Page 112 of Lovers' Dance

Matt pointed across from us. “There’s Adam standing over there. He’s gotten a good table. Come, poppet.”

Matt and I dodged laughing people and slowly made our way over to where his brother stood. I say slowly because, every few steps, someone Matt knew would stop us to chat. Matt made sure to introduce me every time. There was no way I’d ever be able to remember all those names and the faces that went with them.

“Bollocks,” Matt muttered under his breath. “What’s Grumps doing here?”

“What?” I jerked to a stop, eyes peering in Adam’s direction. There was someone seated who he towered over, his back to us. “Are you sure, Matt?”

Matt hastened our steps while murmuring, “I think I can recognize my own grandfather, Madi, even if it is the back of his head.”

Great. The dragon man was here. I must have made an unconscious sound indicating my dread because Matt gripped my hand in support. I swear, if that old man laid into me, I would…I would…flash him my boobs and give him a heart attack. That was mean of me— heart disease was not something to joke about. But, damn it all to hell. Matt’s grandfather didn’t like me. Dinner last Saturday had confirmed that in my opinion.

We were almost at the table when Adam spotted us. “Matt,” He took a few steps to grab Matt into a brotherly hug. “You’re here.”

“You gave me no choice in the matter, Adam. You’re looking quite spiffy tonight.”

Adam ignored him and turned to me. “Madi, you look absolutely lovely tonight.” He eased me out of Matt’s hold to press a kiss on both my cheeks.

What the?

Then I saw a photographer not too far away, snapping at us. Ah. It was for appearances. A spurt of righteous anger trickled through me, then I saw the grateful look on Matt’s face that disappeared almost as quickly as its appearance.

Oh. Adam had done it for Matt, to publicly show he was cool with me. Even though I thought Adam was weird, he earned fifty points in my eyes.

“Grumps.” Matt rested a hand on his grandfather’s shoulder as he moved around so he could face him. “What are you doing here?”

Adam had brought me around, too. Grumps and I exchanged narrowed glances. I could hear spaghetti western music between my ears. Two lone gunmen poised to whip out their pistols and let the lead fly as the tumble weeds rolled past. Did I have too vivid an imagination?

“Ms DuMont,” Grumps said in that deep voice of his as his eyes travelled over me from head to toe. “I see my grandson has taken playing dress up to new heights. Your ensemble tonight reeks money. Money I’m sure Matthew had to spend.”

“Grumps.” Both Matt and Adam spoke at the same time, gazes jumping around to check if anyone had overheard their grandfather.

Damn. He was quick off the draw. But I was still standing, maybe a bit bloodied, but still standing. And I had paid for my own frigging dress.

“Hello, Mr Bradley,” I drawled politely. “I see you’ve taken my words on board and decided to get out more often. Your mind must be feeling rejuvenated at the prospect of socializing and not staring at walls. Maybe a nursing home is not looming too near in your future.” My pistol was quick too, old man.

“Madison,” Matt hissed, grey eyes widening in shock.

Adam choked on his breath, then compressed his mouth into a tight line as he exchanged a look with Matt. Adam’s shoulders were shaking, violently. Matt rubbed a hand over his lower face, shaking his head at us.

Grumps scowled at me. I scowled back. The air between us sang with tension.

“Oh, there’s Nathan and Bella,” Adam said loudly to cover the simmering silence between Grumps and me. He waved them over as Matt leaned down to whisper in an annoyed voice, “Will you two behave? Grumps that was extremely rude of you.” Matt shook his head at his grandfather. Then he scowled at me with cold eyes. “And you, we’ll be having words later, young lady.”

Uh oh.I gulped, apprehensive over the expression on Matt’s face, then glared at Grumps when he looked pleased at Matt’s pending threat. I needed to reload. This showdown wasn’t near over if that devious gleam in Grumps’s eyes meant anything.

“Look who we found wandering around,” Nathan said when they got to the table. Matt stiffened next to me, and I broke away from the staring match I was having with his grandfather to glance over at them.

“You are shitting me,” I mumbled, shocking Grumps with my low words before twisting my head up to Matt. He was wearing that aloof mask of his as he plastered a grim smile on his face. I smiled tightly at the newcomers with Nathan and Bella. One of them had my full attention.

Frigging Aphrodite. Looking a dream in a slinky black dress with her parents in tow.What the fuck?I sent furious eye messages to Matt as everyone greeted each other. He slipped an arm around my waist and squeezed tightly, silently trying to appease me. Why hadn’t he warned me she was going to be here?

Reading my mind like the magician he was, Matt leaned down to whisper, “I’m sorry. I forgot they would be here tonight, poppet.”

I stepped away from him, putting a small bit of distance between us. He forgot? Yeah, I bet he did.

“Jack, Laura.” Matt moved forward to shake the man’s hand and kiss the woman’s cheek. “So good to see you.”

I could see where Aphrodite got her looks from. At dinner last week, I hadn’t paid much attention to her parents, being occupied with trying to make Matt’s family like me. Now, with them both in front of me, it was hard to ignore the fact they made a striking couple.

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