Page 60 of The Ice Queen in the Corner Office

I shook my head and stared at the ceiling. In the end, I was grateful for that disastrous night, because it saved me from a catastrophically bad marriage, but it had hurt at the time. It had destroyed a piece of my innocence and made it hard for me to trust. “Freddy felt betrayed, wronged, I guess, and he asked his friends to hassle me. Or told them I was free game. I don’t know. I just know they seemed to show up wherever I went, saying nasty things and making me think that, given the opportunity, they’d do more than just harass me with words. I started taking self-defense classes because of those vindictive, small-minded assholes. After about six months, they got bored with the game or found someone else to hound, and they left me alone.”

When I shifted to look at Alex, his expression was pure fury. “That guy still in Atlanta?”

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry at the anger on his face and his obvious desire to TP a few more houses. “It doesn’t matter,” I said. “It was a long, long time ago. It made me tougher. When I walk into board rooms and men sneer at me or expect me to screw up because I’m a woman with blond hair, I’m able to stay calm. I’m not sure I’d have lasted in the business world if it weren’t for him and his lackeys.”

“You’d have lasted,” he said. “Seriously, is he still around? What’s his full name?”

I did laugh then, because I needed a release of the warring and conflicting emotions in my chest. “He isn’t worth it. It was a long time ago and I’m over it.”

“It wasn’t a long time ago for me. And I’d argue it’s absolutely worth it.”

“The point is I wanted you to understand why I judged you the way I did and to tell you I’m sorry. You aren’t anything like him, and I should have gotten to know you before I assumed you were.”

He was grinding his back teeth so hard, I was worried he was going to hurt himself, so I pulled down on his bottom jaw, leaned in and kissed him. I kissed him until his body relaxed and he pulled me on top of him.

***

I laughed as Noah turned at the sign for the ropes course I’d told Alex about and started down the long driveway. Cody was in the front seat, next to Noah, and I was in the back with Alex next to me, his casted ankle in my lap.

I’d finally escaped Alex’s bed that morning and had been helping Mom clean up the breakfast dishes, when Alex had hobbled into the kitchen and insisted Cody and Noah needed my help.

I’d known something was up, but Alex’s games were nothing if not fun, so I went along with it.

“I can’t believe you brought me to a ropes course when you’re on crutches,” I said, turning to Alex. I did my best to pretend annoyance, but I was actually thrilled. Not only was Alex kind and amazing in bed, he actually listened when I talked.

Alex grinned. “I—”

“Hey,” Noah said. “Don’t forget who’s driving.”

“Thank you, Noah,” I said. “But I know this was all Alex’s idea.”

Noah mumbled something under his breath and Cody hung his head and sighed. “Never get any credit,” he muttered.

I ignored them both and smiled at Alex. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m just sorry you won’t get to go with us on the ropes,” I said. “It looks so cool.” I leaned against the window to look as high as I could into the tree tops where the ropes course meandered through the branches.

He leaned in close and laced his fingers through mine. “Don’t be sorry. I’m terrified of heights. This way, I get to take you on your ropes course date without looking like a complete loser.”

I laughed and fought the urge to kiss him. Noah and Cody had been giving me knowing looks all morning, but they hadn’t outright asked why I’d spent two days at Alex’s cabin and I wasn’t ready to tell them what was going on between us.

I didn’t know what was going on between us.

“I’d have guessed you weren’t afraid of anything.” I smirked. “Other than horror movies, of course.”

He shook his head, his grin widening. “You have no idea.”

Noah parked, and we got out and headed for the ticket booth. Alex insisted on paying for all of us, claiming he expected to get his money’s worth in entertainment value watching us scrabble through the trees like crazy people.

My stomach churned a bit as we walked over to the area where we’d get suited up and ready to go. I wasn’t afraid of heights by any means, but I’d never done a ropes course and had no idea what to expect.

I looked at the obstacles above and my nerves turned to excitement. It was like a playground for grown-ups, several stories above ground level.

Just before I stepped onto the platform to put on my harness and helmet and get into line, Alex grabbed my hand and yanked me back. “If you want to back out, it’s okay,” he said. “You can watch down here where it’s safe.”

I squeezed his hand and laughed at the worry on his face. He was so damn good-looking, and his honest concern for me made him heart-stoppingly gorgeous. “I’ll be totally safe up there. I’ll be in a harness that’s attached to a wire cable. If I slip, the fall won’t be any farther than sitting down in a chair.”

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