She purses her lips, probably imagining the sight. “I don’t know. I love cooked blueberries, especially in muffins or pancakes.”

“Sure, when they’re baked, but he’d have tried putting pancakes on the grill and then been shocked when the liquid just oozed down the grates.”

Olivia bursts out laughing. “You have to be joking.”

“Am I?” I ask with a laugh. “I wish I were teasing. What about you? Do you cook often?” I can’t imagine she can afford to eat out all the time.

“Not often, but I do like to bake,” Olivia says and pins me with her gaze. “Right now, I have a bun in the oven.”

My mouth is dry as I stare at her.

“You’re pregnant?”

Is she serious?

A huge grin spreads across her face. “Surprise!” Olivia giggles and nods excitedly. “I made a doctor’s appointment for next week, but I peed on six pregnancy tests, and they all came back positive.”

I want to throw my arms around her, pull her against me, and embrace her in a hug. “Can I give you a hug?” I ask.

I want to celebrate, but I don’t want to make her uncomfortable either. It’s a fine line, and the fact I’m currently her boss doesn’t help matters either. But I swore that I’d be okay with it, that hiring her would be good for her and the company.

“Yes,” she says and steps closer.

The grin she wears makes my heart soar. I pull her tight and have to refrain from lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. She’s not a child.

“I want you to move in here with me immediately.”

“What? I thought we were waiting until after the first trimester?” Olivia asks. She pulls back, her brow knit, and untangles from my embrace. “The contract stated that—”

I interrupt her. “I received a phone call earlier today. I’m not sure how to say this gently, but someone’s been keeping tabs on you.”

“What?” She steps farther away from me. Like I’ve burned her. Olivia folds her arms across her chest. “I don’t understand.”

“I have one of my colleagues keeping an eye out for when the suspect reemerges,” I say, leaving out the part where I intend to interrogate and torture him myself. I will get to the bottom of this and find out what he’s doing watching Olivia.

Her voice cracks. “You don’t know who it is?”

I shake my head. There’s no sense in worrying her with the number of enemies that I’ve made. The list is long.

“We will find out, but you’re pregnant. And we discussed you are staying after your first trimester. It’ll just be a little sooner,” I say.

I open the fridge, pulling out the green beans. I wash them under running water before cutting off the ends.

“Won’t you get sick of me?” Olivia asks.

“Your safety is my number one priority. Yours and that baby you’re carrying,” I remind her.

“What about my stuff?” Olivia runs a hand through her hair.

“I’ll go with you back to your apartment to grab your things and bring you back here.” My answer is firm.

I have to protect my child that she’s carrying as much as I feel the need to look after her.

She emits a soft sigh. I don’t want to fight with her. Is she giving in?

“I’m not going to be able to convince you otherwise, am I?” she asks.

“No, once I make up my mind, it’s done.”