A small token to show how much I miss you. I hope you’ll reconsider your recent move and come home. You are the only one for me. I need you. I’ve always needed you. Please forgive me.

Yours always,

Blaine

Her stomach cramped as she read his signature. Of course she’d been right. Who else but the yacht-racing Blaine would send her a sailboat?

But how did he find her? She supposed finding a museum curator who specialized in European history wasn’t all that difficult. As private as she’d kept her personal life, her professional life was unavoidably public. But he’d sent this to her home, not the museum. She’d been able to pay an Internet information provider for Heath’s address. The same personal data was likely available on her. Hands shaking, she reached for the phone, dialed the doorman’s line, and asked for Gerome.

“Yes, ma’am?”

Louisa gathered her voice. “Gerome, did you see the man who left the package for me?”

“Yes, ma’am. He was blond, a little taller than me, very well-dressed. I asked for his name. He said you would know who he was when you opened the box. He wanted to surprise you.”

“Thank you, Gerome.” Louisa swallowed her rising nausea at the thought that Blaine had been here. “If he comes again, please don’t let him up or accept any more packages. Just call me immediately.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Gerome’s tone flattened, telling Louisa he understood.

Louisa hung up the phone. Kirra pressed against her legs.

“It’s all right, girl.” She stuffed the gift box and card back into the bag and went into the kitchen. For a moment, she held it over the trash receptacle, then reconsidered. Perhaps sending it back to him would be a better move. Blaine needed to get it through his arrogant, thick head that she wanted nothing to do with him. He’d been pursuing her for years, and it needed to stop. She would never be his.

Not after what he’d done to her.

She opened the hall closet and put the bag on the top shelf. As soon as she had time, she’d mail it back to him. Ignoring him hadn’t worked in the past. This time she would be more forceful. After checking the door locks, she swallowed two aspirin and went into the bedroom. A hot shower helped relax her, but sleep was going to be elusive tonight.

She settled on the couch and turned on the television. Kirra jumped up beside her, curled up, and rested her head on her leg. Grateful for the company, Louisa settled a hand on the dog’s back.