by Carr, K
“Of course, Madi,” she agreed, before pulling her phone out and walking off.
With a shake of my head in Louisa’s direction, I took a deep breath and smiled at Grumps. “Shall we?”
He nodded and we started walking out the marquee. What a way for my first date with Matt to go. At least my night was ending the way it started: on the arm of a Bradley. This one though did absolutely nothing for my libido.
I took four steps with Grumps, then stopped. “Excuse me, Mr Bradley. I need a moment.”
His left eyebrow shot up suspiciously as I flashed him a tight smile and turned on my heels. Louisa was still by the table, her back to me, probably cackling to herself. She must have heard my approach because she turned around with a smile on her face. It died when she saw it was me. I walked up to her, glancing around to confirm there were no photographers around.
“Listen here, you big-boobed Barbie bitch,” I started in a low voice filled with barely controlled rage. “I’m going let this go because I don’t want to cause a scene that would embarrass my boyfriend. But tonight was strike two, strike one being you putting your bloody hands on my man. Yeah, he told me—”
“How dare you speak to me like that?” she hissed.
“Shut the fuck up, I’m not done talking.” I narrowed my eyes until they were brown slits of fury. “Two strikes. You’re on borrowed time now because, I swear to you, if you do anything, anything at all, to piss me off, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” she challenged, smirking at me.
I smirked right back. “I’ll lay you the fuck out, and if that expression is too American for you to understand, let me break it down for you: I. Will. Kick. Your. Ass.”
She snorted in disdain. I said I would let it go, but she snorted. A response was needed.
I smiled sweetly, closing the distance between us. My nearness made her uneasy but, before she could step back, I planted my palm against her shoulder while hooking a leg behind her knee. She hit the ground with a shriek.
“Oh my gosh!” I said loudly, jumping back. “Are you all right?”
Louisa glared up at me. People were noticing her on the ground, turning and coming over.
“You poor thing,” I continued in a loud voice and holding a hand out. “Let me help you up. You’re clumsy on those heels tonight, aren’t you? Spilling drinks on me, now this.” I chuckled lightly, exchanging friendly looks with the couple closest to us. She glowered at me for a split second before taking my outstretched hand. I helped her up and we both plastered fake smiles on our faces. Appearances needed to be maintained. I was a lady.
“Thank you,” she said, waving away the concerned bystanders. She really meant ‘Fuck you.’
“You’re welcome,” I replied, tightening my grip on my clutch. I really meant ‘Fuck you, too.’
“I’ll tell Matt you said goodbye,” she called coyly after I’d turned to take my leave. I paused for a second taking a deep calming breath, then continued to walk over to where Grumps stood. He’d seen it all and that eyebrow of his was arched. He held his arm out. I took it.
“Feel better now?” he asked.
“Yes, actually I do.”
We didn’t look at each other as we walked out the marquee. Shit. Grumps would think I was a crazy ass.
“You and I need to talk, Madison,” he said quietly.
I sighed, mentally reloading my pistol and wondering who would survive the upcoming showdown. If Matt’s behaviour was something he’d learnt from his grandfather, I was screwed…
<><><>
Matt let out a low laugh at a joke Adam made and glanced at his wristwatch. He’d been socializing for the past forty five minutes and was anxious to get back to his woman. She was breathtakingly stunning tonight. When he’d picked her up earlier, it was all he could do to stop himself from having his way with her on those stairs. That dress was made for her body. Hell, it was made to be torn off her body. He didn’t know how he was going to pull off ‘dating’ her. It had been far too long since he’d drowned himself in her sweetness. A little over a week was definitely too long to be without the feel of her naked body against his.
“I’m going to head back, Adam,” Matt said abruptly. “I’ve left Madi alone for too long.”
“Bella’s looking after her,” Nathan said from behind him. Matt turned around, nodding at his friend’s words.
“Yes, I know, but I left her with Grumps,” he said dryly. “I want to make sure they haven’t killed each other yet.”
Adam chuckled under his breath. “She sure knows how to rile the old man up.”
“Serves him right,” Matt grumbled. “He started it.”
