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Madison’s gaze dropped to her hand, where she had been holding the card and picture. “I didn’t know you had a son. But, I suspected.” She handed them over.
Fascinated, Alex stared at it.
“He even has that cleft in his chin,” Madison pointed out, then gently traced her finger along Alex’s for emphasis.
A smile spread across Alex’s face as he studied the photo, as if memorizing it. His thumb brushed over it as he spoke. “Where did you get this?”
“It was delivered by messenger today. With that note.” Alex read it. “A.? A…A…A…” he muttered to himself. “Who is A.?”
It was the same question she had. A question that burned its way up from her chest, and straight out her mouth. “Who’s is she, Alex? Who’s his mother?”
“I…” He thought for a moment, his expression blank. “I have no idea.”
She popped two hands on her hips in disbelief.
He raised a solemn hand. “I swear. I’ve worn protection. Every single time.”
Oh, the lies.“Only on our first date,” she countered.Busted.
Suddenly hot, he tugged his collar. “That was different,” he explained.
“Mm-hmm.”I’m so not buying this.
A shy smile played on his lips. He cleared his throat. “For the record, my life before you was nothing but an endless string of first dates. You were…”
Her voice came out small. She was almost afraid of the answer. “Easy?”
He shook his head, taking her hands in his. “Different. Life-changing,” he said softly, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. “You were everything, Madison. The only woman I would ever want to be with—ever again.”
Between his confession and the warmth of his lips against hers, Madison couldn’t help but swoon. She couldn’t deny it. The devil, once again, had captured her heart, through and through.
She broke their kiss, nearly awestruck as she took him in. Her gaze traced every feature of his face, from the line of his hair to the cut of his cheeks. “He looks just like you,” Madison said, her voice suddenly emotional. “I think you have a son, Alex Drake.”
“I think so, too.” Tears welled in both their eyes. “A six-foot-tall, hundred-and-sixty pound bouncing boy.”
“Is this your baby maker?” A voice asked innocently from the entrance to the kitchen. AJ was leaning against the wall, popping an entire chocolate chip cookie in his mouth like a grizzly. Or, Cookie Monster.
Madison’s mouth parted with a squeak as Alex laughed. Apparently, this kid had no idea thatbaby makerwas slang forvagina.
Alex took a deep breath, one hand around Madison’s waist, the other gesturing for his tall, lanky doppelgänger to come in. “This is AJ,” Alex said, proud with the introductions. “And AJ, meet Madison, my wife.”
In a somewhat formal manner, almost as if he were a prince, AJ extended his hand. Madison blinked.
Well, that’s not happening.
Without hesitation, Madison wrapped him in an extra-warm hug. She masked her disappointment. This kid was not hugging back.
Seriously, the giant redwood I encountered last year was more of a hugger.
Madison took the hint. With a smile, she stepped back and gave him his space. “We’re so glad you’re here.”
Madison could tell he was thrilled. By that broody glare and the bored, teenagetotally not interestedsigh, she was worming her way to his heart…one mile at a time.
Like Alex, AJ was direct and to the point. Not a man to mince words. “You don’t have to lie. It’s not like you’re my mom.”
The vein on Alex’s forehead was three seconds from exploding. He took a breath. “Madison isn’t lying. She’s very happy you’re here. We both are.”
“Sure you are.” AJ scanned his new surroundings. “Where’s my room?”
