Page 225 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

Fighting a laugh, Matt propelled us forward. “Yes to seeing the girls then?”

“I don’t know.” I hesitated. It would be awkward no doubt.

“The twins would feel terrible if you decided not to come,” Matt, not-so-innocently, started playing me. “I know Hannah would blame me for your absence.”

His exaggerated sigh was breaking down my reserve, the urge to giggle was building.Stop, this is how it starts,I mentally warned myself. When Matt decided to be charming he usually got his own way.

“And George has demanded I ensure you visit today,” Matt said with mock irritation. “Unbelievable. George making demands on me. I might have to sack him for his insolence.” He sighed again. “And send him on his way with a poor reference, at his age he probably won’t get another job that pays as well.”

“Matt, that’s not funny in the slightest and it’s illegal to give someone a bad reference.” I gently nudged his arm. Crap. Why was I still holding on to his jacket? And how had my hand gotten on his darned arm? As if stung, I jerked my hand away.

“Please,” He stopped messing around and got serious. “They would really appreciate you showing up.”

I didn’t feel comfortable with his semi-sneaky way of dropping this late-lunch early-dinner on my lap, and I worried if I gave in to this request it might start a trend. Urgh. I was grown enough to tell him no whenever I wanted.

“Iwould really appreciate it,” he stressed, humble and hopeful.

“It’s been ages since I’ve spoken to the twins,” And it was the truth. This wasn’t me caving at all.

Matt nodded in agreement. “Hannah desperately wants to seeyou.”

“She can probably give me loads of advice too,” I added.

Matt nodded again. “Ever since I told my family you’re expecting, it’s all she’s been talking about.”

A tiny frown wavered over my lips as I recalled the complete Artic block out they had subjected me to when Matt and I split. They probably assumed I was guilty of trapping him, gossiping amongst themselves, painting me as some sort of hoochie gold-digger-

“George would love to see you,” Matt reminded me while stepping closer.

“I don’t know, Matt. It might be awkward, no, itwillbe awkward.”

He ran a hand through his brushed back hair and shrugged. “I know, but Hannah is determined to make amends – she’s over the moon for me, for us; and she doesn’t want to be left out. The girls, well, they have no other cousins. Stuart’s an only child, you know.”

I knew that. Cousins could be fun. I wanted my kids to have a nice relationship with their cousins, never mind the age gap.

“One course.” I decided, knowing it was best to face the issue head on.

Matt’s family couldn’t be ignored forever, and it was better to deal with them in small increments. Today Hannah and the twins, next year…nexttwoyears the rest.

“Valerie would have prepared-”

“One course.” I reiterated firmly.

“One course it is.” Matt conceded when he saw the hard glint in my eyes. “Shall we go together in my car?”

“No.” I scoffed. “I’ll meet you there.”

Matt scrutinized my features, suspicion clouded his own. He was probably envisioning me speeding away without a backwards glance and heading for Portsmouth to catch the next ferry to France.

“I’ll meet you there, Matt.” I grumbled then flashed him a tight smile before hurrying towards my waiting bodyguard and leaving him behind.

It was a silent walk to my car. Perfect for me to think about what I was doing. It was only a matter of time, I was being painfully realistic; it was only a matter of time before I fell under Matt’s spell again. How long could I resist? I had no idea but was hoping it would number in months and not weeks. He was a human form of narcotics, created in some bloody lab by a crazed genetic scientist; that was mybelief and I was sticking to it. Like all other bad substances, the only way to overcome an addiction was to stay the hell away from the source. Cold turkey. Run far away from any temptation, but the party for two taking place in my womb meant running away wasn’t a viable option. Matt would hunt me down anyway, and he knew people. Ha. Dante, freaking Judas, would probably sell me out. Why hadn’t he mentioned these conversations with Matt to me? Were they planning something? I wouldn’t put it past them to try and have me committed! Matt would get the kids and Dante would get my business. Win-win.

“Hey, Callum, can people get committed against their will over here?” I asked the man at my side.

“If they pose a danger to themselves or others,” Callum replied in a deep, raspy voice. “Yes.”

I automatically covered my nose and increased my pace. “Sounds like you’ve got a cold. I don’t want the cold. Do you know pregnant women have a lowered immune system? I don’t want your lurgy.”

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