Page 192 of Lovers' Dance

Dougie rubbed his chin, scrutinizing my face. “I’m going to wait outside in the car until ye agree to either lunch or dinner, Madi.” He sent a polite smile at Gloria before waltzing out of my building.

“Is he another billionaire, Madi?” Gloria asked, getting off her seat to go peer out the front entrance.

“Why did you tell him I was free, Gloria?” I groused, looking out at the limo parked in front of my building.

“Because you are,” she replied as if it was nothing big. “He’s good looking. Maybe not as handsome as your Matt, but still fit. Is he rich like Matt?”

“I don’t know,” I grumbled, rubbing the back of my neck. “And I don’t care. I don’t want that silly limo parked out front.”

“Take him to lunch, lass,” she teased. “Whatever it is you have, Madi. I want some of it. It’s true what they say, you know. Once you’re in the circle of the rich and famous, you’re in. Can you fix me up with one of Matt’s friends? Or give me that Scotsman. He looks like he knows how to treat a woman well. Eddie is Scottish and you know he’s nice.”

I shook my head at her logic. Eddie was Scottish and he was nice. That didn’t mean every Scottish person was as nice as our Eddie.

“It’s just lunch, Madi. Go on, all the others have gone out for their lunches and you’re seated in the office like a Billy no mates.”

“I was having a working lunch,” I said defensively.

“What’s one lunch going to do?” she asked.

I chewed my lower lip. What harm could it do? And Dougie was amusing.

“Should I?” I hedged, and she blew out air in exasperation.

“Go,” she said. “Otherwise, he might sit out there in that limo all day.”

She did have a point. The men from Matt’s world did what they pleased. I was getting tired of these types of men. It grew old fast.

“One lunch,” I mumbled, then walked to the changing rooms and slipped off my dancing clothes to replace them with jeans, blue silk blouse and a jacket. Good thing I had worn ankle boots today. After washing my face, I grabbed my bag from the office, checked my cell was in it for when Matt called, and gave Gloria a wave before I left my building. I strode towards the car and the back window whirred down.

“Have ye decided then?” Dougie asked, with a pleased smirk on his face as I peered at him.

“Decided what, Dougie?”

“Where ye are taking me to lunch. I’m quite partial to The Dorchester when I’m in London.”

I did nothing to hide the disbelief on my face as Dougie opened the door for me. I slid in and buckled up. Matt had taken me there quite a few times. It was pricey as hell.

“How about McDonald’s?” I quipped. “There’s a drive through not too far from here. McGregor, McDonald’s; you should feel right at home.”

Dougie burst into a deep throaty chuckle, pressed the intercom and ordered the driver to take us to The Dorchester.

I cleared my throat in a pointed manner. “If all you want is a glass of tap water at that restaurant, then fine. Anything else, you’re paying for.”

“Aye, lass, dinnae worry. What’s the price of a meal when ye have already stolen millions out of my grasp?”

“Like I said earlier, don’t blame me because you were too scared of going all the way that night,” I replied with a laugh.

“I plan to rectify that mistake, Madi,” he said, with a glint in his eye that I didn’t pay attention to. Lunch at The Dorchester with Dougal McGregor. I’m sure he would have me in stitches by the end of it.

Matt closed the door of his hotel room and expelled a harassed sigh. Tugging at the tie around his neck, he wandered over to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink. He usually enjoyed travelling, be it for pleasure or work. He found it a chore now, and this was only his third day in the Netherlands. They were trying to broker a deal with Shell. Bastards had requested the meetings take place at their Netherlands headquarters, instead of London. It had annoyed him to the point of wanting to send someone else, but the only other person who could accompany Nathan on this deal was Adam, who was sick, or so he said. Matt didn’t quite believe the hoarseness of his voice and hacking cough was an unfortunate chest infection. He tossed back his drink and headed for the shower, needing to wash the stuffy boardroom smell off his skin. An hour later, he felt relieved as he walked out, encased in a bathrobe and towelling his hair. He went over to check his phone and saw a few missed calls from Adam. Finishing off his hair, he ordered room service, then turned on his laptop before calling his brother. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Ten pm, the UK was only one hour behind.

“Adam, you called,” Matt said.

“Yes. How are things over there, Matt?”

“Tedious,” Matt replied bad-temperedly. “And Nathan and I still have a week left here. It’s been raining all day. If I have to put up with rain, I’d rather it be in England.”

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