The moment her eyes fluttered open, they were still glistening with tears-big, blue, and ssy.

When she saw it was Ronald, Ste sniffled, her little nose twitching, and the look on her face just screamed "poor me."

"Why did it take you so long to get home?" she whined, her voice clogged with emotion.

Clearly, she''d been crying for ages before she fell asleep.

Ronald just sighed, a little helpless, and pulled back theforter to scoop her into his arms. "You little drama queen," he murmured.

"Rona...," Ste started.

He shot her a look, drawing out the end of his name as a warning.

She quickly corrected herself, "Babe....."

Her tone was pure misery.fn074f ???? ????s? ???????s ?? /fn074f

Ronald pressed her head gently against his chest. "You started doubting me the minute that package showed up, didn''t you?"

"I..."

Well, what did he expect? She''d been in a total panic.

He didn''t bother exining, just asked, "You had time to think things through now?"

"Huh?" Ste blinked up at him.

"Think about it," Ronald said, "I''ve been on a ne for like, what, eight hours just to get back here. Have you figured things out, sweetheart?"

As soon as Ste sent her frantic messages, Ronald had dropped everything and caught the next private jet back, taking the fastest route possible.

She snuggled closer into his chest, looking like a kid who''d just lost her favorite teddy bear.

Ronald kissed the top of her head, fingers tangling in her hair.

Ste tried to squirm away, but Ronald just gently pinned her hands so she couldn''t escape.

She made a soft, wounded sound.

It was a while-right until she was breathless and flushed-before Ronald finally let her go. "Honestly, you..."

Ste still looked so pitiful, staring up at him with those big watery eyes.

His tone was equal parts fond and exasperated, which only made her pout harder.

"There''s nothing going on. Okay?"

"Then the package...?"

"We''ll find out who sent it. Mom''s already got people looking into it. Alright?"

In other words, he wasn''t nning to get involved himself.

"So you''re not going to do anything?" Ste pressed, just to be sure.

"What am I supposed to do?" Ronald shrugged. "It''s none of my business."

Hearing that, Ste finally rxed a little. If Ronald said it wasn''t his problem, she could trust him.

He ruffled her soft hair, looking down at her. "Wide awake now? Or do you want to sleep some more?"

"I''m not tired anymore."

"And you didn''t eat dinner, did you?"

At that, Ste dropped her head, guilty.

She''d been so upset about that stupid package, she hadn''t eaten a thing all day.

It wasn''t that she didn''t trust

Woel

Ronald she did. She was just furious that there were stil

out there who refused to back off.  s

She knew Ronald was a catch-heck, half the women in Fernwood probably had

a secret crush on him.

But that didn''t make her any less mad.

Seeing her hang her head, Ronald just shook his head, exasperated, and picked her right up.

Startled, Ste wrapped her arms around his neck. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you to the kitchen. You need to eat."

"But I''m not hungry!"

She was pretty sure she''d been running on pure adrenaline and anger all day.

"Doesn''t matter," Ronald said.

"You''re eating for four now,

remember? If you don''t take care of

yourself, the babies won''t get what

they need, and you''ll run yourself

ragged. Come on, be good.  s

When she heard him mention the babies again, and realized he was really just worried about her, Ste''s heart softened a little.

Downstairs, the butler breathed a huge sigh of relief when he saw Ronald carrying Ste into the kitchen.

God knew, they''d all been worried sick when she wouldn''t eat a bite all day.

Lottie, the housekeeper, tried to hide her relief by pretending to be cross.

"Star the food Johnny bromee

you is still untouched, you know!"  s

used of skipping dinner, Ste buried her face in Ronald''s chest again.

Feeling her warm cheek pressed against him, Ronald just chuckled. "Don''t scold

her."

"I know she''s upset," Lottie huffed, turning to Ronald. "But honestly, Ronnie, what

kind of mess did you get yourself into this time?"

Ronald just looked skyward. He hadn''t done anything!