Page 76 of A Dangerous Proposal

These are all the things you should have asked before agreeing to marry the man.

Shut up.

“This will be perfect,” Madison murmured to Jax as the delivery men set the box down and began assembling the bed. Opening a closed door on the far wall, she peeked through, delighted to find it was a large bathroom with double sinks and a shower/tub combo that connected to the room next door.

“What do you think?” she said to the toddler. “Playroom potential?”

Once the bed was assembled and the delivery men had left, Madison went in search of Angela, finding her in the kitchen.

“Thank you so much for your help. You saved me from looking like a total flake.”

Angela winked. “It’s a big house. I thought I’d give you a short-cut.”

Madison blew out a breath and then froze when she spotted a familiar item in the corner of the kitchen. “Is that Jax’s highchair?”

Angela glanced over her shoulder and nodded. “Liev brought it when he delivered the other boxes.”

The tattooed man from last night.

“That was nice of him,” Madison said carefully, still not sure how she felt about a stranger packing up her house. Last night, when Alex hadinformedher of what he’d planned, she was too exhausted to object.

The older woman shrugged. “I think he was hoping to catch you here. He tried fishing for information about you, but even if Ihadalready met you, that boy should know better—I don’t gossip about the family.”

Madison wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “Oh.”

“Not that Liev would do anything with it,” Angela quickly reassured her, noticing Madison’s concern. “He’s fiercely loyal to his cousin. I think he’s just excited about the wedding.”

“Word travels fast,” she said weakly.

“In this family?” Angela chuckled. “Absolutely.”

Family. Is she a relative of Alex’s?

She wanted to ask but didn’t want to reveal just how little she knew about her almost-husband.

Her arms had begun to ache, and she set Jax down. When he toddled instantly over to bang on his highchair with an insistent, “Up,” she sighed.

Jax was blissfully unaware that their entire world had been turned upside down. All that concerned him was the ever-looping combo of hungry/sleepy/bored.

For a moment she was jealous.

“Hungry?” Madison asked, shifting Jax’s highchair closer to the kitchen table before lifting him in and securing the straps.

As she prepared his food, Angela pulled a face at Jax, making him giggle.

“Would you mind if I fed him?” Angela gestured toward the plate of shredded chicken and green beans. “I have grandkids, but they live far away. I miss this.”

Madison hesitated. Angela had been nothing but warm and welcoming, but she was still a stranger. Madison didn’t want to be rude, but she also wasn’t sure how she felt about handing over the task.

“You’re right to be cautious,” Angela said, clearly understanding Madison’s hesitation. Her smile didn’t slip, buther gaze turned wry. “Do you really think I would let any harm come to Alex Kovalyov’s new son?”

“I suppose that’s a good point.”

It was moments like this that reminded her Alex wasn’t like anyone she’d ever known. He wasn’t just powerful—He was feared. And no matter how charming or protective he was with her, that underlying truth was impossible to ignore.

“I guess we could give it a try.”

Angela grinned as she took the food from Madison’s hands, her movements practiced and easy as she helped Jax pick up each item. Madison lingered nearby, making small talk while subtly watching. Within minutes, it was clear she’d been worrying for nothing.

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