Page 205 of Lovers' Dance

He closed the briefcase and rested it and the tablet on the table, then handed me a notepad and pen.

“What’s this for?” I asked.

“You said you were scared to go home with me,” he began, taking the other pad and pen for himself. “So we’re going to make a list.”

I arched an eyebrow at him. “A list? What kind of list?”

“Pros and cons,” he explained. “If we analyse all the positive and negative aspects of our relationship, it may put your mind at ease.” Matt sent an understanding smile my way. “I know you’re worried about your family’s view on our relationship, so let’s do a version of a risk assessment to prepare ourselves for any issues your family might raise.”

Crazy-ass gazillionaire. Risk assessment? Pros and cons?

“You have fifteen minutes,” Matt advised, drawing a line down the middle of his page.

“What?” I groused. “Is this a test, Matt? I feel like it’s a test. I don’t like tests—”

“Shush, poppet, and start your list please,” he murmured, pen scribbling over the page at a quick pace.

I sighed and started my list. After five minutes, I was getting into it. The cons side of my page unfortunately had more things than the pro side. Maybe this list thing wasn’t a good idea. Then, I hit a pro deluge and things were evening out.

“Finished?” Matt drawled.

My head snapped up. He was waiting patiently for me. I tried to peek at his list. “Yep. I’m finished.”

He grinned at me, and I gestured to my seatbelt. Matt hadn’t re-buckled his and the plane was flying smoothly.

“Can I undo this now?” I asked.

He looked past my shoulder out the window, a little worried quirk to his mouth.

“You’re not buckled in anymore,” I pointed out. Matt was still gazing past me, and the slight worry on his face hadn’t disappeared. I took matters into my own hands and unbuckled myself before turning my body to face his and curling my legs under me. Man. I quite enjoyed being on Matt’s luxurious plane. It was comfortable, really comfortable.

“Ok, you first,” I said.

“Pros or cons?” he asked, turning in his seat and stretching his long legs out.

“Cons.” It was probably for the best to get the negative things out the way.

“You’re stubborn,” Matt advised.

I narrowed my eyes at him, then tapped my page with the tip of my pen. “Oh, will you look at this? I’ve got that down, too. In capitals.”

Matt winked at me. “I’m glad you’re willing to admit your stubbornness, poppet—” He broke off when I flipped him off.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll go first,” I decided. “Cons: You’re stubborn, bossy, arrogant, jealous, spoilt.”

Matt’s lips were compressed in a thin line. If it wasn’t for the amusement shining from his eyes, you would think he was insulted. He cleared his throat and said, “You say stubborn, I say determined. Bossy, no; more like wisely authoritative. Arrogant—well, yes, but not always. And jealous? I look at it as being protective of the woman I love. That sounds nicer, doesn’t it? Spoilt? Honestly, I’m not spoilt. I’m used to a certain level of comfort that I can afford to maintain. That doesn’t make me spoilt, poppet, it means I’m wealthy.”

I was fighting a grin as I replied, “Obscenely wealthy, and I have that down on my cons side.”

“Pardon?” Now Matt did look insulted. “Why does my wealth have to be a con? That’s unfair.”

“I grouped it with the differences between our socio-economic classes. You’re way up here”—I held my hand high up in a visual demonstration—“and I’m here.” My hand dropped to my lap. Matt scowled at me. It seemed my demonstration had touched a sore point.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But it’s staying on my pro list. What else?”

“Staying over at yours is messing with my night-time hair regime. In fact, sleeping with you has messed it up,” I stated.

Matt’s jaw hung open, and I shrugged. It was true.

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