“Let’s all go back,” Nathan agreed, acknowledging one of their mutual friends a few yards away with a shake of head. “I’m in need of a fresh drink anyway.”
The three men moved away from the outskirt of the group of people and started heading back the way they’d come.
“I’ve got to say, Matt,” Adam fell into step with him, “Madison’s got one hell of a body.”
“Shut the fuck up, Adam,” Matt growled in a low, hard voice.
“Touchy,” his brother teased. “You’ve never had a problem before with me complimenting your girlfriends.”
“Don’t be an arse,” Matt hissed as they walked past people coming from the opposite direction. “I won’t tolerate your usual behaviour when it comes to Madi.”
Nathan laughed at the two of them, close on their heels. “He’s like a bulldog with her, Adam. You should’ve seen him outside with the press.”
Matt ignored their good-natured ribbing and quickened his pace. It seemed people couldn’t see he was in a hurry. Every few metres, someone would stop him, or Adam, or Nathan. They would spend a couple of minutes making small talk, before resuming their journey to the moat. It was another forty five minutes before they finally entered the marquee. Matt’s eyes restlessly searched the throng of guest milling about after seeing the empty seats at their table.
“There’s Bella,” Nathan said, moving off towards his girlfriend. When she turned and spotted them, she practically pushed her way through the bodies surrounding her and hurried over.
“Matt, I’ve been trying to call your mobile for the last hour,” she said.
Nathan wrapped one arm around her waist. “Bella, darling, what’s wrong?”
She turned to him with a frown on her face. “Madi’s left with William—”
“What?” Both Matt and Adam asked with equal measures of surprise and alarm.
“What do you mean she’s left?” Matt asked in confusion, his eyes searching the crowds for his poppet.
“Your grandfather said he would take her home after Louisa spilt red wine all over her,” Bella explained quickly. “Madi’s dress was ruined and Louisa said it was an accident—”
“The little bitch,” Matt hissed. “I’m certain it was no accident.”
Adam rested a hand on his shoulder. “Calm down, Matt. I’m sure it was an accident.”
Matt shot his brother an annoyed look.
Adam shrugged before saying, “But we all know what Louisa is like. Call Grumps to check she’s okay.”
“He never answers his bloody mobile,” Matt said. “You know he rarely turns it on. Look, I’ve got to go. Madi doesn’t have her keys. Nathan, are you guys staying? I’m sure Adam can give you a lift home.”
“No, we’ll go with you,” Nathan said immediately. “Bella, do you have your bag?”
She nodded, holding her purse up. Matt was furious. When next he saw Louisa Gilliford he would…smack the bitch. Madi’s voice echoed in his head. He wouldn’t do that, but he would remind her exactly who she was dealing with.
“Adam.” Matt turned to his brother. “Sorry to have to leave you holding down the fort but I need to go. See you at the office tomorrow. I’ll be coming in late.”
Adam gave him a brotherly half-hug, muttering in his ear, “I’ll deal with Louisa, just make sure Madi is okay.”
They said their goodbyes and within fifteen minutes, Matt, Nathan and Bella were in the back of the limousine.
“Oh, I just remembered, Matt. She doesn’t have her mobile on her,” Bella said as Matt called Madi for the second time.
Matt sighed in frustration as he hung up and slipped his phone in his pocket. She really was absentminded sometimes. His sweet poppet. God. Her beautiful dress, ruined by his jealous ex. Bloody Louisa Gilliford. Why couldn’t she understand it was over between them?
“The driver is dropping me off first,” Matt warned. “Madi’s probably arrived home by now.”
“I’m sure your grandfather will wait. Why don’t you try calling him just in case?” Nathan asked.
Matt, praying that for once Grumps had turned on his mobile, dialled the number. It went straight to voicemail.
Another frustrated sigh left his lips as Nathan and Bella peered at him.
“I never liked her,” Bella said suddenly. Nathan hushed her, glancing nervously at Matt’s stormy face. Bella didn’t stop. “Honestly, Matt. What did you ever see in Louisa? She’s a horrible person.”
