Page 121 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Perhaps.” His one word responses had a distinct edge to them. Matt lowered the papers, giving me a bemused look.

I sipped my coffee and smiled at him. “Aunt Cleo is doing much better, I spoke to her yesterday.”

“That’s nice.” Matt returned to his newspaper.

A sigh whispered past my lips as I put my coffee down and fiddled with the pancakes. My appetite had disappeared.

“Don’t play with your food, poppet,” Matt chastised without breaking his gaze from the papers. “There’re some formal party invitations on that platter, have a look through them and decide which ones you want us to attend.”

I glared at the pile of envelopes on the silver platter before pushing away my unfinished plate of pancakes.

“I’m going to get ready for work, hon, so you decide. It’s not like I know the people holding these parties anyway. Why don’t they just text you? Or snap chat? Or WhatsApp, don’t they use any of these? Paper invitations for anything other than a wedding is so old-fashioned. Who does that? I mean,yourfriends do, obviously.”

Matt folded his newspapers and placed them on the table as I stood up. It became apparent Matt was tapping into his mental powers as he scrutinized my features. “Is everything alright? You seem annoyed. Care to tell me why?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” I shrugged while playing with the edges of his pyjama top. “It’s just,”

He waited patiently as my voice tapered off. I had to choose the words carefully.

“We hardly talk anymore is all,” I sent him a small smile. “I know you’re busy, me too…it just feels as if we barely spend quality time together,” I chewed my lower lip. “It doesn’t matter, ignore me, I’m being silly.”

“Ignore you?” Matt beckoned me over. “Not a chance.”

With eagerness I sat on his lap and pressed kisses along his jaw. “Imiss you, that’s all.”

Matt slowly rubbed my back. “I know, and I wish things were different but work is hectic at the moment,”

I refrained from pointing out things were always hectic at Bradley Industries.

“How about a mini-break after the twins’ 18ththis month? Have you visited France, poppet? I own,” he suddenly beamed at me. “Weown a lovely property on Cote d’Azur. Shall we run away from our responsibilities for a few days?”

“Can I check my schedule first?” Ridiculous, I know. One moment I’m complaining about us not spending time together, the next I’m hesitating over a French mini-break with my dashing husband. God. I was certifiable.

“Of course.” Matt gave me a quick nod. “On another subject, how do you feel about moving to Mayfair? Or Knightsbridge?”

I leaned back, peering intently at him to figure out what was going on in that head of his. “Um, what’s wrong with here, Matt?”

“I’m not too happy about the crime statistics,” he explained.

A tiny chuckle left my lips. “Hon, this is South Kensington. The average price of houses as large as this in the neighbourhood is over £12million. You’re crazy and I have to get ready for work.” I kissed his sexy lips, laughing to myself, then slid off his lap.

Matt grabbed me around the waist. “Think about it, poppet.”

The way he said it made me pause in my attempts to wriggle away. “Oh no,” My eyes widened. “You didn’t.”

Matt turned me around, smacked my ass then picked up his newspapers once more. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for work?”

“Tell me you haven’t done what I think you’ve done. Tell me right now you haven’t already made an offer on a property.”

Matt winked at me before giving the newspapers his undivided attention.

“You can’t make these decisions without my input, Matt.” I fumed.

He raised those striking grey orbs in my direction and shrugged. “Husbandly right, poppet. Go get a shower. I’m not due in the office today so I’ll take you into work.”

I rolled my eyes and stormed off towards the en-suite. Husbandly right, my ass. He’d been using that excuse to pull all sorts of crap.

“We’re not moving to Mayfair or Knightsbridge, Matt.” I threw over my shoulder. “And marriage is a democracy.”