Page 75 of Lovers' Dance

I felt nervous. Matt’s older brother must think I was crazy. In my defence, he should’ve known better than sneaking up on a woman. How long had he been standing there, watching me in my cartoon underwear and t-shirt. I hoped Matt’s big brother wasn’t a weirdo. With a strained smile, I walked into the kitchen.

“Adam’s staying for dinner, poppet,” Matt advised casually. I glanced at Adam, trying to keep the smile on my face. He didn’t look as if he wanted to stay.

“Oh, okay,” I said, gliding back to my post. “There’s more than enough for the three of us. Matt, can you get a pot for the linguine…what did you do with the rest of my chillies?”

Matt smirked and pointed to the bin while Adam observed us from suspicious eyes.

“Binned them, poppet. I couldn’t subject Adam to the fiery torment you’ve been inflicting on me.”

I huffed, shaking my head at him. He winked and my mouth crinkled at the edges as I tried to smother a giggle. Matt was cute sometimes. My gaze wandered to Adam, who’d moved away to give me space in front of the island.

“You’re tiny,” he said.

I gave Matt wide eyes. He shrugged and rolled his eyes before saying, “That’s Adam’s way of saying, ‘Hi Madi, tell me something about yourself.’ He was dropped on the head as an infant and has never recovered from the injury. Excuse his behaviour, poppet.”

I giggled, then tried to stop when I saw Adam’s face. My attempts to curb the giggles ending up in unladylike snorts, which made Matt laugh and Adam’s expression became stonier.

It took effort, but we did stop our childish laughter. Matt lounged against the island, watching me work and handing me stuff when needed. He liked hanging around whenever I cooked for us. I liked that he did.

“Adam,” I began, silently vowing to kill him with niceness. “Has Matt always been bossy?”

“Infuriatingly so,” Adam replied, with a malicious smile in Matt’s direction.

Matt sent me a mock glare, and I nudged him playfully with my hip.

“Do you work with him and Nathan?” I asked politely. It would be correct to assume Adam had a problem with me being black. Before going upstairs to change, I had hovered outside the kitchen. When he’d exclaimed to Matt “she’s black”, I knew where things stood and left them to it. It was better not hearing what else he had to say about me.

“I’m co-president with Matt at the company.”

“Do you enjoy what you do?” Another polite question that earned me a suspicious look from him. He probably thought I was after Matt’s money.Idiot.

“Yes, I do.”

And so it went on while I cooked. Me trying to engage him in polite conversation and receiving stilted answers in return. It seemed Matt had had enough by the time he drained the linguine for me as I stirred the prawns in the saucepan, because he suddenly said, “Stop being an arse, Adam. If you’re going to act like this, you should leave.”

I blinked at the anger in Matt’s voice. I didn’t want to be the cause of an argument between them so I murmured, “It’s fine, hon.”

“No,” he said, shooting Adam grey lightning bolts. “It’s not, poppet.”

An uneasy silence descended as the two brothers exchanged heavy glances. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

“Right,” I said brightly. “I hope everyone’s hungry because we may have gone overboard on the pasta. Adam, do you mind getting plates? Matt’s hands are full, and I don’t want this sauce to burn.”

Adam did as requested, and the three of us worked putting the food on the plates like an awkward conveyor belt. There were two red splotches on Matt’s cheeks, indicative of his silent fuming. I elbowed him lightly to get his attention, then mouthed “It’s okay.” He slammed the pot of pasta on the stove and scowled. I hoped he didn’t stay angry. I’d never participated in angry sex before with him, and the thought wasn’t an appealing one. Matt brought cutlery out while Adam made himself busy by taking the full plates over to the table. I, feeling horrible because this tension between them was because of me, morosely found wine glasses and trudged over to the table. Matt brushed past Adam roughly, who glowered at his younger brother as Matt went to get wine. He got some water, too. Smart man. Seeing him with the water reminded me more glasses were needed so I brought some to the table.

By the time we all sat down in front our plates, the atmosphere was so thick only an industrial sized chainsaw could cut it. Matt and Adam were exchanging death stares. I sighed softly and began to eat. The men tucked into their food, frosty silence between them.

Until Adam finished his second forkful. He blinked, then cleared his throat softly, as he tugged at the collar of his shirt. He coughed, then tried to clear his throat again. Matt eyed him while casually sticking another forkful into his mouth.

I bit my lips as a deep red flush started creeping up Adam’s neck until his entire face was red. He snatched the water pitcher up, bringing the whole thing to his mouth and chugging it back like a frat boy chugging beer. Water spilled down his chin, his neck, his shirt and still he drank. Matt arched an eyebrow at my horrified face and took another mouthful of his dinner. Adam was spluttering, shooting me accusing looks over the pitcher as he drained at least one litre of water in under fifteen seconds.

“I told you it was too much chillies,” Matt commented, before smugly taking another forkful and casting a disdaining eye at his older brother.

“Good God, woman,” Adam wheezed. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“It’s not that hot.” I popped a prawn in my mouth and smiled sweetly at Adam. Matt chuckled as he chewed, and I started to laugh. Adam wheezed and stared apprehensively at his plate of food.

---