Page 104 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

David lingered at the side of the bed, gently smoothing the covers. A tired sigh left his lips then he lowered his thick eyebrows at his niece. “Watch that sass, young lady, you’re becoming too bossy. Don’t forget I’m your uncle. I can still take a belt to that butt of yours.”

Matt’s mouth hung open slightly, a spurt of anger trilled through him at the thought of her bum being smacked by her uncle when she was a child. Preposterous!

Madi shooed her uncle away, grinning at him. “Please. You never spanked Jenny or me. Jamal, yes, but not us.”

David’s shoulders drooped. “No, your aunt disciplined you two. She raised you right.”

Madi looked up at her uncle and a cloak of sadness surrounded them both. Matt felt like an outsider. Of course, he wanted her aunt to get better; but only for their sakes. His relationship with Cleo Meyers was practically non-existent, and if he was honest, he was satisfied with that. The woman rubbed him the wrong way. She had hurt his poppet and that was unforgivable.

“I’ll see you later, Uncle David.” she said, then turned all her attention towards the figure on the bed.

Again Matt was struck by her behaviour. The pointed and stern unspoken dismissal of her uncle reminded him of his own traits. Hadshe learnt it from him? Or had she always been in possession of this unyielding streak? Hidden behind her sweet disposition? This expectation that one should do as she required. Yes, she would do well in a boardroom. A shame it only came out in this situation. If she applied the behaviours he’d witnessed over the last few days to every aspect of her life she would be an unstoppable force. A tiny smile curled his lips up, of course that would mean more clashes between them…

“Matt,” David’s tired voice broke Matt from his quiet musings. “How are you?”

Madi cleared her throat.

Matt walked over, saying as he closed the distance, “I’m fine, thank you. You should head home before your niece calls hospital security to have you forcibly removed from the grounds.”

David shot him a rueful half-grin. “She’s just like my Cleo.”

“Ah,” Matt didn’t know how to respond to that statement. Madi was nothing like her aunt. Thank goodness.

Again she cleared her throat. Loudly.

“I’m going.” David groused. A minute later the door closed behind him.

Matt strolled over to the windows and peered out silently. It wouldn’t be long now. Five minutes later the low murmur of her pleas reached his ears. She begged, bargained, threatened; she said any and every thing in an attempt to wake her aunt. Then she fell silent. He walked over to her and brushed a hand across her tumultuous hair before sliding the curls aside, revealing the graceful line of her neck. Slowly Matt rub his fingers over her heated skin. The muscles in the back of her neck were tense, as were her shoulders. A loud knock on the door tore his attention away from Madi. He checked his watch then quickly crossed the room with long strides.

“Here you go, Mr Bradley.” Ryan said as soon as Matt opened the door. The bodyguard handed over a small packet. “Two should suffice.”

Matt took the packet and nodded a thank you as Ryan also produced an unopened bottle of water. “I’ll call you when we’re ready to leave.” Matt advised right before shutting the door. Schooling his features into an obdurate mask he strode back to the bed. Madi glanced up at him.

“This is for you.” Matt held out the bottle of water.

“I’m not thirsty.” she replied before turning back to her aunt.

“You’ll need it to take these.” Matt stated coolly, now showing her the packet of pills.

Madi frowned, her head swivelled between the pills and her aunt. “What are those?”

“Sleeping pills.” Matt replied blankly. “You’re a bundle of nerves and you haven’t been sleeping properly at all. This will ensure you do. Take two.”

Madi’s eyebrows shot up before she eyed him suspiciously. “Drugs, Matt? You want me to take drugs? I always knew you had a drug dealer vibe going on.”

Matt ignored her comment and tucked the bottled water under one arm so he could pop two pills out the sachet.

“And you made such a stink about my funny brownies,” she continued as pure outrage crept into her expression. “Now you want me to take downers!”

“Sleeping pills, not downers,” he corrected, holding them out. “And these are medicinalnotrecreational, like those bloody brownies were.”

Madi snorted. “I’m not taking pills. I’ll sleep when we get home. Besides, who’ll hold Aunt Cleo’s hand?”

“I will,” he ground out bad-temperedly. He didn’t want to, but he was willing to do anything to ensure she got sufficient rest. “Madison, this is not up for debate. Take the goddamned pills before I lose my temper.”

Her mouth twisted at his domineering tone. Matt glared at her, making sure she noticed the stubborn set of his jaw. She tried to challenge his steely gaze with one of her own. Ten seconds, she managed to maintain a defiant pose for ten seconds; then her stance wavered. She knew when he meant business.

“Take them.” he ordered, pressing his advantage.

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