Lovers' Dance

by Carr, K

  “What on earth?” Hannah exclaimed, before jerking away from Matt and striding towards her husband and children. Matt gave Louisa a distracted smile before hurrying after his sister.

  Madi’s eyes brightened when they rested on him, and he couldn’t stop the tender smile on his face.

  “Natalia,” Hannah scolded in hushed tones. “Why have you changed clothes?”

  Matt spared a glance at his nieces. Their sleek dresses had been replaced by jeans and t-shirts.

  “Why do you always start in on me, Mum? Nikki’s changed, too,” Natty hissed back.

  Matt turned his attention back to Madi. He reached out, slipping his large hand over her dainty one. “All right, poppet?”

  “Yes, I am now. Does everyone know about the thing?” She peeked past his shoulders at his parents’ guests before her warm, brown eyes settled on his face.

  “What thing?” Matt teased, then gently squeezed her hand when she pouted at him. “If anyone brings it up, I’ll tell them to sod off.”

  His niece Nicole slid closer to them, and Matt reluctantly paid attention to the whispered spat taking place between his sister and her other daughter.

  “Stop, Mum. You’re making a big deal about nothing. We didn’t want Madi to be the only one in jeans,” Natty said. “Who cares anyway? I don’t even want to be here.”

  Matt released Madi’s hand, taking a few steps towards the members of his family. “Hannah, leave the girl alone. I think it’s sweet they changed.”

  Natalia sent him a grateful smile before scowling at her mother. His brother-in-law exchanged a frustrated look with him. Matt felt sorry for the man. He was completely outnumbered by the women in his life.

  “Should I say something?” Madi asked from his side. She was peering at Hannah and Natty with a guilty expression. Matt shook his head, raising a hand to smooth one of her wild curls back into place.

  “They argue all the time, poppet. Let’s get you a drink, then I’ll introduce you to the other guests.”

  “We’re taking her to meet Grumps,” Natty said, turning away from her mother’s unamused face. “Come on, Nikki.”

  Matt watched as the twins practically swarmed over Madi and started dragging her away.

  “Girls, I should—” he started to say, but they ignored him and, with Madi in tow, began to make their way over to where his grandfather sat. Matt turned to his sister, who was obviously annoyed if her flushed cheeks and virulent eyes were anything to go off. “It’s sweet, Hannah. They seem to like her.”

  Hannah sighed as Stuart wrapped an arm around her waist. “Yes, you’re right. Natalia is so…so combative of late. I swear she’s trying to turn my hair grey.”

  Matt surveyed his sister in her floor-length black and silver dress. Hannah’s chestnut hair didn’t have a strand of grey. Even though she was forty-one, her skin didn’t reflect the ravages of time. Of course, Matt knew she’d recently begun using Botox, something he felt she had no need of. But Hannah did as she pleased.

  “And you wanted me to spend more time with them?” Matt joked in an attempt to lighten her mood.

  Stuart, like everyone else in the grand salon, watched his daughters and Madi approach William Bradley, Sr. “Do you think it’s wise to let the girls introduce Madison to Grumps?”

  “No.” Matt made a move forward but Hannah caught the edge of his dinner jacket, stopping him in his tracks.

  “Leave them be, Matt. Grumps knows to behave. I’m sure he’ll be polite and Dad is coming over here anyway. He probably wants to talk business with you. Adam’s been avoiding him all night.”

  Matt did notice his father’s looming stride in their direction. He smothered a groan while simultaneously looking around for Adam. His gaze tracked Madi’s movements, unconsciously resting on that sweet arse of hers and causing a stirring in his blood. Madison DuMont had no idea about the lethal effect she had on him. Matt repressed his ill-timed urges and affected a relaxed pose as his father drew nearer. Perhaps coming to dinner tonight had been a mistake after all, Matt mused. The more he dwelled on it, the more he regretted forcing this night on Madi. And himself.

  <><><>

  “Why do you call him Grumps?” I asked quietly as the girls led me across the huge room. Everyone was staring at us, and I was secretly glad the girls had changed their clothes in a show of support.

  “Because he’s always grumpy,” Nikki replied.

