That feeling is back again. The one of being watched. I rake the back of my hand against my cheeks, trying to erase the evidence of my tears. Tears are for the weak, and that’s not who I am—not anymore. I don’t need a mantra. I’m not the woman I was when Michael first met me. I’m not even the woman who ran out of his barn loft two months ago. I’ve changed. I’ve gotten stronger—I survived.

A large part of that is Victor. He saved me that night. He took me in, and then he helped me move to Wyoming. I don’t know why I picked Wyoming. I spent days thinking about it. Something about the irony of moving to a town that was actually called Nowhere, Wyoming appealed to me. God knows it feels like my life had been going nowhere for way too long. He helped me get financing for an already established bakery—his only condition was I rename it Charlie’s—which I would have anyway. He insisted that I live in this house and that Clive watch over me. It may have been weak to agree to all of that, but without him, I never would have been able to do it. The truth was, I needed to put as many miles as I could between me and Michael. I gave him a month. One month I stayed in Boston with Victor, and in that month, I didn’t hear one word from Michael. I don’t know what I would have said or done if I had. I just know the fact that I didn’t hear from him hurt and it also cemented the fact that it was truly over. That acceptance was the kick in the ass that I needed. I decided it was way past time to get my life in order. Victor helped me, reluctantly. Neither one of us felt that Blade’s reach would find me in Wyoming. The man was never that smart, plus his resources are nothing now. Still, Victor wanted me to be safe, and he felt the best way to achieve that was to stay with him. When I refused, he gave in, but only because he knew Clive would protect me. I wanted to object, but Maggie had to come first—so I agreed. I don’t know what I will do after Maggie is born. If I still haven’t heard from Blade, then it will be time to start focusing on my life as Maggie’s mother—alone. I’m not sure how Victor, or Clive, will react to that.

I take a breath, get up and walk to the window. It’s storming again. Something that rarely happens this time of year. I’m told Nowhere is normally dry as dust right now, but in the four weeks that I’ve lived here, it’s been rain, rain and more rain. Lightning flashes through the sky, highlighting the back yard. I cry out when I see a large figure outside wearing a black poncho, the hood pulled low over his face. Fear runs through me.

“Hayden!” I hear Clive call out, and then his heavy footsteps can be heard running through the hall. “Are you okay?” I look over at Clive and I know he can see the panic in my face. My heart is literally beating out of my chest.

“I saw someone out there, standing beside the pond.”

“Who? Was it Blade?” he asks, and nerves flutter though me. It wasn’t Blade. It was too dark to actually tell who it was. For a minute there though…I thought it was Michael.

“No…he seemed bigger,” I trail off lamely, ringing my hands together. Clive pulls me into his arms, leading me from the window—which I guess isn’t the smartest place to be at the moment.

Clive helps me to sit on the edge of the bed and then he leans down on his knees in front of me. His hands rest on each of my arms. His blue eyes look into mine, filled with worry. He’s a good man. Completely different from anyone I’ve ever met—for one he’s completely at home wearing a suit. It’s all I’ve seen him wear, to be honest. He’s tall, but not a giant. Tall enough to where I feel feminine next to him but not scared. He’s got eyes that are a bright, vibrant blue and kindness shimmers in them. His skin is dark, and his blondish-brown hair is cut short to his head in a style reminiscent of the military. He’s completely opposite of any man I’ve ever met and nothing makes that clearer than the kindness he shows me. He handles me with care all the time. Even when I’m sure I probably drive him completely insane.

“I’m going to go outside and check it out. You take this and call 911 if I’m not back in ten minutes.”

“But…” I start to argue, not wanting him to go outside in the rain. I’m sure I imagined it all. Michael was on my mind, and I somehow dreamed him up. God knows I seem to do that every night.

“No buts. I’m locking the door. If you hear the alarm go off because the correct code wasn’t entered, you call 911 and then you call Victor.”

“Clive I’m sure—”

“Hayden,” he comes back at me in that warning tone he uses sometimes. I sigh, knowing any further argument is useless.

“I’ll call.”

“Good girl,” he says. I huff out a large breath of air—annoyed with myself and Clive.

I watch him walk away. A second later, I hear the click of the front door. I look over at the window, feeling a little stupid. My hand goes down to my stomach, rubbing it gently.

“No one’s out there, little one. Mommy just lost it for a minute. No one is coming after us,” I tell her quietly. I feel a slight quiver against the palm of my hand, reassured. Maggie hasn’t moved a lot in the last few days. The doctor assured me it’s because she’s getting ready for the birth, but I can’t help but worry. “No one’s coming for us,” I tell her again, closing my eyes and trying to calm my nerves.

No one is coming. I repeat in my head. No one. Especially not Michael.