Page 14 of His Son's Ex

I gasp, stumble?—

And crash straight into his chest.

His hands find my waist—strong, sure. He steadies me.

“Easy,” he murmurs.

My pulse hammers. “We’re stuck.”

He presses the emergency button. Static. No voice.

“Seems so.”

Cold sweat needles down my spine.

I squeeze my eyes shut. Breathe. Just breathe.

Of course.

Trapped.

With the one man I should stay far, far away from.

“Hey.” His voice is a tether. Warm. Grounding. “Look at me.”

I open my eyes. He’s watching me—serious now.

One hand finds my shoulder, massaging gently.

“You’re safe,” he says.

I laugh—a breathless, humorless sound. “I really hate tight spaces.”

“Then let’s focus on something else.”

He steps closer. I don’t stop him.

Because he feels like both danger and protection in a tailored suit.

“Like why you came here in the first place.”

“Long story.”

“I’ve got time.”

And I know—he means it.

“My best friend thought I needed closure. That seeing him marry someone else would help.”

“Did it?”

I snort. “It’s complicated. I don’t want anything to do with him, but it still stings. And then you showed up, and now I don’t even know what the hell this night is anymore.”

“A new beginning,” he says, mouth twitching.

The lights flicker again. The box jolts.

I yelp, grabbing for him.

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