  On that discomfiting note, we came to a stop in front the white-haired gentleman stiffly seated on a chair. There was a young woman behind the chair, dressed in a proper nurse’s uniform, and I wondered how old Matt’s grandfather was. The man looked ancient.

  Cold, grey eyes looked up at me as Natty leaned forward to touch his hand reverently. She suddenly seemed calmer, almost as shy as Nikki.

  “Grumps, we want you to meet Madi.”

  “She’s Uncle Matt’s girlfriend, Grumps,” Nikki said, smiling sweetly at the old man.

  Grumps arched an eyebrow at Nikki’s words, and I swear it was exactly the way Matt would do it. Was it genetic?

  I straightened my shoulders and held out a sweaty palm. “Hello, Mr Bradley. I’m Madison DuMont.”

  “Uncle Matt’s girlfriend,” Natty reiterated, unnecessarily might I add, unless he was hard of hearing.

  Grumps took my hand and shook it firmly. Damn. He had a strong grip for his age. We peered at each other, his eyes travelling over me, pausing on my rambunctious curls before taking in my attire. He glanced at his great-granddaughters on either side of me, then returned that cold gaze of his to my face. Why hadn’t he released my hand yet? This was getting awkward.

  “William Bradley,” he finally replied in a deep, firm voice that belied his years. “Senior.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I said, wondering if I should attempt to pull my darned hand away. Why wasn’t he letting go?

  “So,” he started, holding my hand prisoner, “you’re Matthew’s girlfriend.”

  I could hear the questioning tone in his statement.

  I inhaled softly, mentally toughening up. “Yes, I am.”

  “I see,” he said and fell silent, still holding my goddamned hand. The hell? I counted to five and took matters into my own hand.

  “Could I have my hand back now?” I asked politely, realizing after the words left my mouth I hadn’t added a ‘please’. Shit. This Grumps was starting to freak me out. The corners of his mouth tightened ever so slightly, and I wasn’t certain, but there was definitely a gleam of something in his eyes.

  “Of course,” he said, releasing my hand. I checked my sigh of relief and clasped my hands behind my back. I didn’t want to risk it getting captured again. Maybe he had a hand fetish.

  Natty and Nikki stood demurely, as if awaiting instructions, and I was caught in the middle. It felt like being called in front of the principal at school to confess your misdeeds. I risked a slow, moving glance behind me, catching Matt’s gaze and mouthing “help” to him.

  He smiled at me. It was mesmerizing. I couldn’t stop my answering smile. Fuck it. My man was hot stuff, and his family were going to be blown away by me. I silently pledged that, after tonight, they would be lighting up my phone begging us to come over.

  A raspy clearing of a throat had my head jerking around. Grumps regarded me for a moment before turning to Nikki.

  “Nicole, tell your grandmother to have dinner served at once.”

  The teenager immediately spun around and raced off to find Matt’s mom.

  “Grumps,” Natty said, touching his jacket covered arm this time. “Have you spoken to Mum about letting us get a car? She’s being ridiculous. All our friends have their own cars. It’s embarrassing.”

  “Natalia, now is not the time to discuss this,” he chastised.

  Natty’s lip quivered, but she nodded and was about to pull away when Grumps patted her hand resting on his arm.

  “I’ll have a word with her tomorrow.”

  She beamed at him, then beamed at me. I
grinned back. Nothing quite like getting your first car. I remembered my first car back home in the States. It was a beat-up, old Volvo, but I loved it. It represented freedom.

  Grumps signalled to the nurse, and she instantly came around to help him up from the chair. Natty and I stepped back to give her room.

  “Ms DuMont.”

  “Madi,” I corrected automatically.

  “How long have you and my grandson been courting?”

  Courting? No one used that word anymore. I played with the thought of saying we’d been doing the nasty for a few months, but I doubted Matt would appreciate me giving his granddad a heart attack.

  “We’ve been seeing each other for a few months, Mr Bradley,” I responded, once again very polite. Grumps was eyeing me the same way Matt did whenever he thought I was being secretive—a probing look that made me uncomfortable. Come to think of it, Adam had given me the same look last night a couple of times. Did all the Bradley men act the same? That was a terrifying thought. I could barely deal with Matt.

