Page 127 of Lovers' Dance

“Since I turned eighteen, Matt. He’s nice. Why are you so interested in him?”

Matt shrugged as I glanced at him again, his striking features one of nonchalance. “Poppet, I’m interested in any man who spends time with you. Haven’t you noticed I’m a jealous man?”

“There’s nothing to be jealous of. He’s a lot older than me. That’s gross.”

Matt snorted under his breath, a little scowl curling down the corner of his mouth. “Like I am?”

“Don’t be silly, hon,” I said. Dude just wouldn’t get over this age issue. I remembered my conversation with Grumps. Shit. I wouldn’t be able to get his cruel words out of my head. The more I dwelled on it, the more I knew he was right. Stupid, ancient meanie.

Matt had been watching me. “What’s wrong, poppet? You keep doing that.”

“Doing what?” I checked the side mirror. There was a Range Rover gaining on me. I put my foot down.

“That beautiful face of yours, it’s been full of tension all morning. Tell me what’s bothering you,” he commanded firmly. “I won’t stand for secrets between us, Madison.”

“Matt,” I replied in a voice as firm as his. “You need to do something about your bossiness. Seriously. At least when it comes to speaking to me. I’m not one of your employees.”

Matt, being Matt, ignored the flash of temper in my eyes and did exactly what he wanted, forget how anyone else felt. “Don’t change the topic, poppet. I’m not that easily distracted and I know something’s wrong. We’re almost at your studio and I want an explanation at once. Why have you been acting strange all morning?”

“I’m tired, Matt. We didn’t get any sleep last night.”

That comment did distract him. His grey eyes crinkled around the edges as he smiled at me. “Mmm, sleep was the furthest thing from my mind last night.”

“Yeah, I heard that,” I exclaimed with a rueful grin.

“How about dinner tomorrow night?” Matt drawled, resting a hand lightly on my leg. “I know we’re both busy with work, but there’s this lovely restaurant I want to take you to. You enjoy proper Italian food, right?”

“Yes, but can we hold off on making plans for now? I don’t know what my week is going to be like.”

“You’re doing it again,” Matt groused abruptly. “Bloody hell, poppet. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Nothing.” I couldn’t keep the frustration out of my voice. Should I tell him about the talk I’d had with his grandfather? Matt was intuitive, but he would be furious if he knew what Grumps had said to me on the drive home last night. I didn’t want a furious Matt. No telling what he would do.

“Oh, shit.” The SUV jerked as my foot pressed the brakes by accident. I gave it gas and turned a worried face to Matt. “Is that a press van by the gates, Matt?”

Matt peered out the windscreen. “Bollocks. Bloody media won’t quit. It’s probably because you attended the gala with me last night. Don’t read any gossip sheets today, okay?”

I nodded wordlessly as we drove up to my building. The flash of lights as we drove past the parked van made me wince.Bastards.It had barely gone seven am. I cruised through the gates and drove over to my parking spot next to Dante’s car.

“Do you think more will come?” I asked nervously, putting the vehicle in neutral.

“Probably a few more. Oh, poppet, don’t look so stressed. I’m sorry, darling. It will get better. I promise.”

I nodded soundlessly again, then tried to smile at him. “Just so you know, I’m not keeping this gas guzzler. It drives like a dream, but I’m not keeping it.”

Matt leaned over to pull me into a deep kiss, then said mischievously, “You are. I know you enjoyed driving it, plus your old car is on its last legs. The Porsche is yours. I’ll need it to get to work today, but it’ll be back in front your house by tonight. Will you be all right getting home later?”

I nodded my head with a sigh, knowing it was going to happen exactly like he said.

Matt cupped my cheek with his large hand. “Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?”

I shook my head and Matt bent forward to kiss the tip of my nose. He was sweet and gentle with me. It made me feel like the most precious object in the world.

“Words can’t express it, poppet,” he murmured, rubbing his thumb softly against my skin. “I’ll call you. Depending on what meetings I have today, it might be this afternoon.”

“Okay.” I leaned away, unbuckling my seatbelt and trying not to blurt out what was on my mind. I fucking loved him, but he wasn’t mine. Not really. He belonged to a different world, one I knew I could never adapt to. Grumps had a lot to answer for.Stupid, stupid man.

I reached into the back to grab my stuff. “I’ll see you sometime in the week, Matt.”

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