Page 217 of Lovers' Dance

Jenny leaned over, peering at the screen. “Yup.”

“But courses already began in September. You’ll be a whole semester down if you sign up to start in January. Can you handle that work load? Will you be able to catch up?”

“I’m not stupid, Madison. Mom told you months ago that I wanted to do this, so there. It’s not my fault.”

Matt couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. He watched as Madi silently took out her cheque book, lower lip caught between her teeth and a small frown forming between her eyebrows.

“I can probably cover your first semester—”

“Why not the first year?” Jenny asked in a suddenly sweet voice. “You know Mom and Dad won’t front me the cash, and I want to do this.”

“Because you should get a j-o-b,” Jamal drawled under his breath.

Jenny glared at her older brother before pasting a bright smile on her face and scooting closer to Madi’s other side. Matt stared at the two women with their heads bent over the iPad. Jenny’s smooth chocolate complexion was an almost perfect match to Madi’s, but that was where the similarities ended he noted when they raised their heads. The gleam in Jenny’s light-brown eyes was full of triumphant glee, while Madi’s soulful, dark-brown eyes held nothing more than guilt.

“Okay, but you need a job, too,” Madi warned as she pulled a pen out the purse. “And you have to get good grades. And stop being sassy with Aunt Cleo. Deal?”

Jamal snorted and said, “And she gets her own way, again.”

“You’re jealous she loves me more, Jamal,” Jenny cooed as Madi started filling out the cheque. “We’re like sisters.”

Matt saw the glow of delight in Madi’s eyes at her younger cousin’s words and his heart broke a little. He couldn’t believe what he’d witnessed.

“I love you both the same,” Madi said evenly, tearing the cheque out and handing it over to Jenny.

“Thanks, cuz,” she gushed as she leapt off the sofa. “I’m out peeps. Gotta tell my friends the good news. Jamal, can I borrow your car?”

“No,” he said, then he stood up. “I’ll give you a lift. That friend of yours, Delilah, she seeing anybody?”

The siblings walked out the sitting room, leaving Madi and him alone.

“I am sorry, Matt,” she began. “That was—”

“Forget about it, poppet. I feel like part of the family already. I’m assuming peeps is short for people, right?”

She nodded, putting aside her cheque book and tablet before reaching for his hand. “We’re not always like this, Jenny’s trying to find herself, she’s only twenty-four and—”

“You don’t need to explain, sweetheart.” Matt cut her off, pulling her into the crook of his arm. “Maybe I should have my family quarrel in your presence, then you’ll know you’re one of us.”

She snorted delicately and snuggled against him. A few wisps of her hair had escaped her braid and tickled his chin.

“Auntie Cleo is mad as hell and embarrassed. That’s why she went to lie down.”

“I’ll assure her there’s no need for that when she comes back down. Your uncle is a quiet man. I think I may have stepped out of line by kissing you earlier.”

“Hmph. I don’t know what you were thinking. It’s bad enough they know we’re having…” She whispered the word ‘sex’, as if scared someone would jump out and unleash a sermon over the fact they were intimate.

Matt chuckled and said, “Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that, Madi. Did you say SEX?”

“Shut up, Matt.”

“I’ll stop teasing you if you kiss me now,” he bargained. “Otherwise, I’ll tell your family about that kinky position you like, you know the one where I put your leg—” His words were halted by her lips pressing into his. Matt let her control the melding of their mouths. It was heaven the way she would start out tentatively, before her desire for more drove her to possess his mouth like a ravenous creature. A low groan came from the back of his throat as he pulled her closer.

“Ahem,” a voice said loudly. Madi darted back quickly, eyes glazed from desire and peered at her two grinning cousins.

“Girl, you done lost your damn mind,” Jenny muttered, slipping on a leather jacket, while Jamal strolled to the front door. “Let Mom catch you doing that on her sofa, and it’ll be the last thing you ever do. She’ll whup your scrawny ass like there’s no tomorrow.”

“Come on, Jen.” Jamal was holding the door open and impatiently shuffling on his feet. “Don’t be making any babies in here, Madi,” he warned, with an eye on Matt as Jenny brushed past him.

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