Page 108 of A Dangerous Proposal

Alex’s eyes snapped to hers, his voice dropping dangerously low. “Mrs. Kovalyov.” The woman blinked at him. “You may call my wife, Mrs. Kovalyov.”

Her face paled. “I didn’t mean?—”

“I don’t care what you meant.” He narrowed his eyes. “I want Jax’s things. Now. And then I want to speak to the owner.”

Cheryl stammered something unintelligible before scurrying off to gather Jax’s belongings.

Liev leaned in, voice full of amusement. “You do subtlety well.”

Alex didn’t respond, his focus entirely on Jax.

By the time they got back to the house, Jax had drifted into a light sleep. Alex handed the diaper bag to Liev and went in search of the medicine. He opened the cabinet Madison had mentioned, and it hit him how many things had changed when he saw the brightly colored plastic bowls and plates on the shelves. Locating the medicine, he thrust the bottle at Liev.

“What do you want me to do?” His cousin looked horrified.

“Read the instructions.”

“Why can’t you do it,Daddy?”

“Just because I’m holding a baby doesn’t mean I can’t kill you,” Alex growled.

“I thought that chick eye-fucking you at the daycare said he doesn’t get it for another three hours.”

Alex glared at him. “I want to have it ready for when it’s time. In case Madison isn’t back yet.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about this.” Liev gave him a strange look.

“What?” Alex shifted Jax to his chest.

“This.” He waved a hand. “It’s so… domestic.”

Alex narrowed his eyes and brought a large hand up to cover Jax’s exposed ear. “I can still snap your neck with one arm full. Want me to show you?”

Liev laughed and then immediately covered his mouth when Jax lifted his head with bleary eyes before his lids drooped and he relaxed into Alex.

“Sorry,” Liev mouthed.

Giving his cousin a death glare, Alex carried Jax to his newly-decorated room. Laying him gently in his bed, he brushed a hand over the toddler’s damp curls. Jax stirred, but didn’t wake.

“You’re going to be fine, buddy,” Alex whispered.

Liev appeared in the doorway. “Need anything?”

“No. We’re good.”

“Are you still going tomorrow?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Pick me up for the airport at five.”

Alex thought about his trip the next day and felt a surprising reluctance to leave. However, this trip to visit some of their developments had been planned for months, and he would only be gone for a few days.

A month ago, he never would have hesitated.

Alex sat on the edge of the full-size bed beside the toddler’s smaller one, his eyes never leaving Jax. His phone buzzed with a message from Madison.

Wife

How is he?

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