Page 209 of Lovers' Dance

“Yes, sir,” Ryan the Hulk replied immediately. The man easily picked up the waiting cases and headed off the plane.

“What’s wrong?” Matt asked once we were alone.

“A bodyguard? You have a bodyguard, Matt?” I asked. “Since when? It’s New York, Matt, not Afghanistan.”

Matt sighed. “Madison, I always have security at home and abroad.”

My mouth fell open as I digested this news. “At home, too? I mean, England? I’ve never seen bodyguards around you.”

“Because they are good at their jobs and paid to be invisible, poppet. Don’t look like that.” He reached up to run the back of his hand lightly across my cheek. “It’s an unfortunate necessity for someone like myself, Madi. My family’s success and wealth has earned us a lot of enemies, and it is simply a precautionary measure. Please, don’t look like that.”

I swallowed hard. “Are you in danger? Your whole family? Oh, God. The girls? Do people want to hurt them? Hurt you?” I felt sick to my stomach. “I don’t know how to deal with this, Matt. Why haven’t you told me this before? Is someone trying to hurt you?”

Matt smiled at me and I glared at him. This was no smiling matter. This was serious.

“I’ll always have enemies, but don’t overreact. No one’s actively trying to hurt me or my family. Like I said, it’s a precautionary measure. Now, you haven’t answered my question.”

“I’m not hungry,” I replied, averting my eyes.

“Hey,” Matt said in a soft tone, gripping my chin and tilting my head in his direction. “It’s fine, Madi, don’t make an issue out of this.”

“I’m not,” I denied half-heartedly. How could I not make an issue out of this new development? This was another instance where the glaring differences in our respective lives raised its head. “It’s—it’s a worry knowing you need bodyguards all the time.”

“Not all the time,” he clarified. “It’s only half the time when I’m in England, but, when I’m abroad in a different setting, for my personal security it’s something that has to be done.”

“Okay, Matt,” I said. “I understand. Shall we go now?”

Matt regarded me for a tense second before nodding his head. He moved away, shoulders set in a rigid line. I knew it signified his discontent with my unspoken reaction, but I couldn’t change how I felt. I was definitely going to look into acting classes. There was a limo waiting for us, the chauffeur holding the door open from the moment our heads popped out of the plane. There was another vehicle, a black Cadillac Escalade, with two burly men standing outside it. I swallowed hard. This felt surreal. I understood Matt’s explanation, but to find myself in a situation like this? It was unexpected.

When we got in the limo, Matt immediately pressed the button to raise the partition between the driver’s area and the back of the limo. I think he did it not only for privacy, but to hide the fact Hulk was seated in the front. I chewed my lips as we pulled away from the aircraft.

“Matt—”

“Madi—”

We spoke at the same time and shared a smile.

“Ladies first,” Matt said.

I looked out the back before speaking and, sure enough, that Escalade was close behind us. “I think you should stay at your sister’s condo,” I said, preparing myself for his annoyance.

“Why?” he asked without a hint of anger in his voice.

I fiddled with my hands. “For your own safety.”

“Poppet, the only way I’m staying there is if you’re staying with me.” He gave me a stern look. “Since you have to stay at your aunt’s home, I’ll be there with you.”

I clasped my hands over my knees. “Please, Matt. I’d feel a whole lot better—”

Matt sighed in exasperation. The annoyance was seeping in now. “Is this due to our security?”

There it was again. Thisourthing. I couldn’t get my head around having bodyguards to keep me safe. “Yes, but please don’t take it the wrong way, hon. They’re here to protect you, and I’m glad they are. If I had known you would be putting yourself at a higher risk of danger, I wouldn’t have asked you to come with me.”

Matt tried to hide his frown. He did quite well. “I’m not in any danger, Madi. It’s a precaution.”

“I know,” I said quickly. “But, now I’m aware of it, I think it would be better if you stayed somewhere safer, not that my neighbourhood isn’t safe. It is.” I babbled, shaking my head with a deep breath to calm my thoughts. “I think it’s for the best, Matt. Imagine how weird it’ll be at my aunt’s.” I noticed the pensive look on Matt’s face and pressed my advantage. “You don’t want another reason for things to be awkward when you meet her, and having bodyguards hanging around her house will definitely make things awkward.”

Matt scowled as he pondered my words, then he gave me a calculating grey stare. “You’re not trying to get rid of me, are you?”

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