  “I see,” he said. I wondered exactly what did he see. The nurse moved forward gripping his arm, and Grumps huffed in annoyance. “I am fully capable of walking once I’m on my feet.”

  She released him and stepped back. If his curt reprimand stung, she gave no outward indication of it.

  “How long have you lived in England, Ms DuMont?” he asked, slowly smoothing his dark jacket over his stomach. “You’re obviously foreign.”

  “I’m actually English,” I started as Natty came closer to her great-granddad.

  “Really?” Grumps eyed me up and down again. “You don’t sound English, Ms DuMont.”

  “It’s Madi, and that’s because I moved to the States when I was six,” I explained.

  Grumps started moving forward, was quite spry for an old man, and I tried to do a quick mental calculation. Matt was thirty-seven, his parents must be around sixty, so that must make him—

  “How old are you?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

  “Too old for you, Ms DuMont,” he replied blandly. He walked off, dismissing me without a backward glance. What the fuck was that supposed to mean? I stared at his back, face twisted in confusion. I noticed Matt making his way over to me, and I forgot about Grumps and his cryptic comment. I forgot to breathe, only realizing it when my lungs burned from the lack of oxygen. How cheesy. Matt literally took my breath away.

  “Hey,” I said with a smile when he stopped in front of me.

  Matt shot Natty a worried look as he took my hand in his. “Did Grumps behave himself, Trouble?”

  She nodded distractedly, peering in the direction her twin had gone. “He was fine. Uncle Matt, can you talk to mum? She won’t let us get a car.”

  Matt tilted his head, a bemused smirk on his face. “I’m not getting involved, Trouble.”

  Natty pouted at her uncle. “She’s being unfair. Everyone else has a car. Nikki and I are still being chauffeured around like babies.”

  Matt shrugged. “That’s because you are babies. Now go away, I want to talk to Madi in private.”

  Natty stuck her tongue out at him, then scampered away when Matt shook a threatening open palm at her. I laughed at their antics and my heart twisted at the fond expression on Matt’s face as he observed his niece’s departure. This was a new side to him I’d never seen before.

  Matt turned his attention to me, intense grey eyes roving my face. “Poppet, there’s something you should know before dinner.”

  I was staring at his lips. He had sexy lips. Every time I was near him, it made me horny.

  “Poppet, listen to me,” he called and my eyes jerked upwards.

  “Matt.” My voice was a husky whisper. “How long do we have to stay?”

  He frowned, misunderstanding my intentions. “Don’t be like that. I know you’re scared of interacting with my family, but there’s no need for it. The girls seem to like you. I’m certain my parents will eventually come around. Stop fretting,” he ordered.

  I blinked slowly at him, very slowly, while the tip of my tongue moistened my lips. Matt’s gaze zoned in on my mouth, then he cleared his throat softly as understanding dawned.

  “Are you coming on to me, Madison DuMont?”

  I nodded, glancing around to make sure no one could overhear us. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  His mouth split into a sensuous smile. “Absolutely nothing. After dinner, I’ll give you a tour of the house. We’ll stop by my old room, or we could wait until we get to my place. Your choice, poppet.”

  He had done it again, sucked me into some sort of liquid vortex of promised pleasure. Matt raised my hand to his lips and pressed a fleeting kiss over my wrist. A flick of his tongue across my skin…Yeah, I was in the vortex.

  Matt rubbed his free hand over his face. “Stop distracting me. I need to tell you something.”

  I tried to focus. “What is it?” I inhaled deeply, chest rising, and Matt’s eyes dropped lower, no longer on my face. I grinned, liking the effect my small boobs had on him. If I kept this up, we mightn’t have to stay for a dinner I was dreading. Matt would come up with a plausible excuse, and he could take me to his home in Surrey and rock my world.

  “Stop it, poppet.” Matt groaned, forcing his eyes upwards. “Otherwise, I won’t be held accountable for my actions, and I don’t think my parents would appreciate me bending you over that antique table and shagging you senseless in front their guests.”

  I glanced at said table. It looked fragile. Maybe I should behave. Matt was a determined man and, once he made his mind up to do something, he would get it done.

