Page 121 of Lovers' Dance

I laughed at his expression. Dante straightened up suddenly, all humour gone from his face.

“Shh. Was that the front door?”

“I didn’t hear anything,” I said, straightening up.

Dante leaned over the counter to grab my rolling pin. “Stay here, sweet cheeks,” he murmured.

“No way,” I hissed back, following his slow steps to the open kitchen door. “Shit. Did you lock the front door, D?”

“Shut up,” he whispered, peeking around the door before yelling, “I’ve got a gun and I’m not afraid to use it.”

“Who in the bloody hell is that?” came from the living room.

I screamed in shock, not expecting to hear a voice in there. Dante yelled at my screaming behind him and dropped the rolling pin. We scrambled for the rolling pin, both yelling at the top of our voices.

“Madi.” That was shouted, and totally recognizable. I froze. Matt was here?

Dante got a grip on the rolling pin, standing up and pushing me against the wall in a protective manner when Matt came into the hallway.

“Ow, Dante!” I yelped. “It’s Matt, for God’s sake.”

“Oh,” Dante said, lowering the rolling pin and a tad out of breath. “Hey, man, you can’t walk into someone’s house like that at this time of night. People get popped for shit like that.”

I eased out from behind Dante and took a few steps in Matt’s direction. His gaze jumped between me and Dante as he closed the distance between us.

“Poppet,” he said, pulling me into a tight hug. “I was worried. How on earth did you get inside?”

“Mfante mhas meeys,” I said. My face was being crushed against Matt’s chest. How did he always smell delicious?

“What?” Matt asked, leaning back and allowing my mouth free movement.

“Dante has a spare set of keys,” I explained. “I called him after your grandfather dropped me off. What are you doing here?”

Matt’s eyebrows shot up as he gave me an incredulous stare. “What am I doing here? What do you think? Bella told me what happened with Louisa. You didn’t have your keys or your mobile. I knew you had no way of getting in the house and I had my keys, so, of course, I’m here.”

My mouth curled up at the corners. He was a knight. My knight. I remembered the conversation in the backseat of Grumps’s car. My smile disappeared.

“Sweet cheeks, I’m gonna go,” Dante said quickly.

I pulled away from Matt, turning around to see Dante heading back into the kitchen, swinging the rolling pin in his hand.

“Where are the rest of your clothes?” Matt asked coldly.

“What?” I glanced down at my body, then back up at Matt. He did not look amused.

“Your. Clothes,” he enunciated slowly.

“Matt.” I pushed him away. “Don’t be silly. Gimme a sec, will you?” I didn’t wait for his answer, instead sprinting after Dante.

He was picking up his leather jacket off the table and shrugging it on. “What time are you coming in tomorrow?” he asked.

I walked over to get my rolling pin and return it to its rightful place. Matt walked into the kitchen, an unreadable expression on his face.

“The final auditions start at ten am, I’ll probably be there around seven-ish.”

Dante nodded. He kept glancing at Matt under his thick eyelashes. “All right. Don’t forget we’re having lunch with Kincaid tomorrow. Dress accordingly.”

I stuck my tongue out at him, then went over to give him a big hug. “Thanks for tonight.”

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