Page 25 of Exposed

He disappointingly took the portfolio, overstuffed with a phonebook of papers. He thumbed through it. “Um, exactly how far are we going?”

“Just far enough. And I’m driving. The bags are already in the car.”

Alex scanned the documents as the elevator carried them down to the garage, and several items yanked his attention. So much so, he barely noticed the car they’d gotten into. The daylight peered in as the garage door opened. He scanned around for his sunglasses, and she handed him a pair. Just as he slipped them into place, she slammed the pedal to the metal, swiftly carrying them off.

The overpowering acceleration whipped him full force into the seat, drawing his attention to the carriage chauffeuring them. “Are we in Paco’s car?”

Madison demurely replied, “No.”

He swept his eyes from one side to the other. Then slid his butt around in place, as if waxing the seat with his jeans. “Well, I’m pretty sure my ass has a permanent imprint in this seat. It’s remarkably molded to my shape.”

Madison held in a laugh and persisted in her brush off. “I don’t know what to tell you. It’s not Paco’s car.”

Dumbfounded at her truly wretched attempt at deception, Alex turned up the heat. She felt his stare on her but took a breath and vigilantly remained stoic. He leaned towards her, gaze locked, while popping open the glove box. Without looking, he fished out the contents. Dangling the fuzzy handcuffs from his hooked forefinger, he mused, “And these, Ms. Taylor? Are these for later when I’ve been very, very naughty?” His voice was deep and scolding.

Madison cracked a smile, crumbling under the pressure. “Okay, okay. The car isn’t Paco’s because he—well, he gave it to me. It’s mine now.” She then circled a very pointed finger at the cuffs now on prominent display. “But those are not.”

Alex slumped in his seat a little, calculating the possibilities that could have led Paco to hand over his “Big Banana” to Madison, but it explained the charge notification he received from Paco’s favorite Lamborghini dealer.

“Well, you must have given him something extremely valuable in return.” He waited for her to reply. Instead, she tightened her lips and fixed her sights diligently on the road ahead. Although he could press her further, he remained patient, contented to get to the bottom of it later. If, by some chance, she continued resisting, he’d look forward to adorning her delicate wrists with the cuffs for a proper interrogation.

“All I can say is, if Paco gave you this car but not these,” he slapped together the cuffs, then lightly tossed them back into the glove box before shutting it, “then we seriously need to work on your negotiating skills.” Madison’s smile broadened as she looked over to see him burying his nose in his work. He pulled one document up, scrutinizing it like a Wall Street Journal, while using his free hand to pull one of Madison’s from the task of steering. He planted a kiss firmly on it, then returned it to the wheel. Her heart leapt, and nudged her foot a little harder, accelerating them into the sunny day ahead.

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