Page 71 of Lovers' Dance

“Why don’t you call your driver while I call my aunt,” I said as he slammed the door behind us. He shook his head at me before walking off, muttering under his breath how he was in love with a crazy woman. I smiled. He loved me.

My smile disappeared as I picked up the house phone and called my aunt. The conversation consisted of many ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers, with a healthy amount of ‘sorry’ interspersed. Aunt Cleo made no effort to hide how she felt about Matt. The things she called him were not mentionable in polite society. She only got off the phone after I promised to come home in the next month. At least she was too busy berating my lack of common sense to ask me for money.

With dejected shoulders I made my way upstairs. I could hear Matt moving around in my bedroom.

“What are you doing in here?” I asked, hands on hips, and wondering if I was in love with a weirdo.

Matt pursued his lips, undecided between a handful of silky thongs or cotton briefs with various cartoon characters printed on them.

“Matt, why are you rifling through my underwear drawer?”

He decided on the thongs and walked over to the bed. “I’m packing a weekend bag for you to take to mine, poppet.” He stuffed the underwear into a bag bulging with clothes.

“But—”

“No buts, poppet.” He cut me off. “My bed is bigger and, now everyone knows about us, I see no reason we can’t go to mine.”

“Won’t George be there?” I asked, not wanting to go to his fancy house.

“He has tonight off. Where are those sexy pyjamas I like you in?” he asked as I walked over to remove the thongs and replace them with my cartoon briefs. Matt’s mouth curled down a little.

“I’m not sure about this Matt.”

Matt took out the cartoon briefs, paused, tossed one back in, then determinedly picked up some thongs.

“Why not? We don’t need to hide our relationship anymore, and I’m tired of falling out of this ridiculously small bed.”

“Once, it happened once. And my bed is not small.”

“Mmm, well, it was one time too many.” He stroked my cheek and gave me one of his sexy smiles. “I want you inmybed. Where are those pyjamas?”

I didn’t waste any more energy complaining. When Matt got that focused look in his eyes, nothing would stand in his way. We were going to his place it seemed.

“In the machine. Can I at least have a shower first?”

Matt zipped up the bag and slipped his hand over mine. “You can shower at my place. It’s almost seven. I’m starving and I want to take you home. Let’s go.”

I was marched out my bedroom and down the stairs. He only gave me enough time to pop into the kitchen and grab stuff from the fridge so I could cook dinner for us at his place. Good thing I’d taken out raw prawns to defrost before leaving this morning.

I made one last ditch effort at the front door as he picked up my keys. “I’m tired, Matt. Maybe next week I can stay over at yours.”

He arched an eyebrow at me, foot tapping out a rapid tempo.

“Or maybe we’ll go now,” I finished in defeat.

“Wise decision, poppet, and I’m driving.”

“Say what? No way,” I began, but his foot started up impatient tapping. “You’re unbelievably bossy.”

“Mmm hmm. It’s a characteristic that serves me well in the boardroom. I’ll lock up for you.”

I bitched mentally that he had my keys in his hand. Of course he needed to lock up.

Five minutes later, Matt was driving my car, complaining about the lack of space and promising to buy me a bigger vehicle on Monday. I ignored his extravagant offer and instead reminded him that insulting my faithful car was a no-no.

When we got to his place, he was smiling to himself. It was his smug ‘I got my own way’ smile. I sighed and slowly followed him to the front door. My gaze wandered around. I couldn’t see anyone milling about, but that didn’t mean the neighbours weren’t watching. They could be staring at me right now, gossiping.

“Home, sweet home,” Matt drawled as he opened the door and beckoned me in.

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