Page 34 of The Hot New Single Dad Next Door

“No.”

“Liam!” he shouts past me.

“No.” I stand my ground. “It’s over, Mark. I’m talking to a lawyer.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I’m getting full custody and you will never see him again.”

Mark grows taller, his expression suddenly very sober. “I want to see my boy, Lottie,” he says, stabbing every word.

“No,” I say.

He steps forward, then stops as the door opens behind me.

I spin around. “Scott, no?—”

He walks out and plants himself between me and Mark. “She told you to go home,” he says. “You should listen to her.”

Mark cracks a smile. “So, it’s true,” he says, his eyes sharpening. “You are whoring yourself out to the neighborhood.”

“Mark,” I say, “go home.”

He doesn’t budge. He bobs his head at Scott. “How’s it going, guy?” he asks him. “Making yourself at home in my house?”

“It’s not your house,” I say, willing my voice to stop shaking. “Please leave.”

“Not without my son,” he says. “Liam!”

“She said leave,” Scott says.

“Liam! Come out here. Now!”

Liam appears in the doorway behind us.

“No.” I choke, frozen in fear. “Liam. Go to your room, sweetie.”

Mark drops to one knee and extends his hand. “Come on, buddy,” he says. “Come to your daddy now. It’s okay.”

Liam takes a little step forward.

“No—” I gasp.

Liam stops and hides behind Scott’s leg.

Mark flexes his jaw. “Liam,” he says again. “Come here. Now.”

Liam clings to Scott’s pants, his little eyes peeking out.

I stand back, my heart squeezing so tightly.

“It’s time for you to go,” Scott says, unblinking.

Mark rises to his feet. He rolls his fists. I fear he might take a swing at Scott. Or at me. But he steps back toward his bike instead.

“This ain’t over,” he says., spitting on the grass. “You can’t keep him from me.”

“Yes, I can,” I say, finding my voice.

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