His eyes never left hers, and she felt her body heat.
What the fuck is happening?
Never in her life had she been the object of such focused attention. It was beyond unsettling and…exhilarating.
Forcing herself to break the contact, Madison cleared her throat and gazed back at the crowd. She noticed that, despite the packed space, people weren’t passing close to them any longer.
She glanced back at the man in front of her and had the brief, fanciful thought that the crazy currents of energy he gave off created a bubble. Almost like a force-field around them—him, she corrected herself.
More likely, she thought, no one wanted to chance bumping into him. Not that his clothes weren’t obviously expensive. She recognized the tailored Brioni suit, and his watch, while not flashy, probably cost more than her car. But most of the people here were wealthy.
This man was different. He was dangerous.
It was obvious, but for some reason, it didn’t make her nervous.
It was sexy as hell.
Maybe she and her sister weren’t so different after all…
Alex smirked. She tried to hold his stare, but it was almost impossible. There was something unnerving about the way his eyes seemed to see too much—like he could read her every thought. Finally, she crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look.
“Okay, Prince Charming,” she said, with a slight tilt of her head. “If you’re going to insist on calling me Angel, it’s only fair I get to give you a nickname. And you did just swoop in and rescue me.”
His brows lifted in surprise, but there was an unmistakable glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “Prince Charming?” he echoed. “Not quite what I’d have chosen, but I’ll take it.”
Madison allowed herself a small smile. “You showed up at just the right time. What else would you call a man who saves a girl from two, walking midlife crises?”
Alex leaned in, his voice dropping to a murmur that sent a shiver down her spine. “I wouldn’t get too comfortable with the fairy-tale version of me. Prince Charming’s a little… tame for my tastes.”
Her pulse quickened, but she refused to let him see how much he affected her. “You mean you’re not the knight-in-shining-armor type?”
He chuckled softly, his eyes flicking to her mouth before meeting her gaze again. “Oh, I’ll protect you, Angel. But knights play by the rules. I don’t.”
Her stomach flipped at the dark undertone in his voice.
“Good to know,” she said, keeping her voice steady, despite the butterflies taking flight in her chest. “Guess I’ll have to watch my back then.”
Alex smiled. “Or maybe, you just have to trust me to have it for you.”
His words sent a flash of heat and longing through her. What would it be like to have someone like him, genuinely fighting for her?
“You’re staring.”
“Sorry.” Madison’s cheeks heated again. “Who are you?” The words were out of her mouth before she even registered them. “I mean, I know your name, but what’s your connection to this?” She waved her hand at the crowd. It was lame, and by the look in his eyes, he saw right through her attempt to recover.
She lifted the champagne flute he’d handed her, but stopped just shy of her lips, and set it down on the bar.
“I didn’t spike your drink, Angel.” He frowned.
“Madison,” she corrected firmly, and raised a shoulder, determined to ignore the butterflies battling inside her. “I don’t know you, and I didn’t see it poured. No reason to take chances.”
“Are you always this suspicious, or is it just me, Angel?”
“Always.” She gave him an unapologetic smile, doing her best not to stare at his mouth. “Goes with the territory,Charming.”
Alex ignored the appellation as his brows lifted. “What territory is that?”
“I co-host a cold case podcast, so my brain always assumes the worst in people and situations. Kind of like a crime radar.”
