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that?” she asked blankly. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m almost nine months pregnant. In another three weeks my baby will be born. I’m not about to go on a jaunt into the mountains. I’m only twenty minutes away from a hospital here on the outskirts of Al bany.”
    “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you oryour child.” There was absolute certainty both in his voice and in his expression.
    She believed him. She had the feeling he’d use every ounce of his strength to keep her safe. The impression was so vivid, she had an almost irresistible impulse to yield to it. She hadn’t been able to lean on anyone in a long time. “Look, I realize you want to help me.” She reached out and covered his hand as it lay on the table. His body went perfectly still. Was he one of those people who disliked being touched? Well, if he was, it was just too bad. She was a very tactile person, and she found it difficult to communicate without touching. She kept her hand where it was. “You came here and saw a widow in a very delicate, awkward position, seemingly alone and vulnerable. You remembered how much you cared for Mark, and now you want to do something to make his wife’s way a little easier.” She met his gaze. “Perhaps you even feel guilty because you weren’t here to lend me support at the funeral.”
    “You have it all worked out,” he said, never lifting his gaze from her hand clasping his own.
    “It wasn’t all that difficult. I think Mark was right. You’re not as tough as you look.” Her hand tightened on his. “But you have to understand I’m a good deal tougher than I appear, too, and I’m
not
vulnerable or alone.
    I have friends, and I have my baby. I’ll be fine.”
    “Friends who are two miles away, and a baby who hasn’t arrived on the scene yet. I wouldn’t say your arguments are convincing. I think you’d just better put yourself in my hands.”
    She automatically glanced down at the hand she was holding. They were strong hands, capable and sure, hands that would never falter. She gave his hand a final squeeze and released it. “But I can’t do that. I have to take care of myself. We all have to live our own lives.” She made a face. “And I can’t see why you’d want to burden yourself with a woman in my condition so soon after your arrival from abroad. You must have all kinds of things you want to do now that you’re back in the States.”
    “You’re wrong. There’s nothing I’d rather do than care for you.”
    “Well, it’s out of the question. So forget it.”
    “I can’t forget it.” As he lifted his lids, she was struck by the impact of brilliant dark eyes. “Because you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I don’t feel guilty and it’s not family loyalty that’s dictating my desire to keep you safe. It’s simply a necessity. You’re in danger, dammit.”
    “Danger?” She gazed at him in disbelief. “What danger could I possibly be in?”
    “Lord, now I’ve frightened you,” he growled in profound self-disgust. “I didn’t mean to come out with it so abruptly. I could shock you into labor or something.”
    “I’m hardly that fragile,” she said dryly. “Though you did surprise me.” And frightened her, she thought to herself. There had been no doubt of the seriousness of his statement. “Why should—”
    “It’s a little complicated to explain. Mark belonged to a group the government is investigating. They may think you belong to the same group, or at least have knowledge of them.”
    She felt waves of surprise roll over her. “Mark was involved with a subversive organization? That’s crazy. He would never had sup ported a group like that.”
    “It wasn’t a subversive organization. He didn’t belong to any group that posed a threat to the government.” He paused. “But he did belong to a group under suspicion, and the NIB isn’t known to wait patiently while their suspicions are checked out. The National Intelligence