Page 56 of Lost and Found Cowboy

“Oh, I know it won’t.” He kicked Max’s checkerboard across the floor, breaking the cardboard and sending pieces flying. “Because I’m getting the hell out of this shitty town. Just as soon as you give me what I want.” His gaze was greedy as it raked over her body.

Her stomach pitched.

Max came running into the room, the little dog cradled in his arms but pulled up short when he saw Lyle. “Mommy?”

“It’s okay, honey. Your daddy just stopped by for a visit. Why don’t you take Mocha into the kitchen and get a snack.” She prayed he would go. She couldn’t bear it if her son was in the room while her husband tried to rape her.

“He doesn’t need to leave,” Lyle said. “In fact, maybe he should stay. Yeah, I’ve missed this kid. I’ve been thinking we should spend some more time together. Maybeallour time together.”

Panic gripped her chest as if her heart were being squeezed in a vise. “What are you talking about? I thought you said you were leaving town.”

“I am. I hate this place. But I need money. And a lot of it to be able to leave and set up a new life somewhere else. I’m thinking maybe a little place on the beach in Florida.”

She didn’t understand what he was getting at. “That sounds great. You’ve always liked the ocean.”

“Yeah, I have. But like I said, I need money if I’m going to leave. And you’re going to give it to me.”

“Me? I don’t have any money. I’m barely scraping by with what I make at the shop.” That queasy feeling in her stomach came back again, and she gulped air to keep from vomiting.

She finally got it.

She knew what he wanted.

That evil grin was back, and he waggled his eyebrows at her. “Now you’re getting it. Youdohave something. Something worth a hell of a lot of money. And I’ve been telling you that what’s yours is mine. So, now I’m here to collect.”

“I…I can’t just give you my coffee shop. My grandmother left it to me. It was my only inheritance. And besides, you don’t even know how to make coffee.”

His eyes narrowed again. “Don’t sass-talk me. I don’t need to make coffee. I’m gonna sell all that coffee shit and every piece of furniture and inventory. With that, and the sale of the building, I should be set.”

“I’m not just going togiveyou my shop.”

He clamped a hand down on Max’s shoulder. “Yes, you are. Either that, or I’ll take the kids.”

Acid burned her throat, and she pressed her hand to her mouth. “You can’t…”

“Oh, but I can. It’s my right at any time to fight for custody. Especially when you’ve proven to be such a bad mom.”

“Bad mom?”

“Just since I’ve been back, I’ve heard how you were falling down drunk at your sister’s wedding while your baby was with a sitter at the emergency room. And it wasn’t smart to leave all those flammable things right outside the door of the shop. That’s dangerous. And poor Max, you just took him into the doctor for a split lip.”

“He fell at the park. You were there.”

“Yeah, I was. But, it’s still your word against mine. I remember you smacking him for talking back to you.”

The panic was rising, and she clasped her trembling hands together. “No one will believe you.”

He gave her a pitying look. “Unlike you, I’ve got friends in this town. Like Judge Buckner, who I helped with that big insurance claim when his boat got damaged.”

More like when he’d gotten drunk and driven it into the dock. But Lylehadhelped him. And the judge might feel like he owed him.

She needed to think. She needed him out of her house and away from her kids.

“Fine. I’ll give you the shop. But in exchange, you have to sign away the rights to the kids.”

He chuckled, but in a villainous tone. “I love how you think you have any negotiating power. I’m not asking or bartering or exchanging anything. I’mtakingthe shop. And if you wanna keep arguing with me, I’ll take the shopandthe kids.”

“No,” she cried, knowing in her heart he would win in the end. He always did. “You can have the shop. It’s yours.” She knew what he liked and when it came to her children, her pride didn’t matter. She fell to her knees before him. “Please Lyle, I’m begging for you not to take the kids.”

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