Page 79 of A Dangerous Proposal

Inhisbed?

Alex rolled up his sleeves, needing something to do with his hands, needing to shake off the tight feeling coiling low in his gut.

Then he saw her, standing in the hallway watching him with those mesmerizing eyes.

Madison in loose jeans and a fitted, black T-shirt, shouldn’t make his heart beat harder. And the sight of her bare feet and loose ponytail shouldn’t make him forget how to breathe for a second. But it was the half-full wineglass in Madison’s hand and the smile on her full lips that set off the strange tingling sensation in his chest.

“I didn’t know if you were expecting a martini at the door.”

“Only if you’re wearing an apron.”And nothing else.

Alex shoved away the thought and pulled his tie from his neck to toss on the table along with his coat, using the moment to get himself back under control.

“I made some stir-fry for dinner if you want some. It’s nothing special but?—”

“I’ve already eaten.”

“Oh.” Her expression faltered. “Yeah. No problem.” She smiled, but it didn’t completely hide her unease. “I cook something most nights. I didn’t know if you would want some.”

Alex had to banish an image of Madison moving around the kitchen, cooking, Jax playing nearby. He had no business enjoying a domestic fantasy like that. It wasn’t who he was.

But at the slightly nervous look on her face, the words, “That could be nice,” flowed out of his mouth before he could stop them. “My schedule is unpredictable, so it won’t be a regular thing,” he added, when she smiled at him.

The awkward tension was back.

He inclined his head towards her wineglass. “Any of that left?”

She nodded, looking slightly relieved. “In the kitchen.”

Locating the wine bottle, he poured himself a glass while Madison leaned against the island, arms crossed.

“I met Angela today. She’s really sweet. She even helped me out with Jax after the delivery guys brought his new bed.”

Alex didn’t answer because he’d just noticed the black AmEx he’d left on the counter that morning.

Still untouched.

His jaw ticked.

She hadn’t used it.

Ofcourse, she hadn’t.

Alex exhaled slowly, setting the bottle down with a controlled movement before taking a sip.

It shouldn’t irritate him. Itreallyshouldn’t.

But it did.

“You didn’t use the card.”

Madison blinked at him, caught mid-thought. “What?”

“The credit card,” he said, voice cool. “It’s still there.”

Her eyes slid to the card, and then back to him. “Yeah, I didn’t need it.”

Alex’s grip on the stem of the glass tightened. “You needed furniture for Jax.”

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