Page 187 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Yes,” Matt nodded. “The divorce petition will be filed in January.”

I swallowed my pain down. “This year is just flying by. Can you believe we’re already mid-November?”

“It is going by quick.” His pleasant agreement gave me a dash of courage.

Squeezing his hand lightly, I said, “I’m glad we cleared this up.”

“Me too,” he replied dryly.

“Who do you think it was?”

If it hadn’t been Matt, I could think of only a few who had the malicious impetus and clout to do something so hurtful to me. Definitely a family member, and one of their family lawyers perhaps, or an accountant. Matt didn’t answer, he just gave me a secretive smile which turned into a grimace and shrugged. I cleared my throat. It was getting awkward. We were still holding hands. Oh, I missed his hands.

“Well,” I tried to pull my hand free. “About that written confirmation,”

“How was your birthday?” he asked softly, tightening his grip on my hand.

The corners of my mouth fell and I laughed a little sad laugh. “Quiet. Sol and Bret couldn’t come this year.”

“And afterwards?” His gentle enquiry came alongside the smooth circular stroke of his thumb over the back of my hand. My skin tingled from the warmth of his touch.

“Difficult,” I said, proudly adding, “But I did it all on my own this year. Dante had to go to Birmingham-”

“You were alone?” Matt cut me off.

“It was fine,” I hastened to assure him. “I was fine.”

“Did Dr Brown encourage you to do that?” He hadn’t let go of my hand. Honestly, I was quite happy holding on to his, and the concern shining from his beautiful grey eyes seemed genuine.

“I’m not seeing her anymore.”

“What?” Matt dropped my hand. “Why? Is it the cost? I can – we can work something out to cover it.”

“It’s not the money.” I shrugged and reached for my bag. “I’m better now.”

“Did she say that?” Matt grabbed my wrist, stopping my motions. “Because it doesn’t seem feasible after carrying around that much guilt for that many years,”

“I’m fine, Matt.” I eased away from his grip. Bowing my head to hide my face, it was my turn to ask him a personal question. “Why didn’t you call? After we, after that weekend.” I twisted my face sideways to glance at him. “You didn’t call.”

“It was a mistake,” His features abruptly closed down as he spoke, giving nothing away. “What happened was a mistake.”

I nodded and managed a smile. “Thought as much. Even if you somehow believed I hadn’t cheated, which you don’t, even if those pictures didn’t exist - we were never going to make it, were we?”

Matt held my gaze. “No, we weren’t.”

“Just fooling ourselves,” I added wistfully.

“Yes,” he agreed softly and the brutal candour of his tone hurt me. “We were.”

A sharp knock on the glass door had us both looking over. Two beefy men were outside the room. Security. Oh, crap.

“Remember your promise.” I pulled my bag over one shoulder, ready to leave.

A strange look crossed his face, and I cursed mentally over my last words. They sounded more like the question they were than the statement I wanted. Matt avoided my eyes for a second then nodded.

“You want it in writing.” he said. “I understood you the first time.”

I gave him a little wave and headed for the door and my waiting escorts. The promise I’d been referring to had nothing to do with our heated conversation. At the door, I turned around to say, “You’re a douche by the way, for not calling.”

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