Cain hadn’t been around when Emma had given birth to Hannah, but she was like this after Hayden. Emma wasn’t vain about her appearance per se, but at times it took a little persuasion on her part to convince her she looked good. “You’re not upset, are you? I happen to love the size you are, so buy whatever you want, but forget about any crazy diets. You’re beautiful and sexy.” She lifted her arm and put it around Emma’s shoulders.

“You’re good for my ego, honey. If you want, drop me at home, and I’ll have the guys drive me.”

“I’m headed in that direction, and I have some time to kill, so I’ll come with you.”

Emma looked at her as if she wanted to say something but ended up smiling and putting her head down on her shoulder again. She pulled Emma close, thinking. There was some inkling at the edges of her subconscious that understood what was coming. She’d taken something precious from Nicola Eaton, and there’d come a time when she either had to pay for that or mete out more punishment. Killing enslaved women to save your own ass proved what kind of people the Eatons were. That meant Cain’s family was fair game.

That terrified her more than anything she’d ever faced. She’d lost her parents and her siblings to dishonorable men, but losing Emma or any of their children would put her in the grave. Planning and vigilance were the only ways to face this, but Nicola was coming, and when the day arrived, she wanted to be the one left standing, with her family unharmed. Until then, all she could do was stay close and worry in silence and hope that she’d put enough layers between the threat and those she loved.

“You can talk to me too, you know,” Emma said softly as she stuck her hand in her shirt and rubbed the skin of her abdomen. “I’m easy to find most nights.”

“That I know, lass, but sometimes I have to find a way to put things.” She kissed Emma’s forehead and exhaled deeply. “Do you understand?”

“I understand it’s more like you trying to figure out how to say it so it won’t worry me,” Emma said, lifting her head and kissing her. “I love you more than life, but you’re so infuriating sometimes.”

“No sugarcoating, huh?”

“See, that’s why they made you the head of our clan. You get the answer right without a lot of prompting,” Emma teased and kissed her again.

“We’ve come a long way from that beer bath, lassie.” She wanted to chuck the day and spend it naked with Emma.

“We have, love, but there’s plenty more road to travel. All I’m asking is you keep showing me the map.”