Page 70 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

Matt gave me a quizzical look. “Well, I’m not going to be rude to the man, am I?”

Right. As I suspected, Matt was simply being English. You could never tell what went on behind their unflappable polite reserve. Did he haveanyblack friends? I hadn’t met any, but then again, I hadn’t really been immersed in his extended circle of friends. My ducking techniques were still on full power. Maybe I should make more of an effort to meet them all. Maybe Matt had loads of non-white friends…maybe I should stop thinking about this. Pushing all thoughts of colour away, I beamed at my husband. He continued lightly caressing the skin beneath my necklace.

“Let’s go home, poppet.”

“We can’t leave before Nathan and Bella. That would be rude.”

Matt snorted in disagreement. “Many of the other guests have left.”

“Yeah, the old ones.” I retorted as he began moving us along. “I want to dance some more.”

“We can dance in the privacy of our home,” he cajoled. “And I’m exhausted.”

“Wasted more like,” I mumbled then smiled brightly in case he’d overheard the comment. “Alright, we can leave if you really want to.”

“I do,” Matt changed our direction. “Let’s find the happy couple and say our goodbyes.”

With an efficiency that I could never manage when under the influence, Matt evaded numerous attempts by people to suck him into their chattering groups as we searched out the newlyweds. It took another half an hour of well wishes and hugs before we actually left the wedding celebrations. I couldn’t help but grin like a crazy person over Nathan’s boozy love-struck adoration for his new wife, whom he kept firmly on his lap and whispered what I was certain could only be dirty talk in her ear. Bella had been blushing hard.

When we were finally stationed in the back of the limo, Matt released a sigh and removed his tuxedo jacket.

“Today was lovely,” he pronounced, reaching for my hand.

“Mhmm,” I agreed.

He stared with unwavering intent at my face. I knew that stare. It was the ‘I’m drunk but I don’t want to show it’ stare. I was a master at that stare. Or so I told myself whenever I used it.

“Were my parents civil to you, poppet?”

I nodded with a tight smile. William and Portia had barely spoken to me. Kind of embarrassing really, they were my in-laws after all. Hannah had made up for it though, both she and Stuart had been warm and friendly. Adam had persisted in teasing me whenever our paths crossed.

Matt suddenly undid his seatbelt and wriggled around before laying his head across my lap. Instinctively my fingers sought the silkiness of his hair. He grunted with pleasure as I increased the pressure and massaged his head.

“You’re going to have such a sore head in the morning.” I warned.

“Have a guess at which part ofyouwill be sore in the morning.” he said then let out another groan while I continued my ministrations. “That feels nice. Poor Bella, couldn’t even have a proper drink at her own wedding.”

My hand stilled in the waves of his hair. With growing alarm I asked quietly, “Why not? Is she on antibiotics?”Please let her be on antibiotics.

“She’s pregnant.” Matt had his eyes closed and his head was facing the other way so he didn’t see my jaw drop or the dread filling my features.

“Damn, a shotgun wedding.” I had to say it.

Matt chuckled and twisted his head so he could rub it in my lap, of course that meant his next words were muffled.

“Excuse me?” I tugged on his hair and he lifted his head an inch.

“I said Nathan’s been worried about it for weeks.”

Weeks? I tugged on his hair some more. “How long have you known Bella’s pregnant?”

“Since the New Year’s do at my parents.” Matt sounded sleepy as he snuggled further into the folds of my dress.

“And I’mnowfinding out?” A quick smack across his ear accompanied my surprised shriek.

“Ow, it’s wrong to hit, poppet.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” I fumed. “You always keep things from me. This is prime intel. Why didn’t Bella tell me? Doesn’t she trust me enough? I thought we were becoming good friends. She does like me, doesn’t she, Matt? Matt?”

---