Page 20 of Tempt Me-

I pause in the kitchen area and pour myself a cup of coffee when Jared Wilson joins me, leaning against the doorframe.

“Hey, man.How’s it going?”Jared asks.

“Good.Keeping busy.”I take a sip of the coffee, made in the Keurig machine that Dan splurged on for the team.“What about you?”I ask my friend.

“Same.Busy.”He shrugs.“We miss you around the office, though I don’t blame you for wanting more time at home with your daughter.”

“It was the right choice.”

“You don’t miss the field work?”Jared asks.

I shake my head.“Surprisingly, no.”My new work-from-home situation suits me fine.

“Austin?”Lara, the longtime receptionist at Alpha Security, looks past Jared, who moves aside to let her into the room.“You have a visitor,” she says.

I narrow my gaze.“I’m not expecting anyone.Who is it?An old client?”

She shakes her head, concern etching her features.“Shesaysshe’s yourwife.”

I flinch and cringe at the same time.Everyone here knows I am single and had problems with my ex, so Kayla’s attempted power play with Lara holds no sway.

“Son of a bitch.I don’t suppose you could tell her I’m not here?”

“I’d be more than happy to tangle with her if that’s what you want,” the ever-loyal Lara says.“But she’s determined.I already told her you were busy, and she said she would wait.”

“Fine,” I mutter.“Is the conference room cleared out?”

Lara nods.“I’ll bring her in there to wait.”

“Everything okay?”Jared asks.

I slam a frustrated hand against the counter.“The bitch showed up at my house demanding money or else she threatened to go after custody.”

Jared lets out a low whistle.“What’d you do?”

“Threw her out and called my attorney.My lawyer says we have a strong case based on Kayla’s history, but we both know I have no proof of what a shitty mother she was.Aside from me and my parents, and we’re all biased.”

“Fuck.”

I run a hand through my hair.“You can say that again.I don’t want to go through a legal battle or put Bailey through one, either.I don’t trust Kayla not to bring my little girl into court just to push me against the wall.And there’s no way in hell I’m paying her to go away.She’ll just come back next time she runs out of cash again,” I say, listing all the problems that keep me up nights.“I’ve been waiting for her next move.Guess this is it.”

“Want backup when you face her?”Jared offers.

“Thanks but I can handle her.”I hope.

I leave my coffee in the kitchen and head to the conference room, where my ex is pacing back and forth behind the large table.She is dressed similarly to the last time I saw her, a tight dress, high heels, overdone makeup, and hair teased full.Compared to Mia’s natural beauty, Kayla is plastic and fake, inside and out.

What did I see in her the first time?It is too late to wonder now.

“Kayla,” I say, stepping inside the room but leaving the door behind me open.“What are you doing here?”I ask, remaining on the far side of the conference table, away from my ex.

She meets my gaze with a cool stare of her own.“I haven’t heard from you, and I’ve given you plenty of time to consider my offer.”

I frown at that.“It wasn’t an offer, it was blackmail using your child as leverage.I told you I’m not paying you again.You received your settlement.”

She lets out a prolonged sigh.“Leave it to you to make this difficult.”She pulls out a folded piece of paper from her purse.“This is notice of a hearing.I warned you I’d go for custody, and I meant it.”

“You bitch.”I stare at the offending paper without touching it, rage filling me at the thought of Kayla getting anywhere near my daughter.