Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
A lex glanced up from the reports spread across his desk when his phone vibrated against the wood, his cousin’s name highlighted on the screen. He wasn’t expecting a call, which meant it was either bad news or Liev was being annoying because he was bored again.
“What is it?”
Liev’s voice was casual. “Your girl just picked up the baby. She looks upset.”
Alex stiffened, gripping the phone a little tighter. “Is she all right? Is Jax okay?”
The fingers of his free hand tapped restlessly on the edge of his desk.
“From what I can see, yeah. She just looks really stressed. More so than normal.”
“Where is she now?”
“Just pulled through a drive-thru. Looks like she’s heading toward that park off Hollow Creek.”
What did that fucker do now?
Alex weighed his options. Showing up at a playground uninvited would look incredibly suspicious.
But if she was upset about something related to the custody case, this could be his chance.
He needed an opening.
It had nothing to do with the fact that he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Nothing at all.
Alex grabbed his keys and told his assistant that he was leaving for the day.
The park was tucked off a quiet street near the shopping center where they’d run into each other a few months earlier. Fortunately for him, it was nearly deserted. The late afternoon winter chill had thinned the usual crowd to just a few parents huddled near the playground, chatting while their kids played.
Alex’s eyes swept the scene, landing on her instantly. Madison’s platinum-blonde hair gleamed in the fading light, impossible to miss. She sat on a bench, watching Jax push a bright yellow dump truck through the mulch. The sight of her sent a sharp jolt through him, his pulse kicking up as he made his way toward her.
Madison's legs were crossed, one foot swinging, with her hands wrapped around a takeout coffee cup as the toddler played. Her posture was tense, her shoulders drawn in, like she was waiting for a blow.
His jaw flexed at the obvious strain on her face.
Madison looked up when he approached, her brows pulling together in confusion before her lips parted. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Alex smirked. “That’s not a very warm welcome, Angel.”
She let out a breath, shaking her head. “What are you doing here?”
“I had a meeting nearby,” he lied smoothly. “Saw you from the road.”
Madison’s eyes narrowed, clearly skeptical. “And you just… stopped?”
“Looked like you could use a distraction.” His gaze flicked toward Jax.
Madison sighed, her fingers tightening around her cup, making the cardboard bend. “Do you have a tracker on me, Charming? Does your ego need these opportunities to save me?”
He sat down beside her without asking, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Do you need to be saved?” When she didn’t answer, he added in a teasing tone, “Sooo, what’s new?”
A humorless laugh escaped her. “Oh, you know. Another delightful encounter with my favorite person.”
Alex didn’t miss the bitterness in her voice.
“I take it things aren’t improving with the baby daddy?”
Madison turned her head, her eyes sharp. “You don’t actually care about my custody battle.”
“I’m just doing my best to live up to my name, Angel.”
“Ah yes, Prince Charming to the rescue.” She hesitated, as if deciding whether to say anything. Finally, she sighed, staring out at Jax. “Felix is doing a good job of maintaining his facade as the perfect parent—new wife, stable home, sobriety chip in his pocket. The court is eating it up.”
Alex tilted his head slightly. “You don’t believe it?”
Madison let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Not for a second. I knew him when he was destroying my sister. People like that don’t change. They just get better at faking it. Besides, he let some of his true colors bleed out today.”
He kept a smile on his face even though it felt as if his skin had suddenly become too tight.
“True colors? What happened?” Breathe, he reminded himself. Everything in him wanted to drive over to the man’s house and skin him alive, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Not while Felix was still the leverage over Madison he needed.
“Nothing. He was just being shitty.”
“Did you call the new lawyer?” he asked, already knowing the answer. He hadn’t lied. Amanda did owe him a favor, but Alex had instructed her that all invoices were to be sent straight to him.
Madison exhaled slowly. “Yeah. She thinks I might have a lawsuit against my former lawyer for negligence. His representation was that bad. Apparently, there were all kinds of motions he could have filed and didn’t. Amanda has already gotten several dates pushed back, but she also said that I should prepare myself. A lot of damage has already been done.”
“You won’t lose your son.”
Madison turned her head toward him, studying him. “You say that like it’s a guarantee.”
“It is.”
Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching.
He hadn’t meant to sound so certain. Hadn’t meant to let that edge of possession slip into his voice.
“I’m not going to marry you, Alex.”
“Offer’s still there,” he said lightly. “You’d be helping me out.”
They stared at each other for a moment, the familiar electricity sparking between them, until Jax let out a squeal of delight as he ran toward Madison, arms outstretched. He tumbled forward, landing face first in the mulch. Madison moved, but Alex was already up, crouching in front of the toddler before he could start crying.
“You good, little man?”
Jax blinked up at him, his lip wobbling for half a second before breaking into a gummy grin.
Alex held out a hand, and without hesitation, Jax reached for him. Scooping him up, Alex settled him against his hip. Jax giggled and wiggled until Alex set him on his feet.
“You just happened to see me today?” she asked again in a dry tone.
Alex stood, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Maybe.”
Madison let out a soft laugh and a quiet, “Bullshit.” But instead of getting up or telling him to leave, she picked up a juice box to hand to Jax.
That was enough.
For now.