Page 86 of Lovers' Dance

Matt leaned over to press a kiss to Hannah’s cheek. “First of all, you and Stuart together seems a bit incestuous to me.” Matt received a mock glare from his sister. He continued jokingly. “Spend more time with Terror and Trouble? You must be losing your mind. I’d rather give up my claim to the inheritance fortune.”

Whatever retort Hannah planned on making wasn’t uttered as they saw Louisa gliding over to them.

“Bollocks,” Matt muttered under his breath.

“Indeed,” Hannah murmured back. “Would you like me to play interference for you?”

“No, I might as well deal wi—” Matt broke off to coolly regard the blonde bombshell who was a few feet away.

“Matt, darling,” she crooned, closing the distance between them. “I feel thoroughly neglected by you tonight.”

“Don’t be silly, Louisa. No one could possibly ignore you,” he said pleasantly, gripping Hannah’s arm when she tried to slip away. Matt was more than capable of dealing with Louisa, but if it could be avoided, then he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. She’d been giving him bedroom eyes from the moment he said hello.

“How’s your charity work going?” Matt asked into the charged silence. He saw her change of expression and knew what it meant. She was angry and trying to hide it.

“Fine,” she said. “It’s been ages since we’ve seen each other. We’re long overdue a catch up.”

Matt knew exactly what sort of catch up she was implying. The bedroom eyes were back. His gaze wandered over her impeccably dressed form before returning to her face. Yes, Louisa was beautiful, there was no doubt about her stunning features.

But Madi was perfect.

The realization that, only a few months ago, he’d resigned himself to proposing to the woman standing in front of him was just this side of terrifying. Matt felt giddy relief blossoming inside. That relief turned to something more intense and all the more consuming when he saw Stuart ushering Madi and the girls—

“What on earth?” Hannah exclaimed, before jerking away from Matt and striding towards her husband and children. Matt gave Louisa a distracted smile before hurrying after his sister.

Madi’s eyes brightened when they rested on him, and he couldn’t stop the tender smile on his face.

“Natalia,” Hannah scolded in hushed tones. “Why have you changed clothes?”

Matt spared a glance at his nieces. Their sleek dresses had been replaced by jeans and t-shirts.

“Why do you always start in on me, Mum? Nikki’s changed, too,” Natty hissed back.

Matt turned his attention back to Madi. He reached out, slipping his large hand over her dainty one. “All right, poppet?”

“Yes, I am now. Does everyone know about the thing?” She peeked past his shoulders at his parents’ guests before her warm, brown eyes settled on his face.

“What thing?” Matt teased, then gently squeezed her hand when she pouted at him. “If anyone brings it up, I’ll tell them to sod off.”

His niece Nicole slid closer to them, and Matt reluctantly paid attention to the whispered spat taking place between his sister and her other daughter.

“Stop, Mum. You’re making a big deal about nothing. We didn’t want Madi to be the only one in jeans,” Natty said. “Who cares anyway? I don’t even want to be here.”

Matt released Madi’s hand, taking a few steps towards the members of his family. “Hannah, leave the girl alone. I think it’s sweet they changed.”

Natalia sent him a grateful smile before scowling at her mother. His brother-in-law exchanged a frustrated look with him. Matt felt sorry for the man. He was completely outnumbered by the women in his life.

“Should I say something?” Madi asked from his side. She was peering at Hannah and Natty with a guilty expression. Matt shook his head, raising a hand to smooth one of her wild curls back into place.

“They argue all the time, poppet. Let’s get you a drink, then I’ll introduce you to the other guests.”

“We’re taking her to meet Grumps,” Natty said, turning away from her mother’s unamused face. “Come on, Nikki.”

Matt watched as the twins practically swarmed over Madi and started dragging her away.

“Girls, I should—” he started to say, but they ignored him and, with Madi in tow, began to make their way over to where his grandfather sat. Matt turned to his sister, who was obviously annoyed if her flushed cheeks and virulent eyes were anything to go off. “It’s sweet, Hannah. They seem to like her.”

Hannah sighed as Stuart wrapped an arm around her waist. “Yes, you’re right. Natalia is so…so combative of late. I swear she’s trying to turn my hair grey.”

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