Matt didn’t answer. He had no answer. The glaring differences between his relationship with Madi and the one with Louisa made him uncomfortable. He had grown used to the thought of Louisa, had accepted over the years that he would eventually end up with her, or someone exactly like her. Then Madi had entered his life, turning everything upside down, making him realize how truly empty his prior existence was. She completed him. As ridiculous as it sounded in his head, it was the truth. He hadn’t known what he was lacking until he met her. Seated in the backseat of the limo, an image of his poppet coming down those stairs floated before his eyes. White suited her. Matt could imagine her making some funny comment about their different races if he’d said that. He could picture her in another white dress, one that symbolized a lot more: a lifetime commitment, a lifetime of love.
He could also see himself waiting eagerly for her to take those steps which would—
He looked up at Nathan and spoke quietly. “I’m going to marry her.”
“What?” Bella cried out unhappily. “Matt, no. Louisa isn’t right for you. Tell him, Nathan.”
Nathan shushed Bella, eyes fixed on his best friend. “You’ve made your mind up?”
Matt nodded slowly. He had made his mind up. It scared the life out of him, but he felt as if the decision was out of his hands, as if he had no choice in the matter. And Matt felt fucking fantastic.
Nathan scanned Matt’s face intently, trying his hardest to maintain a relaxed demeanour. “Your parents will be pleased.”
“I doubt that,” Matt drawled, a slow smile stretching his mouth wide. Bloody hell. This was the most reckless decision he’d ever made, and the easiest.
Nathan looked at him, perplexed at Matt’s statement. His eyes widened and the colour drained from his face as he asked, “Wait, who exactly are we talking about here?”
Bella was fretting. “This is a mistake. I know I shouldn’t say anything but, Matt, Louisa isn’t—”
“I’m not going to marry that cold-hearted witch,” Matt interrupted, joyous determination etched on his face.
Bella’s mouth fell open. She grabbed Nathan’s arm, as if suddenly unbalanced although she was sitting down.
Nathan leaned forward. “Matthew, you can’t mean—are you telling me—who the fuck else is there? You can’t seriously be thinking about Madison? Tell me you’re not.”
Matt couldn’t wipe the smile off his lips. He kept smiling as Nathan completely lost his rag.
“You are out of your fucking mind, mate. You barely know the girl. I barely know her.”
Bella broke out of her shock, leaning forward also. “Matt, I don’t think you should marry Louisa, but you can’t be serious about Madi. You’re joking, right?”
“He’s fucking mental,” Nathan yelled. “And delusional if he thinks I’m going to stand by and let him marry someone he doesn’t truly know.”
Matt understood their astonished reactions. Hell, he was shocked, too. But underneath it all, an ever-increasing calm filled his body. She completed him and he didn’t want to feel empty ever again.
Nathan continued to shout at him, angrily listing all the whys and wherefores Matt shouldn’t consider marrying Madi, while Bella tried to calm Nathan down and reason with Matt at the same time.
He let them go on for about thirty minutes before saying solemnly, “I understand and appreciate your concerns, I really do, but she makes my soul sing. I have never felt this way about another woman. She’s mine and if, she’ll have me, I’ll be hers for the rest of our lives.”
They both fell silent for a few moments. Then Nathan, whose face was almost purple with rage, started in on him again. “Makes your soul sing? Fucking hell, Matt. Are you on drugs? Are you hearing yourself? Slow down for one goddamned minute here—”
“What did you tell me, Nathan?” Matt cut him off. “The first day you met Bella all those years ago? Do you remember?”
Nathan jerked back, glancing slowly at Bella. She stared at them, head swivelling between them.
“I—” Nathan rubbed a hand over his frustrated face.
“Sweetheart.” Bella touched his cheek. “What is it?”
Matt continued on, seeing as Nathan was at a loss for words. “You said to me that you’ve met the one, your future wife, the only woman you could ever be with. She only spoke to you for five minutes and you’d already decided she was it for you.”
“And you said I was crazy. That I needed my head testing as there was no such thing.” Nathan had found his voice.
