“I bet,” I reply before he shuts me inside, and I place a protective hand over my stomach.

One day, when I’m settled and with a man who’s ready for a family, I’d love to experience the same joy that Ricardo does. I think having a child will be an amazing experience, and I’m looking forward to that someday, but just not right now.

Once he deposits my bag in the trunk, we head toward my family home, and it doesn’t take long before we reach Lincoln Park. The moment Ricardo pulls onto Burling Street my palms begin to sweat. It’s not that I’m scared of my parents or anything, but it’s just so hard for me to be here without Annie. Everything in this place has a memory of her attached to it.

He pulls up to the largest house on the street, and I stare up at the immaculate gray home with all its breathtaking architectural features. It wasn’t until I grew up and started mingling with people outside our family’s social circles that I realized how lavishly we actually lived. Before losing my sister, my world was all about proper social standings and finding the right CEO husband who would enable me to continue in that manner. I didn’t know that the rest of America didn’t have the same upbringing I did.

After losing Annie, and getting lost in the wild life of college crowds, I learned that engaging in meaningless sex took my mind off my pretentious world, and made me forget what it would be like to endure it without my confidant.

Ricardo opens the car door and I step out, beginning my ascent toward the house. The moment I enter the house, Ruby and Spencer come sprinting down the staircases, barking as loud as they possibly can. I kneel down and pet them as they wag their tails and lick my hands, causing me to smile.

Damn those cute little pests for making me love them even though I don’t want to.

“Francine? Is that you?” Mother glides into the room wearing a pressed skirt and blouse.

Her dark hair is pulled into a tight French twist, and her makeup is perfect. To most women, this would be office attire, but for my mother, it’s her outfit for just another day around the house.

I stand to greet her. “Hello, Mother.”

She stretches her arms out and embraces me in a firm hug before pulling back and kissing both of my cheeks. “Let me take a look at you.”

Her eyes inspect me carefully as she pulls away, and she pulls my arms out to my side. “You look different. Have you met a man?”

My mouth gapes open. How in the hell could she possibly know that?

I’m at a loss for words for a moment, stunned by her perceptiveness, but I do know that I’m not ready to tell her about Tyke just yet. “Why would you assume there’s a man?”

She smiles slyly and arches a perfectly manicured brow. “Because, Dear, you’re practically glowing . . . which means there’s a man.”

I laugh and roll my eyes. “You and your assumptions. No, there’s no one.”

“Well, good.” She takes my arm and wraps it in the crook of hers as she leads me off to the parlor, where she just came from. “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”

Oh, boy. Here she goes—matchmaking again. When is she ever going to learn that these stuffy suit types don’t do a thing for me? Wishful thinking on her part, I guess.

We enter the room and my father and a couple of men in suits are standing around, puffing on cigars and drinking brandy from expensive crystal glasses. My father is fifteen years my mother’s senior, pushing well into his sixties. His hair is a little more silver than the last time I saw him six months ago and his fitted gray suit hugs his thin body.

The moment Father spots me, he smiles and pulls the cigar from his mouth. “Gentlemen, I’d like you all to meet my daughter, Francine, who is home for the weekend.”

I walk over and hug him and kiss his cheek, knowing that while I’m here I have to play the part of doting daughter. “Hello, Daddy.”

The men take turns greeting me, each taking the time to shake my hand and introduce themselves to me. It’s not until I get to the last man when I understand that this is the one Mother intended for me to meet.

He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and extremely handsome. The definition in his chest is obvious, even through the tailored jacket and dress shirt he’s wearing. The dark hair on his head is styled neatly, complementing the black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and the hint of a smile playing along his lips tells me that he’s checking me out as well.

“Hello, Francine. I’m Jacob Myers, CEO of Mead Enterprises.” He gives me a firm handshake that lasts just a little too long as I process what he’s just said.

I see exactly where Mother was hoping this would go, but I hate to break it to her that I’m simply not interested in any man who isn’t Tyke Douglas right now.

I smile politely. “It was so nice to have met all of you, but if you’ll excuse me, I just arrived and need to get settled in.”

A collective “It was nice to meet you” response echoes around the room, and my mother’s lips pull into a tight line as I pass by her. Clearly, she’s disappointed that I’m not all over my father’s new hunky CEO, but she’s just going to have to get over that.

I toss my purse onto the bed and then flop down next to it. I don’t know why I’m so exhausted. It’s not like riding on the train is hard work or anything, but all I feel like doing is napping.

My phone vibrates inside my purse, and I dig around to retrieve it. Ever since that stupid video email came in, I’ve been obsessive about checking any and all messages the moment I receive them. It’s nerve-racking waiting on a response from the blackmailer.