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them down, her head fitting perfectly in the curve of his shoulder. His fingers trailed absently along her arm, hers on his chest.
    “And I got you.” She took a deep breath and snuggled closer to him. “Bright and beautiful,” she whispered.
    “And then some.” He kissed the top of her head.
    “I’m going to draw you tomorrow. A nude.”
    He started at that. “Excuse me?”
    “With the art supplies you got me.” She smiled against his shoulder, he could feel it. “That way I’ll always have it.”
    He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
    “Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt,” she told him.
    “I know that.”
    “Yet, you don’t like the idea.”
    “I’ll let you draw me, if you let me take a photo of you.”
    “A photo?”
    “A nude.”
    He thought she’d say no, so he was surprised into silence when she said, “That’s fair.”
    She yawned again and stilled against him.
    A nude photo of her? That was his? He grinned, staring at the ceiling. He noted the thunder had faded, though he could hear the rain dripping off the roof and hitting the balcony.
    The sound of the wind, the soft rain lulled him, as did the woman beside him.
    “I’ll be able to sleep tonight,” she said softly.
    He waited but she didn’t say anything else.
    “Kaitie?”
    “Hmmm.”
    “What do you mean you’ll be able to sleep tonight?”
    Her chest pressed against him on her inhale. For a minute she didn’t answer, then finally she said, “I’m safe. With you. Here. I’m safe.”
    He pulled her tighter against him and kissed her head again. “Yes, baby, you are. Always.”
    “Bright and beautiful,” she repeated, slow and sleepy.
    He waited until he thought she was asleep, her body relaxed against his, her breathing deep and even.
    “And then some,” he repeated. She didn’t know it yet, and he had no idea how he’d convince her, but Kaitlyn was his.
    He wasn’t going to let her go.

Chapter 5
     
     
    He looked around the living room. Perfect. The crystal tumbler bit into his hand.
    Where the hell was she?
    He’d looked. He’d tried to find her.
    She was making him look bad. They had an engagement this evening they were supposed to attend together.
    Instead she was God knew where, with God knew who.
    He’d thought he’d found the right one this time.
    He still believed he’d found the right one. She’d been the most trainable of them all, or seemed to be.
    Perhaps he’d been mistaken.
    He took a sip of scotch and studied the shadows.
    The bookcases were cleaned just as he liked them, and he’d checked. This was the fifth cleaning service he’d hired since moving into this house.
    He had plans.
    He had plans that needed the perfect woman at his side.
    He was not giving her up. Not this time. He’d given others up, but not this time. Every other time he’d known at some point she wasn’t the right one, and then he’d have to find another woman.
    But this time . . . this time, he’d found her. Right there in his own ER. She’d looked at him and smiled.
    And he’d known.
    She was his. He might have to work with her for a bit, he’d thought, but she’d come around.
    Women wanted home and family. That was what they were made for. Sometimes, though, they just had to be reminded. Especially with the stupid feminist movement that seemed to disease so many of the female minds.
    But Katherine, Katherine wasn’t like the others. Under it all, she was traditional, she wanted the family. Her idea of continuing to work in the ER simply wouldn’t do. His wife needed to be there for him, not trying to get off of work if they had dinners or galas to attend. He wanted to be chief of staff, and to attain that he needed a wife to make a home. A home where he could entertain.
    He swirled his drink, the heady scent wafting up to him. He reached over and lifted a sweater he’d taken from her apartment. Her apartment that was empty.
    He’d already packed up all her clothing, or at least the clothing he approved of,