Matt nodded, flashing Bella an adoring smile. “I did, and I was wrong. You two are meant for each other. The same way I know Madi’s meant to be mine.”
Nathan flopped back against the upholstered seat, eyes squeezed shut. “You’ve lost your mind. The pressure has finally gotten to you.” Nathan’s eyes flew open and he glared at Matt, coldly stating, “You’re thirty-seven years old, at the age where you know you should settle down. This—this ridiculous notion you have to marry Madison is nothing more than a response to that. Look, I’ll be brutally frank with you. You know how I feel about Louisa. I don’t like her, I never did. And I want you to find someone special like I have. I want you to find your own Bella, but it’s not Madison, mate. She’s lovely, don’t get me wrong, but she’s not right for you, Matt. She’s not the one for you.”
“Why?” Matt asked in a tone as frigid as Nathan’s. “Because she’s black?”
“No, you fucking arsehole,” Nathan yelled. “I’m bloody tired of you implying I have a problem with her because of her race. I don’t.”
“Nathan,” Bella rested a hand on his arm, squeezing gently. He shrugged her off and leaned forward, blue eyes filling with pure disdain.
“Because she’s young, Matt. When you eventually get bored of her, which I know you will, it’ll destroy the poor girl. Do you want that on your conscience? Do you want to taint her? Your poppet? Are you going to protect her from the media? Your family? From all those envious people out there who would do about anything to see you fail?”
“Yes,” Matt said with certainty. “I will protect her.”
“Oh, I see,” Nathan mocked nastily. “And yourself? Will you protect her from yourself? You don’t get it, do you? You’re what…her first boyfriend?”
“Yes. What’s your point?” Matt asked quietly.
“She’s inexperienced, and you’re so bloody domineering the poor girl has no idea what’s hit her. What’s going to happen five, maybe ten, years down the line when she starts to resent you for stealing her youth?”
“Damn it, Nathan. She’s not sixteen.” Matt let out an incredulous short bark of laughter. “You’re acting like she doesn’t know what she wants. Let me remind you that she’s a determined woman who—”
&nb
sp; Nathan cut him off with a terse, “If you’re that strung out about getting married, you can live vicariously through my wedding. Hell, I’ll let you plan the whole damned thing. I’ve already got a date and place in mind—” Nathan stopped suddenly, head snapping around to see Bella’s transfixed expression.
“Nathan Walthamstow,” she said after a few charged seconds. “If that was a marriage proposal, I must say it is the most unromantic thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Nathan gulped nervously, running a hand through his hair wildly before sending a mean look in Matt’s direction. “Look at what you’ve made me do.”
Matt held his hands up, regarding Nathan and his girlfriend with growing surprise.
Bella continued to frown at Nathan…but was she frowning? On closer inspection, Matt detected the glimmer of a smile fighting to escape.
“Um, Bella, darling.” Nathan cleared his throat harshly, sending another vicious look at Matt’s grinning face. Nathan cleared his throat again. “Ah, can we discuss this at a later time?”
She folded her arms; her expression said it all.
Nathan’s mouth made an attempt at a limp smile.
“You should ask her already, Nathan,” Matt drawled. “We know you want to.”
“You, shut up.” Nathan jabbed a finger at Matt before increasing the strength of his smile as he faced his girlfriend. “Darling, now is neither the time nor the place to discuss our personal situation. I’m trying to talk sense into Matt right now.”
“We’re almost there,” Matt supplied helpfully. “I’ll be out of your hair in about five minutes. Carry on, Nathan. Bella and I are anxiously awaiting your next sentence. It should start with a ‘will you’.”
“Will you shut up, you wanker?” Nathan exploded. His face was more of a deep, embarrassed red than the angry purple of a few minutes ago.
“Nathan,” Bella rebuked him at his tone. “Don’t speak to Matt like that.”
“Whose side are you on?” Nathan shouted, before dropping his head into his hands. “God. Everyone be quiet for a moment.”
The back of the limo descended into silence. For ten seconds. Then Bella stroked a hand through Nathan’s ruffled blonde locks, eyes glistening with tears.