Dare to Desire (Dare to Love 2)

As they approached the wide bank of elevators, she heard someone call Alex by name. They both turned.

“Alex Dare?” A boy in a wheelchair came toward them, his father rushing to keep up with his excited son.

“Hi there,” Alex said, striding up to the teenager.

“I’m a huge fan,” he said, gushing.

“We’re from Tampa,” the father said.

“Yeah. We’re in New York to see some doctors,” the teen said in obvious distaste.

The older man looked down on his son wistfully but didn’t say a word.

“Can I get an autograph?” the boy asked.

Alex grinned. “You sure can.”

“Hang on. I’ll go get paper from the front desk,” Madison said, rushing over to the bell clerk and returning with a pen and paper.

“What’s your name?” Alex asked, kneeling down to make himself level with the boy.

“Jake. Jake Wilton.”

“Tell you what, Jake. I’ll sign this, but I’ll take your address and send you an autographed picture and some team memorabilia.”

“All right!” The boy’s cheeks flushed, and he grinned.

For the next few minutes, they exchanged information, and Alex signed the paper, to his buddy, Jake. Madison had never seen this side of Alex. True, she’d seen him with fans, but this exchange with the teenager was different. He was warm, caring, and so much more real.

She wondered if he ever wanted kids. It wasn’t something she’d given much thought to, if only because she’d never found a man she wanted to settle down with. Those trust issues always reared their ugly head. But Alex, who had such an instant rapport with this boy, brought untapped feelings up inside her.

She glanced down. The two had their brown-haired heads close together as they had a private conversation she couldn’t overhear.

“He’s great with kids,” the older man said, drawing Madison’s attention.

“Yes, he really is.” She smiled, her heart fluttering madly in her chest, and she wasn’t sure why. She only knew something about this exchange touched her deeply.

Alex rose to his full height. “You’ll remember what I said?” he asked the teen.

“Yes sir!”

Alex laughed. “Umm, no need to be formal.”

Jake shot his father an I told you so look. “I knew you’d be cool,” he said to Alex, looking up at him like he was his ultimate hero.

To Madison’s surprise, Alex’s cheeks turned red.

“It was great to meet you, Jake.” Alex shook his hand as if he were an adult, leaving the teen beaming. He stepped over to the boy’s father. “You’ve got a strong, brave son.”

The other man’s eyes grew watery. “Thank you. This … today means a lot. He’ll never forget this, and neither will I.”

Alex shook his head, unsure what he’d done beyond the usual fan greeting, but he smiled anyway. “I won’t forget him either,” he told the older man.

And he meant it. The boy had struck a deep chord within him, and his young face and situation would stay with him for a long while. He walked toward the elevator, Madison beside him, lost in thought.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He met her gaze. “I guess. It’s just … there but for the grace of God and all that.” A car accident had put the boy in the chair, but life had its random moments that changed everything unexpectedly.