Page 73 of A Dangerous Proposal

“Sorry, I meant it as a compliment.” But Madison didn’t miss the look he shot Cami.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Cami didn’t wait for her to answer before she turned and walked back into her office.

“I don’t want to miss this.” Gerry pouted.

For a split second, Madison considered taking the coward’s way out and insisting on having the conversation she knew was to come with Gerry as a buffer. But it would only prolong the inevitable and make Cami more agitated.

Madison agreed with Alex that only those they trusted could know the truth. So that limited it to—Cami and her husband, whom she had no doubt Cami would immediately confide in.

However, Gerry was a different story. After a few two-for-one margaritas on Thursday nights, their receptionist was less than discreet.

“I’ll try to remember the good parts for you.” Madison winked over her shoulder.

She shut the door behind her and faced her friend sitting on her desk.

“What’s really going on?” Cami’s voice was as serious as she’d heard it. “Does this have to do with Jax?”

Cami knew her better than anyone. It shouldn’t surprise her that her friend had cut to the core issue immediately.

“Did he threaten Jax? Is he forcing you?”

Cami’s words blew away her thoughts.

“Of course not.” Madison’s voice was firm.

It was the truth. Alex wasn’t forcing her to do anything. He was helping her. This was exactly what she didn’t want, Cami thinking the worst.

She and Alex were friends, sort of. She didn’t love him, but there was something there, and for the foreseeable future, they were on the same team. A kernel of defensiveness made her tonesharp. “He cares about Jax. He would never do anything to hurt him.”

Cami’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant…”

Madison cocked her head. “What else could threaten Jax mean?” She felt irrationally angry that her best friend would immediately think the worst of Alex.

“Not physically,” Cami amended. “I wondered if maybe he was using Jax to manipulate you.”

“How exactly do you think he could do that?” Cami was closer to the truth than she realized.

“Anyone with eyes can tell he’s infatuated… obsessed… with you. I’m sure that feels very good. You’ve been shouldering so much on your own this last year, and I imagine the idea of having a partner, particularly a powerful alpha type, would seem really attractive. But it’s the idea, not the man.”

Madison’s lips quirked. “You remember we took all the same classes for our graduate psych degree, right, Cam? Validate the feelings, show empathy and understanding before offering the alternative… What am I forgetting?”

“Getting you to see sense,” Cami muttered, but she gave Madison a reluctant smile. “There’s no way you walked in here today thinking I was going to throw my arms around you and say congratulations. Not point out all the risks?”

Risks?

He told you upfront he’d never love you back.

Back?

I’m not going to fall in love with him.

Sure about that?

Madison swallowed a groan.

Great, now I’m arguing with myself.

“Huh?” Madison stared at Cami for a minute, realizing that her friend was still speaking.

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