Page 23 of Lost and Found Cowboy

His brow furrowed as a dark expression crossed his face. “You don’t need to worry about Misty. She’s taken care of. But something smells real good in here, so maybe youcouldworry about fixing me up a plate.”

Taken care of?

What the hell did that mean? That she’d already eaten? Or that he had left her, too? Or didtaken care ofmean his violent temper had finally killed someone?

“Oh, sorry, there’s none left.” She knew that Mack had stuck a container of leftover spaghetti in the refrigerator and that she was taking a risk by not offering Lyle some. It would really piss him off if he checked the fridge and found the container.

But her main objective was just to get him out of the house, so she wasn’t about to offer him a plate of supper if she could help it.

His gaze roamed around the room. She fought another shudder as it felt like he was cataloging and appraising the value of everything she owned.

“Pretty fancy digs. It would have been nice if your mom would’ve offered us this place back when we were barely making rent in that shitty apartment we used to live in.”

Except my mom couldn’t stand you.

“I notice that you failed to mention owning this house in the divorce settlement.” He said the words lightly, but she could hear the sneer and contempt in his tone.

“Idon’town this house. It’s still my mom’s. She’s just letting us live here.”

He paused in his appraisal and cocked his head at her. “Rent free, I suppose.”

Izzy had been holding still in Lorna’s arms as if she could sense the distress of her mother. Her eyes were wide as shewatched this strange man posture around their living room then she buried her face in Lorna’s shoulder.

Lyle finally looked at the child in her arms. “I guess it’s about time I met my daughter. She’s pretty cute. Must have got that from my side of the family.” He reached his arms out for the baby. “Come here, Elizabeth. Come to Daddy.”

Lorna gritted her teeth so hard she feared one of her molars might crack. “Her name isIsabel.”

The baby shrank against her—like mother, like daughter—and whimpered as Lyle plucked her from Lorna’s arms.

“That’s what I said. Isabel.” He started to put her on his hip then wrinkled his nose and made a gagging sound as he shoved her back at Lorna. “Good Lord, she reeks. Does she always smell like that?”

She caught herself right before rolling her eyes—she’d learned the hard way how Lyle felt about that action. “No.”

He fanned his hand in front of his face. “Damn, I forgot how bad a shitty diaper smells. Don’t you change her?”

“Of course I do. I was just getting ready to when you let yourself into my house.”

“Don’t you meanourhouse?”

Bile rose in her throat.

He gestured back toward the living room. “I just need to grab my stuff from the car. I’m good taking the couch tonight though. For now.”

She swallowed hard, trying to think of something,anything, to say that wouldn’t set him off.

But there was no way in hell she was letting him back into her house.

Or her life.

She tried to keep her tone calm. “No. I mean, I don’t think that’s gonna work.”

His eyes narrowed, and his tone hardened as he took a menacing step toward her. “No? What’s the problem?”

“I think the lady said no,” a low voice stated from behind her.

Shit.

She appreciated Mack standing up for her, but she didn’t want to give Lyle a reason to get angry. She just wanted him out of her house. Although it didn’t seem like he was planning on going anywhere.

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