ting thin, golden streaks across the floor. Charlie huddled under the d

groan-feigning the throes of severe premenstrual syndrome. Her brow furrowed, and he

et Journal, immediately dropped the newspaper. The pages fluttered to the ground as

er when he felt the cold, clammy skin. "Damn it," he muttered, his voice laced with irrit

rs to spill from the corners of her eyes. "Claudius," she whispered, her voice fragile an

ket, his fingers moving quickly across the screen to dial Jenilee's encrypt

derness he'd shown Charlie just moments before. "I need a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter on the camp helipad in

ting, overbearing tenderness that made her skin crawl. He picked up a warm wet towel from the nearb

of nausea surge in her stomach. She quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be too w

r, shattering the quiet of the Hamptons morning. The Sikorsky S-76 touched down sm

p bridal-style in his strong arms. She was light in his grasp, but the wei

d Burk standing under a tree in the distance. Their eyes were fixed on her and Claudius, th

g wind stirred up by the helicopter's rotors. In reality, she was just trying to avoid the gaze of t

ather seat. He leaned over and fastened the four-point safety belt around her himself, his fin

eath them. Charlie felt the tightness in her chest ease slightly, if only for a mo

Claudius's deep voice came, soft and l

and rushed by below-lush green lawns, sprawling mansions, the glistening ocean.

ale hand. His gaze was deep and dark, so intense that she couldn't bear to me

s just making small talk. "When you were looking at my

a lie that would sound convincing. She turned to him, her eyes filled with feigned grievance. "Their cig

Charlie thought he might see through her lie. His gaze was sharp, like a knif

tip of her fingers. "I'm sorry, baby," he said, his voice gentle again. "I'll tell t

e nodded, leaning back against the seat, and closed her eyes again-prete

midtown Manhattan. The dazzling skyline of New York City stretched out before them-tall skyscrapers, twinkling light

d directly to the master bedroom. The corridor was lined with expensive artwork, but Char

g a strand of hair away from her face. "I'll go get you som

wer abdomen-a real pain, not the feigned PMS she'd been pretending to ha

Charlie froze, her eyes widening in terror. This was

e a threatened miscarriage. And in that moment, all her pretense, al