Page 33 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

“Winston. What are you doing here?” Her gaze flipped back and forth between the men.

Winston stepped past Cole and pulled Emily into his arms.

“Darling, I came to see you. I missed you.”

He couldn’t take another moment of seeing them together. He remembered the hurt and damage his ex caused, but it was nothing compared to the feelings rampaging him at that moment.

Chapter Twenty

Her eyes widened and fixed on Cole, and she paled at the look of anger and betrayal on his face. She pushed frantically at Winston’s shoulders. Panic took hold when Cole started to turn away. “Wait!” she cried out.

Cole kept walking. “Your husband is anxious to see you, and I’ve got work to do, so if you don’t mind,” he said over his shoulder.

“Cole!” she cried out. A rock of dread hit the pit of her stomach, which made vomit climb up her throat when she watched Cole walk away from her.

Winston moved away from her, and she closed the door before turning back. Winston took off his drenched suit coat and placed it over the back of the sofa before running his hand through his wet hair.

“Darling, you’ve lost some weight. You look good.”

Emily crossed her arms over her chest to control the shaking that threatened to overtake her.

“Winston, what the hell are you doing here? How did you find out where I was? And why did you tell them you were still my husband?’

Winston walked around the small living room, picking up something, then setting it back down. He turned toward Emily.

“I’m here because I need you. Your daughter, Kara, told me.”

“She’s your daughter, too,” she interrupted.

“And I will always consider you my wife.”

Emily couldn’t seem to grasp what was happening. Did Cole just really walk away from her? Did he believe this man, whom he’d never met, over her? And the real reason Winston was here?

“Why in the hell are you here, Winston?”

Winston frowned at her. “Emily, you’ve never spoken to me like that before, and I don’t appreciate it.”

Frustration made her clench her teeth. What had she seen in him that made her want to marry him in the first place? He’d always been thin with minimal muscle tone. His skin always looked pale and pasty because he didn’t like being outside. He didn’t like dust or dirt. Some women probably thought he was handsome, but she knew him now, and to her, he was just a pitiful excuse for a little man.

“I don’t give a shit what you appreciate, Winston. Why are you here?”

Her ex shook his head and pursed his lips but didn’t say anything for a moment. “I’ve come all the way here to take you home.”

She looked at him in disbelief. “Why would you do that? We don’t have a home together, remember? Besides, I’m happy here.”

Her heart tripped. “Is everything all right with the girls?”

Winston looked slightly taken aback. “Well, I assume the girls are fine. Wouldn’t they get in touch with you if they needed anything?”

Emily crossed her arms and dug her nails into the skin. Of course, he didn’t know what went on in the girls’ lives.

“Winston, stop your bullshit and tell me why you’re really here. And where is your girlfriend, Mona?”

Winston frowned in displeasure. “Her name’s Monica.” He cleared his throat. “I need you.”

Emily stayed quiet for a moment and stared at him in disgust. “You didn’t answer my question. Where is your girlfriend?”

“She’s probably at our condo, but that has nothing to do with us.”