Page 126 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

She waved a dismissive hand as she addressed us. “It’s nothing much. Come, Franklin has been wondering when you’d arrive. Nathan and Bella are already here. Really Matthew, you’re not usually this late to arrive.”

Slipping in-between my husband and me, she linked arms with us and took us further into her home. Chattering away and nodding in a manner similar to a regal queen as her guests smiled in our direction, people kept coming over as we walked.

Matt was a very popular man. I chewed the insides of my cheeks as Karen shooed them away and simultaneously fired rapid questions at me. I tried to concentrate on my answers while taking in the décor. We entered a massive salon filled with laughing people; tuxedo men and diamond women socializing with drinks in their hands and staff hovering at a respectable distance with platters of hors d’oeuvres.

“Franklin,” Karen called in a raised voice as she hurried us along. “Look who’s here.”

Her husband turned away from a group of his guests. The polite smile on his face morphed into something much more genuine as he saw Matt. I remembered him from the auction night. Hmm. I wondered if he’d be as reserved with me tonight.

“Matt, old chap, good to see you,” Franklin and Matt did the guy hug thing, then our host leaned across to peck my cheeks lightly. “Hello, my dear.”

“Hi,” I was going to work on my greetings. “I’ve just mentioned to your wife what a lovely home you have.”

“Perhaps I’ll take you on a complete tour later. We have an impressive atrium upstairs.”

Upstairs? Oh hell no. I was curious as to what went on up there, but not enough to risk my person.

“No.” I exclaimed a touch shrilly. Franklin’s mouth parted, surprised at my reaction. Matt’s lips compressed into a tight line. He was trying not to laugh at me. Bastard. “Ah, I’ve been in the studio dancing all day and, um, my feet hurt.” I glanced at Matt. His cheeks were a nice shade of pink. Yep, he was holding in his laughter. I forged on. “I wasn’t planning on doing much walking and your homeis huge,”

“Her heels are quite high.” Matt said blandly, exchanging a look with Franklin who now wore a bemused smile.

“Yes,” I latched on to the excuse. “Very high.”

“Another time maybe?” Karen patted my arm lightly.

Oh my gosh. I was going to hurt Matt. Hurt him real bad. So bad.

“Oh, there’s Bella and Nathan,” I waved frantically at them, feeling awkward after Karen’s light touch on my arm and reliving our boobie affair behind my eyes. What happened upstairs?

Matt coughed lightly before slipping his arm around my waist. The tips of his ears were red. He coughed again. If I could get away with jabbing him in the sides I would have, but Bella and Nathan were making their way over so I focused on that. Later I would deal with my husband.

Our night of socializing began. I stuck close to Bella whenever the men wandered off to talk business or whatever they chatted about amongst themselves.

“Well, look at you, all dressed up,” a sultry voice said snidely from behind me. “It pays being married to a wealthy man, yes?”

Fucking Medusa. I recognized her voice, and why was she always at these parties? Bella and I both turned around to face the blonde vision of hotness. And honestly, she was smoking tonight. Did she ever have a bad day?

“Louisa,” Bella smiled sweetly as they exchanged air kisses. “Let it go, dearie.”

Louisa’s cerulean blue eyes hardened with contempt. “Let what go, Bels? Can I not compliment Allison on her dress?”

I rolled my eyes. “Really? I know you know my name, but if you can’t remember it, just refer to me as Mrs Bradley.”

Snap! Medusa better not test me tonight. My nerves were already shot to hell what with not knowing if at this exact moment someone was being horribly mutilated upstairs in a demonic ritual. There’d been some heavy thumps above the ceiling in one of the rooms I’d walked through earlier.

We were stood in a quiet corner in one of the many rooms watching our men having a good time with the other guests. Bella wanted a breather from the crush of bodies, and I had eagerly accompanied her; plying her with sparkling water and savoury pastries while fussing around like a mother hen. She was carrying alife form inside her. That deserved some pampering. The thing was probably sucking her life force away.

Louisa’s peel of laughter didn’t reach her eyes. “Mrs Bradley. Well, I must hand it to you, you’ve done quite well for a girl of your station.”

“Strike one.” I said coldly. Louisa’s fingers tightened around the stem of her champagne flute. Yeah. She knew where this was going.

“Oh dear,” Bella suddenly stiffened. “All that water wasn’t a good idea, Madi. I’ll be right back.” She gave me an apologetic look then glared a warning at Louisa before racing off. See? I bet the parasite was squishing her bladder.

An uncomfortable silence rose between Louisa and myself. She regarded me coldly, that insincere smile curling her mouth prettily. Again I reluctantly marvelled at the beauty she was. Her hair was spun with gold, I kid you not, some genetic form of organic gold God had bestowed on her.

“Let’s dispense with the expected insults,” she said softly.

“Let’s,” I shot back. She was the one starting things. It wasn’t as if I had stolen Matt from her. Wait…had he been with her when we hooked up? Oh crap. Maybe that’s why she despised me. I would need to ask Matt about this. Medusa could be hating on me for a valid reason.

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