Page 145 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

I certainly couldn’t confide in Aunt Cleo. Oh Lord no. She’d want to speak to Matt and that would not be pretty. I trudged into Matt’s office, grumbling to myself about the unfairness of it all. Dougie was still fucking up my chi and I hadn’t spoken to him since that infamous night.

“You are kidding me.” I said out loud when I sat in Matt’s chair. There, in the middle of the desk, was a sheet of paper filled with his neat handwriting of pending tasks. It had my name on the top of it. The proof was right in front my eyes, I had become his damned P.A.

I put my feet up on the desk and drummed my fingers across the glass top as I glared at the sleek office phone. I’d do it, yeah, I’d complete the tasks set out for me; but I wasn’t going to simply accept this new penance. Maybe I should do it ineptly, then Matt wouldn’t make these requests of me ever again. Except I didn’t want thestaffthinking the lady of the manor was incompetent. The lady of the manor. That was my title. Was this indeed a new form of punishment or were these tasks exactly what Matt implied they were? My responsibilities as his wife.

“Feet off my desk.” Matt stuck his head around the open office door.

Crap. I’d been sat staring at the list for the past twenty minutes without one move towards the phone. I hid a grimace and kept my feet up. Matt walked into the room. He looked scrumptious in casual khaki pants and that navy shirt, the undone top two buttons gave an enticing glimpse of his chest. Now was not the time to be distracted by his hotness, even though the brushed back waves of his hair beckoned my fingers, begging to be tousled into its previous relaxed state.

“This is a long list, Matt.” I said, picking up the piece of paper and wafting it about.

Matt came over, eyed my feet then firmly removed them from his desk. “It isn’t, poppet. Would you like me to pick you up anything while I’m out?”

“My very own secretary to make these calls?” I drawled. “And I know you’re mad at me, this list proves it.”

Matt snorted before leaning down to kiss me swiftly. “I’ll see you in a few hours.” Wrapping a finger around one of my loose curls, Matt peered at me. “I’m not angry with you.” He kissed me again, this time much longer and with much more tongue action. Nice.

“Feels like it.” I mumbled when he pulled away.

Matt dropped my curl. He paused, as if about to say something, then flashed me a cool smile. “Keep your feet off my desk. Love you.”

“I love you too,” My declaration was staunch and Matt rubbed his thumb lightly over my lips.

“Leave George alone, poppet.” he gave a final warning then headed towards the door.

“Matt,” I called to him before knowing how I wanted to express what I truly wanted to say.

He turned, a questioning smile on his striking face as he waited for me to speak. I was being punished and perhaps I deserved it.

“Have a good game on the golf course, hon,” I said. “Don’t make any wagers with Nathan, he’s sneaky.”

Matt looked at me for a second, scrutinizing my face. I tried to smile, but made no attempt to cover the truth of my emotions. He could see it all, Matt knew me. The expected verbalization of his Vulcan mind reading powers didn’t happen though. He read my eyes, the uncertainty, the silent plea for him to tell me all was forgiven; Matt read my eyes and offered no soothing words of assurances or comfort. Instead he nodded once and gave me thatcool smile of his, the one that failed to reach his piercing grey orbs.

“Will do, poppet. I’ll give Nathan your regards.” Then he left, pulling the door shut behind him.

Fuck sakes. How long would this continue? I knew Matt had an unforgiving streak, but damn! Never had it crossed my mind he’d be this way with me.

“It was only a kiss.” I said glumly, reaching for the phone with a tired sigh. Might as well make those calls. Glancing at the last task I rolled my eyes. It had obviously been added just now, the ink was a different colour.Call my Mum. If he thought that was going to happen, not only was he an unforgiving meanie but Matt was insane too. Maybe I could get him something spectacular for his upcoming birthday. Buy my way out of trouble. Yes, yes, I could do that. Get him some mind-blowing gift which would propel me back into my place as the apple of his eye. Hmm. The fact it would be money spent from our joint Coutts account, mainlyhismoney, shouldn’t matter. Right? I was not a trophy wife spending her husband’s cash. I was not turning into my mother-in-law…

CHAPTER 14

Matt watched hiswife out the corner of his eyes as he reclined against the seat in the limo. The infernal top hat which was a requirement of the day’s activities lay discarded on the space between them.

“I swear being pregnant has made you crazy, Bella.” Madi said, laughing without restraint while fiddling with her hat between her slender fingers.

“I wholeheartedly second that statement,” Nathan piped in, downing his champagne before putting aside the flute.

It was Saturday and the final day of Royal Ascot. Two years ago Matt would have attended each of the five-day long events, it was a prime social event. A thoroughly enjoyable time spent with friends. This year he could only stomach the first and last day.

“How could someone as sweet as you be so cold?” Madi asked, shaking her head slightly.

“That, my dear child,” Nathan said breezily. “Was what we call a cut direct.”

Madi scrunched her face up at the term. “Completely ignoring someone in a public place? It was like the poor man didn’t exist. And I’m not a child, Nathan.”

Nathan snorted and sent a jaded look in Matt’s direction. Matt managed a small smile before turning his attention out the window. He let the sound of their voices wash over him, his thoughts were on more serious matters. Such as the continued worrying state of low oil prices, and of course, the worrying state of his marriage. Nathan said something which caused both women to laugh in delight. Matt turned to observe Madi again. He caught Adam’s intense stare on him but ignored it. Adam’s date had brought along her sister, someone he’d once had a brief encounter with some years ago. Besides the few secret longing glances she sent his way, no one would guess they’d once been intimate, and Glenda Pembroke was from an upstanding family who knew damned well she’d better conform to social niceties in front his wife or risk Matt’s anger.

Madi looked over at him, her warm smile faltered when she peered into his eyes. Matt gestured to her empty flute, wanting to avoid the glimmer of hurt he saw on her face as she declined a top up. He was acomplete bastard no doubt. He knew her so well, perhaps even better than she knew herself. And he knew she was slowly drawing into herself, pulling away from him in a desperate attempt at self-protection. For that he was wholly responsible, he could see his treatment of her these weeks had made her unsure around him. He rationalized it every day, fed his silent discontent with valid examples of why his aloofness was necessary. She didn’t want children. She was obsessed with her career. She foolishly allowed McGregor to grow close to her…Matt ground his teeth at the memory of the Scotsman earlier on today. He was probably a member of the Royal Enclosure like him. In all fairness, both Madi and McGregor had avoided each other. Not once did he see her glance in McGregor’s direction, and a warning look from him to McGregor was all it took to ensure the Scotsman kept far away from his wife. He’d caught him a few times, staring at Madi like some lovelorn fool. Amidst the anger Matt felt about the whole distasteful situation, a small part of him felt pity for the man, an infinitely small part. Madi was loveable, the kind of woman a man would do anything to have at his side. The kind of woman who could inspire crazed jealousy at the mere thought of someone else seeking out her affection. Only she could make him feel so strongly.

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