Page 108 of Lovers' Dance

We walked out of the front door, and I stopped in my tracks as Matt locked up. It wasn’t a car, it was a limo. A sleek, black limo with a man waiting patiently by the doors.

“Matt, that’s not a car.”

“Hm,” he murmured distractedly, turning the door handle to make sure it was secure. “Car, limo, it’s all the same, poppet. Did you have breakfast and lunch today?”

He was frowning as we walked towards the waiting car. I had taken too long to reply with an exasperated, “Yes, I ate earlier.”

The man opened the door for us and Matt helped me in the limo.

“Madison.” Nathan was a carbon copy of Matt in his tuxedo, but blonde and not as hot in my opinion. “You look amazing. This is Bella Humphrey, the love of my life.”

“Hi,” I said with a warm smile. I hoped she wasn’t weird like Nathan. “Madi DuMont.”

“My girlfriend,” Matt teased as he slid in next to me. I blushed and let my eyes wander over Nathan’s girlfriend. Damn. She was smoking hot. Her brunette hair was pulled up high with a few soft curls framing her face. Curious light-brown eyes were currently giving me the same once over I was giving her. Our eyes met and she flashed me a shy smile.

“Nathan has told me a lot about you.” She was soft-spoken.

I narrowed my eyes at Nathan, who was innocently adjusting the lapels of his jacket. I could imagine the things he’d told her.

“All good things, I hope,” I replied. The limo pulled away from the curb and we were off.

Her smile widened and she sent a sidelong glance at Nathan, who was fiddling with his wristwatch.The bastard.Did he tell her about the pub? Or maybe the table? Oh, no—did her tell her about the conversation with my aunt that he’d witnessed?

“Yes,” she assured me, even though the niggling voice at the back of my head didn’t quite believe her. “Your dress is beautiful, by the way.”

“So is yours.” I returned the compliment. It was true. She wore a strapless dress; the bodice a mixture of black and white patterns, the skirt of the dress black with white edging around the bottom. And she was dripping ice. Expensive ice. I suddenly felt glad Matt had convinced me to wear his gift.

Nathan let out a loud, exaggerated groan. “Oh, no, Matt. This is how it starts. First they’ll talk about clothes, then shoes, then hair and nails, then back to shoes. By the time we arrive at the ball, we’ll be part female, mate.”

“Oh, hush.” Bella swatted him lightly, then turned back to me as Matt filled up a champagne flute and held it out for me. Champagne in the back of a limo. If my cousin Jenny could see me now.

“You’re a ballerina?” she asked politely.

Matt answered before I could open my mouth. “The best I’ve ever seen, Bella, and able to run a successful dance company on a daily basis. She’s practically wonder woman.”

I blushed furiously, taking a demure sip of champagne to collect myself. Matt poured another flute, sending me glances full of pride. I had never heard him sound so proud of me. Honestly, I thought Matt’s interest in my career was nothing more than the obligatory lip service. I mean, his career was completely different to mine. But the pride in his eyes…it made my skin hot, so hot I hoped my nose didn’t start shining.

“Yes, I am.” I wanted to explain it to her. I wanted her to like me. She was Nathan’s girlfriend. Nathan was Matt’s best friend. If she liked me, maybe Nathan would like me too, because I remained undecided as to whether he did, or whether he simply found me amusing. Like a joke. Your boyfriend’s best friend was supposed to like you, right?

“I moved from thecorps de balletwhen I was nineteen.”

She nodded slowly. “This was back at your home? In New York?”

“Yes, there are so many amazing dancers back home who deserve to be called ballerinas, but it’s a difficult title to earn. By certain standards, some wouldn’t call me a ballerina. I mean, look at Maria Tallchief, her technique was absolutely exquisite, beyond words. I read in some paper that three dancers of her generation implied she wasn’t a ballerina. She was one of the greatest American ballerinas ever.”

Oh, shit. Did I sound a bit fanatic? Matt patted my knee and smiled encouragingly as he twirled his flute between his fingers. God. I loved him.

“Not that I would ever compare myself to her,” I hastened to add, in case they thought I had illusions of grandeur.

“I’m quite a fan of the ballet,” Bella said in her soft voice.

“Obsessed with it more like, darling,” Nathan groused, before sending her a sweet smile. “I’ve been dragged to more shows than I care to count.”

She wrinkled her face at him, then turned back to me. “You’re right. It is extremely difficult to be classed as a ballerina. Have you seen Sylvie Guillem on stage? She’s still performing and one of the most significant artists of today.”

“I saw one of her recent shows at Birmingham Hippodrome. I was blown away.”

Bella nodded, handing Nathan her empty champagne flute and leaning forward. “You can’t tear your eyes away from her.”

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