Shane shook his head. “Go about your business today, Caroline, but be aware. I’ll have someone from the police department cruise by regularly during the day. Nothing’s happened out at the ranch?”

“Nothing,” Royal answered. “The house sits on high ground so it’s pretty hard to approach it without being seen. I’ve got motion-detector lights around the outside. I’ve been extra careful about locking up too.”

Shane stood. “I’m going to get on this immediately. Try not to go out alone if you can help it. Downtown Petal is busy enough during the day I think walking to and from the courthouse or to lunch is fine.”

“I’m picking her up after she gets off work.” Royal would be doing so from now on, even if he had to drive her to whatever business she might have away from town. There’d be spats, which was fine. It helped her to work through her frustration on him, and it made for super hot make-up sex too.

She shot him a look but didn’t say anything. But he knew it would come out later. His lovely Caro was chafing under all these controls in her life.

“You’ll keep me apprised?” She rose and they walked with Shane to the outer door.

“Of course.” Shane’s attention snapped to his father, who walked out to join them. “I need the tape of the footage from the hallway.”

“There’s a camera here?”

“There is, yes. Actually there are three. However they’re offline for a week. Some part or other burned out and it’s on order. It’s legitimate. It won’t be back on until next Tuesday.”

“Convenient.” Shane looked annoyed.

“These folks have been doing the security cameras here for us for six years now.” Edward sighed.

“Doesn’t mean it’s not on a schedule somewhere. Or someone’s brother/boyfriend/neighbor whatever relayed the info without meaning to. You’d be surprised.” Shane made a note. “I’ll check on that.” He looked up at Caroline. “I’m going to get this straight, you got me? I don’t like people who threaten women.” His expression darkened, and Royal remembered Shane’s wife had been repeatedly stalked, attacked and nearly killed by an ex so he had a hot button on this issue.

Caroline blew out a breath. “Okay. Thank you.”

Shane said goodbye to his father and left.

“You need to go to work.” She looked up at him, her mouth set in a way that told him she wasn’t going to hear any answer but yes.

But he wasn’t sure he should give it to her.

“What’s your schedule today? Do you have to be out a lot?”

“Come into my office, please.”

Holly gave him a sympathetic look as they passed by.

She closed her door. “Look, I understand you’re feeling worried. I’m worried, believe me. I take my life very seriously. But I really can’t have you hanging around here all day on the off-chance something will happen and you can stop it or save me or whatever. You have a ranch to run. You took all of yesterday off and it’s spring. Go. I mean it. I’ll see you at quitting time.”

“Caroline…”

“What? Come on, Royal. If I can’t walk around in broad daylight in downtown Petal or be in my office, I may as well just give up. I don’t want to give up. This guy has stolen enough from me. I’m a badass! I can’t be badass with you loping around looking all sexy and wholesome at the same time. I’ll be distracted and you’ll be distracting just because you’re you and then I’ll be annoyed and you’ll be hurt that I’m annoyed because you’re just being nice. Which you are. And I appreciate it. But you have to go. I’ll see you at five thirty, and if I need anything, or anything else comes up, I’ll contact you immediately. I’m not stupid.”

“No of course you’re not stupid. But you’re fun sized. And this guy could be Shane’s size or bigger.” He touched her cheek briefly. “You are badass. Without a doubt. But you’re fragile too. Going to be impossible to get anything done today knowing you’re here without me.”

“He’s a coward. He’s not going to put himself in harm’s way. He’ll come at me again, but it won’t be as I’m walking three blocks up to the courthouse. This isn’t over. I know that’s not a statement you’re comforted by and I understand. But until we figure out who this is, he’ll be out there and threatened. We have to hold on until it’s finished. I’m sure this isn’t the way you imagined falling in love with someone. I come with a metric shitton of baggage.”

“You think I care about that? Scratch that. I do care but not like you think. It makes you who you are. Since I love who you are, it’s just a fact that it’s something we’ll get through together.” He kissed her nose so he wouldn’t smudge her lipstick. “I’ll go. But, please, if there’s a problem and you can’t reach me, call my aunt and uncle and they’ll come find me. Promise.”

“That’s fair.”

He hugged her and left her to her day, which looked to be incredibly busy, and she supposed that was a good thing because it kept her from obsessing or freaking out.

Chapter Twenty

Shep came in with the pizza and a smile. Caroline led him through the house to the kitchen where Royal was feeding Spike.

“Hey, Royal.”

“Shep. How’s it going?”