Page 97 of A Dangerous Proposal

Madison nodded. “I’ll go. If I’m there in person, I might have a better shot at getting some of the more hesitant people to talk.”

“Maybe, but I don’t like the idea of you going alone.” Cami frowned. “Local law enforcement isn’t exactly happy with all the attention they’re getting.”

“I’ll be fine,” Madison reassured her. “If nothing else I’ll get some good video we can use for promo. Besides, you know you can’t go. Even if you weren’t puking all the time, James will literally tie you to your bed if you even try it.”

“I wish he’d tie me to the bed,” Cami muttered. “He acts like if I sneeze too hard something is going to happen to me and the babies. I never should have told him how sick I feel. The man is ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously in love with you, you mean.”

“Yeah, well, if the books are correct, I should feel way better by the second trimester, and apparently all that extra blood I’m making has some enjoyable side effects.” She waggled her brows and Madison laughed. “Then he better watch out.”

“Something tells me he won’t be complaining.”

They laughed for a moment before Cami’s expression turned serious. “What about Jax? I guess you could take him with you…”

A knot formed in Madison’s stomach. Could she ask Alex to stay with him? They’d never really discussed what that kind of responsibility would look like. He’d never done bedtime, or changed a diaper…

“I don’t think Alex is ready to be left alone with a one-year-old,” she admitted. “I mean, he’s great with Jax, sweet even. But…”

Cami’s lips curled into a knowing smirk.

Madison frowned. “What?”

“You like him.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “I should hope so. We’re married.”

Cami shook her head, still grinning. “It’s more than that. Your face goes all soft when you talk about him.”

Madison sighed. Denying it to Cami was pointless. “I do like him. More than I expected to. He’s…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “Challenging. He’s not like anyone I’ve evermet, but we get along really well. We have… an understanding, I guess. We’re friends.”

Cami raised a brow. “Friends?”

“You don’t think I should be friends with my husband?”

“It’s not what I expected.” Cami tilted her head, considering. “I didn’t think Alex Kovalyov would be open enough to have friends.”

“He’s friends with your brother-in-law.”

“True,” Cami mused. “Then again, Declan doesn’t really have friends either.”

Madison tapped her nails against the desk, eager to change the subject. “I can go on one of Felix’s weekends.” The words left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Cami frowned. “Are you sure?”

“No. And I hate the idea of being far away when Jax is with him.” Her anxiety spiked at the thought, but she exhaled slowly. “At least Alex will be here in case something happens.” That thought, at least, was comforting.

“How’s the custody case going?”

Madison rubbed her temples. “The new lawyer is really good. I mean,scarygood. But unless Felix screws up, I could still lose primary custody.”

“Madison—”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Madison cut her off before she could say anything else. “If I do, I’ll cry, and I can’t deal with that today.”

Cami nodded in understanding. “Then let’s focus on something else. Let’s go over the rest of the taped interviews and pull out the soundbites we want to use.”

Madison flipped open her laptop. “I’ll take notes. I’d hate to get between you and your beloved saltines.”

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