  “What did you want to tell me?” I clasped my hands in front me demurely. Seriously. Something was wrong with me. I needed to start acting right.

  Matt took a shaky breath, then got serious as he reached out to grasp my clasped hands. “My ex is here.”

  All horniness disappeared. I tugged my hand away.

  “Excuse me?” Did I hear him right? His ex? I turned around, looking at the people milling around. When I turned back to face Matt, he looked as if he’d swallowed something foul. “Who?”

  Matt sighed and his gaze slid over to the left. I followed the movement and died inside when I saw her.

  “Oh my God, Matt,” I said, feeling like shit in my borrowed clothes and flip flops. The twins had come through for me on the shoe problem. “She’s…that’s your ex? Is she a frigging supermodel?”

  “No. Don’t be silly, poppet,” he replied.

  I didn’t believe him. The blonde woman I was staring at looked like a freaking goddess. What the hell? I watched her. Gorgeous wasn’t a good enough description. She was mouth-wateringly stunning, and looking over at us right at that moment.

  I turned away and stared at the parquet flooring.

  “Poppet.” Matt stroked a finger over my cheek. “I didn’t know she was going to be here tonight.”

  I nodded, unable to look at anything else but the floor. Why would he want to be with me when he could be with her? I wasn’t ugly, I knew that, but—fuck me—I knew my level…and Matt’s ex was on a whole different level.

  “Look at me,” Matt commanded softly. It took a few moments, but I did as he asked. He winked at me. “I don’t want her, I don’t love her, so stop frowning and smile. You’re the one I want.”

  I chewed my inner cheeks and plastered a bright smile on my face. Matt’s eyebrows lowered as he scrutinized my expression.

  “I didn’t know she’d be here, poppet,” he repeated.

  “I believe you,” I said, fake smiling. “It would be in bad taste for you to bring me to a dinner party where your ex-girlfriend was a guest, and I know you wouldn’t do that. What is she doing here anyway?”

  Matt looked away. It smacked of evasive manoeuvres. “Louisa is a childhood friend. I’ve known her all my life it seems, and both our families are very close.”

  My smile stayed in place, but my heart sank lower. A childhood sweetheart? Oh shit. Now
I felt worse. Nothing quite like your first experience of love. Was she his first love? Dante was my first love, never mind it was unrequited. He was my first love, and I still sometimes had vivid dreams about us hooking up. Of course, I was with Matt now and, most of the times after those ridiculous dreams, I would wake up with his strong arms wrapped around me chasing away thoughts of anyone else.

  We stood there, both silent, observing each other with an uncomfortable feeling growing between us every passing second. Matt put on his trademark stern expression.

  “This is not going to be an issue. I won’t allow it to be. She’s my past, and you’re my future. It looks like dinner is about to start so I want to see a real smile on your face, not that poor imitation which, by the way, isn’t fooling anyone. Smile.”

  My smile got tighter as I lied. “It’s not fake and stop being bossy.”

  Matt held an arm out for me, and I took it without hesitation as we began to follow the other guests. I couldn’t help staring at his ex. She was wearing a sophisticated black cocktail dress that hugged the lines of her figure. Her accessories: diamonds—and I knew they were the real thing. A pair of Louboutins finished her attire. I patted my wild curls self-consciously after noting the sleek chignon of blonde silkiness gracing her head. If she wasn’t a supermodel, then she was Aphrodite. And she was Matt’s ex.

  “How long were you two together for?” I murmured as we walked through the massive double doors. We were the last ones to leave the salon.

  “Long enough, poppet.”

  I squeezed his arm and he twisted his head to arch that eyebrow at me.

  “Bullshit answer, Matt.”

  He nodded, jaw clenched tightly, before he sighed and shrugged. “Longer than I was happy with and this is not the time, nor the place, to have this discussion.”

  He was wearing that aloof expression on his face, the one that signalled he was done talking about it. Whether or not I wanted the conversation to continue didn’t matter. I sighed and mentally prepared myself for the upcoming ordeal. It was bad enough I had embarrassed myself in front Matt’s family, although that situation wasn’t of my own doing. An unlucky twist of fate and Satan’s hounds were wholly responsible for my pool dunking.