Page 60 of A Dangerous Proposal

“I told you, this is one of my brother’s clubs. Why wouldn’t my cousin be here?”

Okay, that sounded plausible. Madison’s thoughts were getting a little hazy, and she realized Alex was right. She needed to slow down. Setting the bottle on the desk, she let out an enormous sigh.

“Talk.”

If she had any sense, she would turn around and walk down the street to theGelateria Fiorand eat ice cream until she was clear enough to drive.

Alex was not her friend, he was not her confidant except… She wanted to tell him. Wanted to unload all the shit in her brainthat was making her crazy. Because she knew that no matter what she said, he wouldn’t look at her any differently.

“I heard something today that has me spinning.”

Alex cocked his head. “I’m all ears, Angel.”

Ten minutes later, Madison was pacing angrily across the small space as everything spilled out of her. Her frustration with her sister, her anger at Felix, the things she’d learned from Brynn, and her belief that she was missing something.

“I feel like it’s right here.” She poked at her temple. “Righthere, but I’m missing it. I’m missing it, just like I missed how in over her head my sister was.”

Snatching a throw pillow off the couch, she screamed into it, unable to contain the volcano of emotions erupting inside of her.

“Don’t do that,” Alex said, pulling the pillow away from her face. “I don’t even want to imagine what it’s seen. Here.”

Chest heaving, Madison looked at the small glass in his hand. “What?”

“Throw it.”

“What?”

Alex pressed the glass into her hand. “I don’t want you to get hepatitis from a pillow. Throw the glass.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because…”

Alex’s hand suddenly cupped the back of her neck, his thumb pressing against her pulse point, and squeezed lightly before letting go. “You are bottling it up. Let it out before it poisons you.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her core clenched against the slow thrum of arousal now wreaking havoc on her nervous system.

Alex’s eyes darkened to midnight. “Throw the fucking glass, Madison,” he growled.

And then he stepped back. Madison stared at him, her brain several moments behind her body’s reaction. Her chest heaved, and then before she realized what was happening, her arm was moving, and the glass flew, shattering against the wall.

Another glass appeared in her hand. “Again.”

This time, Madison didn’t hesitate. Wrapping her fingers around it, she let her anger, frustration, and sadness flow down her arm as she hurled it as hard as she could.

Holy shit. That does feel good.

“Try this.”

“A vase?”

“I’ll buy him another.”

“Shouldn’t you be telling me to calm down?”

Alex's lips lifted at the corners. “When in the history of the universe has telling someone to calm down worked? Besides, you are rightfully upset. What’s the point of denying it?”

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