Chapter 428
Madison
I woke up slowly, my neck protesting the angle I’d fallen asleep at on Alexander’s couch. Blinking against the dim light filteri through the massive windows, I fumbled for my phone.
8:17 PM.
I sat up, running my hands through my hair and trying to shake off the grogginess. The throw blanket Alexander had given m pooled around my waist, soft and expensive. Of course, it was expensive. Everything in this place screamed money.
Ethan.
I stood
By, my heart jumping. Where was Ethan?
loor stood open. I rushed over, peering inside. My son was still asleep, curled on his side with one hand tucker The rise and fall of his small chest settled my panic immediately.
ietly, pulling the door mostly closed.
use stretched around me, silent except for the muted sounds of the city far below. I wandered toward the living area tent on the plush carpet.
tures of Katherine anywhere. I’d half expected to see her face staring at me from silver frames, some reminder of the Iman Alexander had chosen over me.
But there was nothing. Just modern art, expensive furniture, and vast emptiness.
I returned to the couch, sitting carefully. My purse lay where I’d dropped it earlier. I grabbed it, pulling out the photo strips from the amusement park.
The first image made me smile despite everything. Ethan’s enormous grin, Alexander’s surprised expression, and my own awkward half–smile. We looked like strangers forced into a photo booth together.
The second was better. More natural. Ethan was beaming between us while Alexander and I actually looked at the camera
instead of each other.
The third had us all making ridiculous faces. Ethan with crossed eyes, me with my cheeks puffed out, Alexander looking almost boyish with his tongue sticking out.
Then I saw the fourth photo.
My breath caught.
Alexander wasn’t looking at the camera. He was looking at me. His expression was raw, unguarded in a way I’d never seen. Longing mixed with something that might be hope, his eyes holding emotions I didn’t want to name.
1 stared at that image, my chest tightening.
This was dangerous. Looking at this photo, seeing that expression, letting myself wonder what it meant.
I tucked the photo strip into my handbag, sliding it carefully into an interior pocket where it settled against my phone. A pocket told myself I’d forget about. A pocket I knew I’d check again later, probably when I was alone in the dark, wondering what the hell I was doing.
“Madison?”
1 Jumped, whipping around a
doorframe like he’d mater
u from what I assumed was his office, leaning against the
Chapter 428
“Jesus.” My hand pressed against my chest. “You scared me.”
“Sorry.” He didn’t look sorry. He looked tired, his hair slightly mussed like he’d been running his hands through it. “l sleep well?”
“Yeah. Fine. How long were you standing there?”
“Just got here.” He pushed off the doorframe, moving closer. “Want something to drink? Coffee? Tea?”
“Tea would be good.”
“Okay.” He headed toward the kitchen, and I followed, hyperaware of the space between us. Too close. Not close enoug was the appropriate distance for sharing a penthouse with your ex–boss slash ex–fake boyfriend slash father of your ch
er moved around the kitchen with surprising efficiency, filling the kettle and setting it on the stove. “Green tea
ct.”
“Sugar?”
“One.”
He grabb Katheri
The
cabinet, the movement automatic. Like he’d done this a thousand times. Maybe he had, for
ke of something unpleasant through my chest.
nice,” I said, needing to fill the silence. “Very comfortable.”
od.” Alexander leaned against the counter, his eyes on the kettle. “Ethan’s still sleeping?”
exhausted.” I pulled out a barstool, settling onto it. “The sugar crash hit hard.”
of cotton candy.”
ugh cotton candy to fuel a small army.”
‘s lips twitched. Almost a smile. “The dinosaur facts were impressive.”
dinosaurs. Can name every species, tell you their diets, habitat preferences.” I fiddled with a napkin someone had! Counter. “He wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up.”
kid.”
smart.” Pride swelled in my chest. “Gets straight As. Well, as straight as kindergarten gets. Mostly star stickers and hap
kettle started whistling. Alexander poured hot water into the mug, added a tea bag, and slid it across the counter toward uw
One sugar,” he said, pushing the sugar bowl closer.
stirred in the sugar, watching the crystals dissolve. The silence stretched again, not quite comfortable but not hostile either Thank you,” I said finally, “For letting us stay. For the room. For everything today.”
You don’t have to thank me.” Alexander’s voi
“Still. It was nice of you.”
“Nice.” He repeated the word av
“What adjective do they use?”
time with him. With both of you
ost people use for me
Chapter 429
+25 Bon
“Ruthless. Demanding. Occasionally terrifying.”
I took a sip of tea. Perfect temperature. “You can be all those things and still nice occasionally.”
“Can I?”
“You were nice today with Ethan. Patient. Gentle.” I paused. “He liked you.”
“I liked him too. He’s incredible, Madison. You did an amazing job raising him.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “I had help. My mom. Hazel. The whole village thing.”
“But mostly you.” His eyes held mine. “You were the one there every day. Every night. Every tantrum and triumph and everything in between.”
“That’s what parents do.”
“Not all of them.”
I took another sip of tea, the warmth spreading through my chest without doing anything to ease the knot there. The mug felt too hot in my hands, too solid, too real for this surreal conversation happening in Alexander’s penthouse at night.
P
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
