15
How could the sound of someone’s breathing make him so happy? The way Isabelle snuggled against him, as if that nook under his arm was completely familiar to her, tugged at Lyle’s heart.
Maybe it was her trustfulness. She had no particular reason to trust him. He’d disappeared on her in Rome, then taken months to explain himself. He still wasn’t telling her the whole truth. She didn’t know how much he’d thought about her since Rome. Her trust was misplaced.
Or was it?
He knew in his bones that if anyone tried to hurt Isabelle, he would kill that person.
And to give her a good night’s sleep, he’d lie next to her with a throbbing erection and a cramp in his arm. Listening to her breathing. Being happy.
From the bassinet, he caught the sound of Tigger’s occasional baby mutters. Lucky
