that this wasn’t the tily, 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 s 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 de 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 hih 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 froy 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 Tellyou home early from work? The sooner I know, the sooner you can continue your " He paced to theand back "Besides, who in their right e 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 ht et you this worked up is soe 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 co mail?"