Page 28 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

I laughed before I could stop the damned thing from escaping. Matt leaned back, a slightly perplexed look gracing his face.

“Umm,” I stammered. “A bit of an exaggeration that, don’t you think?”

The twin eyebrows of doom lowered a fraction and Matt gave me a little smile as Tom laughed.

“Millions of women would disagree with you, Ms DuMont.” Tom burst out before eagerly asking Matt, “How does it feel knowing she doesn’t think you’re a catch?”

“I didn’t say that.” I exclaimed in alarm. Oh shit. Freaking media.

Matt’s smile was empty as he edged us away from the reporter and his stupid questions. I glanced up at him, saw his rigid jaw line and chewed my lower lip in trepidation.

“Matt, hon,” I mumbled, bumping him with my hip as we walked. “You know that’s not what I-”

He tilted his head at me, eyes shining with humour and his mouth compressed into a thin line. Probably fighting the urge to laugh atme.

I pouted. “It’s not funny.”

“No, it isn’t, poppet.”

“So why are you trying not to laugh?” I queried dryly.

His hand caressed my ass again. “I don’t think you should speak to the press. Ever.”

“Agreed.” I said then grinned as Dante spotted me and crooked his finger at us.

We joined the group and Matt conversed with everyone while maintaining his hold on me. I stole little glances at him as he chuckled over something Liam said. To all appearances he was enjoying himself, but I suspected it was a façade. It was barely noticeable: the minute tightening of the corners of his mouth whenever someone acted overly boisterous, or the flash of arrogant disdain at Lisa’s recounting of the antics of some of our students. It was barely noticeable, yet I saw it, and it not only left me feeling confused but also annoyed. Did he secretly view me in the exact same way he was assessing my friends and colleagues?

Matt was such a snob. I was marrying a snob.

I stepped away from him. Oh, I was subtle, using the pretence of getting closer to Gerrard to hear the joke he made. Matt shot me a quizzical glance when I settled myself next to Dante instead of returning to the curve of his arm. I avoided his piercing gaze and observed the remaining crowd milling about the auditorium.

Was he silently judging them? Wait, let me include myself. Judging us? What would happen after we got married? Would he expect me to socialize with his type of people alone? Could I no longer get legless and stumble out of a pub between Bri and Lisa when we had one of our girls’ night? Would I always have to act exactly how he expected me to act in order to avoid any media embarrassment?

Oh God. Would my life become one boring glitzy function after the other where I rubbed shoulders with stuffy people who had no idea what normal fun was?

My mouth parted with trepidation. I hadn’t thought this thing through properly. What did being Mrs Madison Bradley entail? Fuck that. I was keeping my damned last name.

I was very aware of Matt’s eyes on me. When I got the courage topeer at him I could see his Vulcan powers coming online. The intense way he searched my expression made it obvious he was on to me. He knew something was up.

“Uh, excuse me for one moment.” I muttered and made a dash for it. Head bent low I sidestepped laughing people on my way up the aisle.

“Madison.”

Oh for fuc- My head snapped up. Was there no escape from the Bradleys? “Mr Bradley,” I smiled feebly. “Hello.”

He waved the greeting away and took my arm. “Come, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

“I was just heading to my office.” The tiny white lie fell with ease from my lips. “Can it wait?”

“No. He’s right over there.” Grumps pointed over to a lone man surveying the high ceiling of my building on the opposite side of the auditorium. He wasn’t right over there.

I turned my head, sending Matt a mental plea for help, never mind I had just run from his presence. He was regarding his grandfather and me with open curiosity, but didn’t budge one inch from the group. Ah, no help there. I let Grumps lead me to the man, although I ended up taking his arm, just in case the old coot stumbled and fell. If that happened I had no doubts in my mind that he would sue me for every penny I had.

“Madison, I want you to meet-” Grumps began, but I cut him off in surprise as I took the man’s outstretched hand. Oh my. Dante had been right!

“I know who you are,” I gushed like a fool, pumping the man’s hand up and down vigorously.

“Ms DuMont, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” he said in a very soft spoken, cultured voice. “Let me just say how much I enjoyed your performance tonight.”

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