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place blindfolded, Bear,” Carole said, and Lyse could hear Bemo screeching to be let down. “Plus—and I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure—but Frank is gonna come and stay with us while his place is being renovated. He says it’ll help him learn to be a proper dad, and I’m willing to let him try.”
    Bemo’s dad, Frank, was in the picture, but he spent time with Bemo only when he felt like it—which she knew upset Carole. This was a big step forward where Frank was concerned, and she really hoped it didn’t end badly.
    â€œI think that’s great,” Lyse said, the smell of coffee hitting her in the face. “If you trust Frank, so do I.”
    â€œHe’s gonna be on Mr. Mom duty—even if he doesn’t know it yet,” Carole said, mischievously.
    â€œYou’re so funny.”
    â€œAnd that’s why you love me—
Bemo! Stop harassing the cat!
” Carole obviously had her hands full. “Gotta go, too, Bear. Love you.”
    â€œLove you. And Beams!” Lyse said, cradling the cell phone to her ear; she could hear Bemo laughing maniacally in the background as the line went dead in her hand.
    She slid the cell phone back into her pocket and decided she needed some caffeine after that interaction. She’d have a latte or something, sit there and let her brain process the fact that someone had broken into her place . . . because that was just
insane
. There wasn’t anything in her place worth stealing. No money, no high-end electronics . . . She didn’t even own a television—
    â€œPenny for your thoughts, pretty lady.”
    The voice came from behind her, a rich and commanding male baritone. Surprised, she jumped like a cornered cat, whirling around to find the most captivating man she’d ever seen standing on the sidewalk, grinning down at her.

Lyse

    â€œS orry, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” the man said, looking anything but contrite.
    â€œI was just a little lost,” Lyse replied, embarrassed by the way she’d initially responded to him. “In my head. I do that. Take a walk in there and get lost.”
    The man laughed, throwing back his honey-blond head, so all she could see were straight white teeth and pale pink lips stretching into a wide grin. Even when he was done laughing, the smile stayed in place, and she didn’t know if she was supposed to be offended or pleased that the man found her babbling hilarious.
    â€œYou look concerned,” he said, feigning seriousness—though there was still a twinkle in his blue eyes.
    â€œWell, I don’t know if you were laughing
at
me or
with
me—”
    â€œBoth,” he said, grinning again.
    She realized he had sexy eyes, pale blue irises flecked with gold, the skin around them cross-hatched with tiny lines from laughing too much. There was something else interesting about them, too. The pupils were very large, even in the daylight, and Lyse remembered reading somewhere that dilated pupils made a person more attractive.
    Whether this was really true or not seemed inconsequential—because it wasn’t just his eyes that drew her to him; it was his whole vibe. The way he carried himself, the calm confidence exuding from his lean body. This was a man who knew who he was and what he wanted—and, if she wasn’t careful, Lyse was going to end up on his “wanted” list.
    Trying to distract herself, she looked past him to the covered patio. Here, people sat scattered around small chrome patio tables drinking coffee, working on their laptops, or chatting. Behind the patio and through the building’s plate-glass front wall, Lyse could see the interior of the coffee bar, the line snaking around the front of the register as a couple of young baristas filled orders.
    â€œYou going inside?” the man asked, scratching the side of his nose with a curled finger, the sleeve