Page 21 of A Dangerous Proposal

This man was a complete stranger. Worse a stranger she’d been warned off and just witnessed kill someone.

But… in a split second, he’d put himself between her and danger. It wasn’t even remotely rational, but she knew that even though Alex might be a dangerous man, he wasn’t a threat to her. Madison didn’t know where the certainty came from, but she felt it deep in her bones.

“Just for a few minutes.” She gingerly laid Jax on the makeshift bed.

He opened his eyes momentarily to blink at her blearily before falling asleep again. Grabbing a few throw pillows, she created a barrier to keep him in place. Not that it would do anything to contain him when he woke, but it meant she wouldn’t need to worry about him rolling off in his sleep.

Madison stood and wiped her hands down her still damp leggings. Thankfully, the roaring fire had taken care of the chill.

“I should check on Cami.”

“Be careful with how you phrase things. You never know who is listening.”

Madison nodded. She remembered his warning, and until she knew what was happening, it made sense.

She wasn’t terribly surprised that James answered Cami’s phone. However, he was a better actor than she had given him credit for as he ‘broke’the bad news to her about what had happened at their podcast’s offices earlier.

“You and Jax are with your friend today?”

Her eyes flicked to where Alex stood, leaning against the stone mantelpiece. “Yes.”

“Good. Considering what’s happened, I’ve sent Brady over to check your house and make sure the security system his company installed last month is functioning.”

“Do you?—”

“I’m sure the threat is gone, but until then…” His voice was husky. “I’d really love to reassure Cami that the two of you are safe. Stay where you are, and I’ll call you when it’s all clear.”

“With myfriend?” she asked, her voice careful. James had told her to stay away from Alex, making him sound like the devil incarnate.

What the hell?

“Yeah.” His voice was gruff.

This day just keeps getting stranger, she thought. Her ears buzzed and Madison closed her eyes. Suddenly it was all too much, and she felt herself sag.

A stirring of the air had her opening her eyes as Alex appeared, a dark scowl on his face as he plucked the phone out of her hand, while his other arm immediately wrapped around her waist to take her weight.

Pocketing her phone, he helped her back to the sofa, and she sank down.

“I’m sorry. I’m not normally?—”

“What did he say to you?” Alex growled.

“Huh?” Her brain felt like it was tracking through the mud.

“Bloom. What did he say that made you react like that?” Alex’s eyes blazed.

“Nothing. I swear,” she added, when his eyes narrowed. “It just all hit me at once and…” She shrugged helplessly.

He studied her for another moment before leaning back and rising to his feet. “You need sugar. I’ll get some tea.”

Alone, Madison tried to shake herself mentally out of whatever was happening. She glanced at Jax a few feet away, slumbering peacefully.

I’ll just close my eyes for a minute, and then I’ll be able to figure out what the hell has happened to my life, she promised herself as she leaned her head back against the soft fabric.

Chapter Six

Madison hadn’t stopped shaking since they’d left her recording studio. Alex didn’t think she was even aware of it.

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