Page 30 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Good night. Good bye. Good night.” I bumbled, clutching his card to my heaving chest as he walked away. I had to find Dante at once. On shaky legs I started back up the aisle and ran into Matt’s grandfather.

“Now look here, young lady. How dare you-”

I flung my arms around the old man, unable to contain my excitement.

“Madison! Stop this unbecoming behaviour at once.” he said loudly as I squeezed him.

“I thought you paid him,” I explained quickly. “But you didn’t, and he liked it. He really liked it.”

“Well, of course he did.” Grumps grumbled. “My Matthew believes in your talent therefore you must have talent.”

“Thank you for inviting him, Mr Bradley.” I said in a voice thick with emotion against his coat.

Grumps’s arms rose around me and he awkwardly patted my back as he said above my ear. “You can call me Grumps.”

I pulled back, peering intently into his grey eyes.

“And I apologize.” he said in a low voice. “I was, ahem, I may have misjudged you.”

My mouth stretched across my face in a wide beam. “Apology accepted, Grumps. Although a card would’ve sufficed, I have to say this was so much better.”

For the first time ever, Grumps smiled at me.

“Yes, well, please unhand me and we shall speak of it no more.” he said with a waggle of eyebrows.

I released him and he held an arm out to me.

“So, I’m assuming you want me to tell Matt I’ve forgiven you?” I asked after I took his arm.

“Yes, I expect you to do so.” he replied firmly.

“You said some pretty hurtful things to me that night.” It was best to get it all out in the open.

“I know.” was all he said.

“I’m not a gold-digger.”

“I know.” he repeated.

“Matt loves me and I love him.” I stated without a doubt.

Grumps started us forward. “Yes, he has made it quite clear that you are what he wants.”

“So, you’re ok with the engagement?”

“As long as my grandson is happy,” Grumps replied, gesturing to said grandson who was now striding towards us. “And he seems to be.”

“You’re not a mean bastard after all.” I mused.

“Such language is not becoming of a young lady, especially one who’ll be carrying my family’s name.”

“I’m keeping my own damned name.” I retorted quickly. Unfortunately Matt’s strides were long and fast enough to put him within earshot of my last comment.

“What was that, poppet?” he queried, eyeing his grandfather with pure suspicion. “Is everything ok?”

Grumps cleared his throat at me.

“Matt, Grumps has apologized,” I admitted. “So you can both kiss and make up.”

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